Title: Faith in Resurrection / 2005. 3.27. Easter
content
1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 24:1-10
Today is Easter. Like Mary Magdalene this morning, we have already received grace by worshiping the Lord of Resurrection with the balm of faith. In addition, over the past three weeks, through the special early morning prayer for Lent, we did not hesitate to run to each other and pray fervently together, and we spent this period in prayer every day. And today, on the first day after the Sabbath, we are having an Easter service.
If there are two major feasts in Christianity, they are Christmas and Easter. Most people know Christmas well, but Easter doesn't seem to be very important. But Easter is the most important and most meaningful feast of the Church. In fact, it is the happiest news and the greatest joy not only for Christians but for all mankind. Because the resurrection of Jesus was not only for believers, but for all mankind.
People doubt the resurrection. How does the dead come back to life? It is impossible for the dead to come back to life. So, is it possible to feed five thousand people with two fish and five loaves? Is it possible to make wine from water and cause lameness? Is it possible to make the blind see and heal the leper? In other words, not believing in the resurrection means not believing in anything in the Bible. The Bible says that if you try to peel something like an onion and eat something in it, you will have nothing to eat, but if you eat it whole, it becomes the kernel. To believe in some and not believe in some is already believing in nothing.
Some say the resurrection is scientifically impossible. This is a really funny thing to say. How many sciences have proven these mysteries in this vast space? What scientist has proven this infinite universe? Who has figured out what is at the end of the universe? To say that science knows all the phenomena of the universe is truly the ignorance of those who do not know science. Not everything in the world is proven by science. How much more can we prove spiritual things with such material logic? Rather, the world is full of the mystery of God.
If you look at the evidence of the resurrection in the Bible, there are three things.
1) Jesus' prophecy
When Jesus was on the earth, He foretold that He would die on the cross and be resurrected on the third day.
Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem.
The Son of Man was handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they decided to kill him.
handed him over to the Gentiles, reproached him and flogged him,
crucify him, and on the third day he will rise. Matthew 19:18-19
2) empty tomb
The empty tomb is proof of Jesus' resurrection. The tomb where Jesus was buried was sealed and guarded by watchmen of the priests. Therefore, it was impossible to steal the body of Jesus. Rather, the Bible clearly states that when the angels broke the stone door of the tomb, the priests gave money to the guards who had fled to propagate that the disciples had stolen it (Matthew 28:11-15).
3) Testimony of the disciples
It was preached that Christ was raised from the dead
Why do some of you say that there is no resurrection from the dead?
If the dead had not been raised, then Christ would not have been raised.
If Christ is not raised, your faith is in vain.
You will still be in your sins...
If in this life our only hope in Christ is
Of all men, we are the most pitiful place. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
However, Easter does not end with acknowledging and commemorating these historical facts. Easter has the meaning of having faith in the resurrection. What is resurrection faith? Resurrection faith speaks of two things.
First, as Jesus was resurrected, we believe that we too will be resurrected to reach eternal life. Jesus asked, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live even if he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" The resurrection of Jesus guarantees our resurrection and eternal life.
Second, he gave us the faith of hope to live again even if we die. Christians get up again in hope, no matter how discouraged they are. Christians have the faith to start again no matter how much they fall. Saints are people who live for the truth. Those who are called to do the right will of God are saints. Still, we are not that perfect. So you fall, you fall, you get discouraged. Fail, make mistakes, and be disappointed. But 'resurrection faith' makes us rise again. Faith to live again even if we die, faith to rise again even if we fail, faith to hope again in the midst of discouragement, faith to rise again even if we press down, these are 'resurrection faith'.
Although we are afflicted on every side, we are not crushed.
Do not become discouraged even when faced with perplexity
Persecuted, but not forsaken
Even though they are overthrown, they do not perish
that we always carry in our bodies the death of Jesus
that the life of Jesus might also be revealed in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
A Christian is not a believer in the dead. Christian faith is not dead faith. A Christian is one who lives and believes in the living Jesus among us. Therefore, Christians have faith in the cross, not afraid of suffering. We have faith in the resurrection to live again even if we die. In this beautiful spring, when all things are revitalized, just as the withered vegetation of winter sprouts, so there must be a resurrection of faith in your heart, a spring of love, and a resounding echo of prayer.
Lord is risen. May your faith be filled with power even more.
The Lord has bought you again. I hope your prayers will come alive even more fervently. I hope your gratitude overflows again. May your hymns come to life again and your love may abound.
The Lord is risen and is with us today. Even in the midst of discouragement, I hope you will regain strength. Look to the Lord even in the midst of suffering. Please believe in Jehovah Jireh even in the midst of difficulties.
This is the resurrection faith. This morning, I hope you look at the resurrection of Jesus with such an overflowing heart of faith. And I pray that the blessing of the resurrection will fill your family and the whole world.
Download Word of the Day