Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.slbc.org.au/sermons/92560/he-is-risen/.

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[0:00] It'll work. Hello? Yes. Christ is rising. Okay. He's risen indeed.! What language is this one?

[0:37] German. For real this time. Christus uns aufststanden. Okay. Any other languages?

[0:48] Over here. I'm sorry. Colombian. Christus renasio de la muerte. He's risen indeed.

[0:59] Absolutely. Hello? Jesus est opgestan. I did do it. Afrikaans. Afrikaans. All right. And another language.

[1:11] Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on. We can't hear you. Come on, Nikki. Le Christ est ressuscité. French. French. All right. Fantastic. Well, that'll do.

[1:24] The gospel of Jesus is for all nations. And as you look at Luke later on this morning, in a minute or two, you'll see that the gospel is to be preached in repentance of sins to all nations.

[1:37] So, there you go. All nations are welcome. And it's lovely to have all the nations being able to be heard here this morning. Come back to Luke 24. I want to finish off the reading of Luke 24 and then move to 1 Peter chapter 1.

[1:52] So, let's go back to Luke and finish off the reading in Luke chapter 24. So, pick it up there at verse 36.

[2:04] As they were talking about these things, this is the disciples, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, peace to you.

[2:18] But they were startled and frightened and thought they'd seen and saw a spirit. And he said to them, why are you troubled and why doubts arise in your hearts?

[2:30] See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet and while they still disbelieved for joy and were marvelling, he said to them, have you anything here to eat?

[2:55] They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it before them. Then he said to them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

[3:11] Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures and said to them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.

[3:29] Beginning from Jerusalem, you are witnesses of these things and behold, I'm sending the promise promise of my father upon you but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

[3:41] And he led them out as far as Bethany and lifting up his hands, he blessed them and while he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple blessing God.

[3:57] This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. All right, well let's stick with Luke from 1 minute to 2, we'll get to 1 Peter in a minute. So, the Christian life is one of continual repentance and faith.

[4:10] That's what it is. That's the essence of the Christian life. And that's what Jesus was preaching here at the very end after he'd risen from the dead.

[4:23] The thing is, God has placed eternity in the hearts of man. So, the preacher says in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 1, and the one thing that people want, I think, is immortality.

[4:38] The Egyptians wanted it. The pharaohs set themselves up for the afterlife. The Chinese emperors wanted it. They also set themselves up for things beyond this world.

[4:52] Other religions have various forms of it. The reincarnation for the Hindu, ruling the planets for the Mormon and life in paradise for the Muslim.

[5:02] And I think our society is trying to stave off death as long as possible. I think that's what the cosmetic industry is all about.

[5:15] Producing all kinds of potions to reverse the effects of ageing. The anti-ageing creams, if you like. The gymnasiums are into it as well, I think.

[5:27] That's why we pay for memberships that we never use. The health food industry knows that we kind of want to live a long life, maybe live forever. Which is why we have all kinds of special health food diets and promising great health.

[5:43] And the health industry knows it. All the medicine, all that kind of stuff. I think they're doing a great job at raising the average life expectancy in the West.

[5:53] Our society has a warped kind of resurrection hope. I think you'd agree. It generally assumes that loved ones have gone to a better place once they've died.

[6:06] And they're up there watching us. Actually living forever in some kind of spiritual state that we will go and join them in. I wonder if there's a drug that we could take that would cure every disease and stop us from dying and stopping ageing.

[6:27] Give us eternal life in this world. What would you be willing to pay for it? I'm sure that there would be a long queue trying to get a hold of this drug, whatever the price was.

[6:44] Jesus offers everything the world wants. Jesus offers eternal life for those who repent and believe.

[6:55] Jesus offers eternal life for those who repent and believe. And he is the one who's able to give it because he's conquered death. But for some strange reason, people generally speaking in our world don't want to receive it.

[7:11] Although from all reports there seems to be a bit of a resurgence around the place at the moment going on of younger people wanting to find out about Jesus, which is lovely to hear.

[7:22] It might be that you're here this morning wanting to know. I'm glad you're here. Wanting to hear a message of hope in a world that's short on it at the moment. If that's you, we're glad you've come in the right place.

[7:36] Well, we've read the story, the account of the resurrection. In Luke chapter 24, it's Sunday, the first day of the week, early in the morning. Women have gone to anoint Jesus' body with spices that they had prepared.

[7:52] Not sure how they thought they were going to get into Jesus' body, into the tomb, the stone that's in the way there. But that's of no concern now because the stone's rolled away. But Jesus' body's not there.

[8:06] And that's a cause for concern. And they are perplexed. Did you see that in the first couple of verses there, Luke chapter 24? The women met two angels who startled them.

[8:20] And the angels say that Jesus risen from the dead. He's not there. He's gone. The truth is, Jesus is not in the tomb. Now, people have argued that the women might have gone to the wrong tomb.

[8:38] But we know from just a couple of verses beforehand that they knew which one it was because they had seen Joseph of Arimathea lay the body in the tomb. Some have argued that the body was stolen by the disciples.

[8:53] But if that was the case, well, why would they die for a lie saying that Jesus was alive? Some have argued that his body was buried in a different tomb.

[9:04] But if that's the case, we'll just go to the right tomb and find it for us and produce the body. Some have argued that he didn't die on the cross, that it was just a deep coma.

[9:17] In the cool tomb, he sort of come back to consciousness, rolled back the stone without any weapons, took on the Roman guard.

[9:28] After he'd been flayed to the point where his bones were showing and after having had a spear shoved in his side, the simplest answer is still the best.

[9:41] God raised Jesus from the dead to life. All in accordance with what Jesus said must happen. All through Luke's Gospel, there's a divine imperative, right?

[9:56] A resurrection imperative that he must suffer and he must rise. And we hear it again three times in Luke chapter 24. There's this resurrection imperative.

[10:09] Suffer and rise, suffer and rise, suffer and rise. You see it back there in Luke 24 verse 7. Have a look at it with me. Luke 24 verse 7. The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified on the third day.

[10:25] Rise. Remember how he told you all in Galilee, he said. You heard this message.

[10:39] The truth is, Jesus is not in the tomb. One of the greatest turning points in Luke's Gospels in chapter 9.

[10:51] It's one of the great turning points in the Apostle of Peter's life. When he recognised that Jesus was the Christ, the anointed King of the Jews. And straight away, Jesus says, keep the news to yourself, Peter.

[11:04] Don't tell anybody. And he's told that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and scribes and be killed on the third day rise.

[11:14] Jesus knew what was before him. For him to be the Son of God in power, he must die and he must rise again after being crucified, having paid the penalty for sin and defeated the power of death.

[11:31] Now the women should have known that. But who would ever expect someone to rise from the dead? Be king, yes, that's good.

[11:42] Die, well, everyone dies. But rise again, that seems a bit far-fetched, Jesus. Although Jesus has done some amazing things in his life.

[11:57] He had raised people from the dead while he was alive. A widow's son back in Luke chapter 7. Jairus' daughter in Luke chapter 8. Though Jesus' rising is different to their rising.

[12:12] Jesus was risen and rose and given a resurrection body to live forever, never to die again. The people that Jesus raised from the dead while he was walking around the planet were resuscitated and would die again as all people die.

[12:28] The resurrection is yet to happen. But the women found the disciples in and they'd gone and told them that Jesus has risen from the dead.

[12:44] And yet when the disciples hear it from the women, they don't believe it was true. It's just an idle tale. Nonsense actually. Totally devoid of any reason for belief.

[12:55] Dead people stay dead. And yet the angels were just reminding the women, right, of what Jesus had said himself.

[13:08] And had told the disciples before he was crucified. well as the day goes on we meet two men walking dejectedly to Emmaus they had seen what had happened in Jerusalem just a few days beforehand they had pinned their hopes on Jesus who somehow just suddenly sort of starts walking beside them and talking to them come to verse 18 come to verse 18 then one of them named Cleopas answered him are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days and he said to them what things and they said to him concerning Jesus of Nazareth the man who was a prophet mighty indeed and word before God and all people and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him well they had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel yes and besides all this it's now the third day since all these things happened after Jesus done some amazing things right healed sick driven out demons walked on water raised people to life again he was the prophet who spoke for God taught God's words in the temple just as Moses had been powerful in words and deed Jesus is a prophet like Moses and the one who was promised way back in Deuteronomy chapter 18

[14:57] Moses was remembered as the one who led God's people out of slavery redeemed them at one level rescued them from Egypt and brought them on the way to the promised land mighty in word and deed was Moses Moses redeemed Israel how disappointing didn't turn out that way for Jesus I mean he's dead we'd hoped he'd rescue us from the Romans bringing about the golden age of Israel yet they should have known that like most of God's faithful prophets he must be rejected must suffer and even dies they died in their faithfulness to God but somehow they had heard the tomb was empty verse 24 have a look at it with me some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said but him they did not see it hadn't dawned on them that Jesus was alive and then for a second time we hear the pattern as Jesus himself speaks to these two men on the road to Emmaus verse 25 oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe that all the prophets have spoken was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer and these things and enter his glory and beginning with Moses and all the prophets he explained the scriptures to himself about himself it was necessary for him to suffer and then to rise again to enter his glory rise from the dead and begin his glorious reign as king of the kingdom and so have redeemed Israel having heard Jesus open the scriptures to them they are just it's astounding their hearts burn and they turn tail and go seven miles back to Jerusalem and tell the disciples that Jesus has indeed risen after suffering death on the cross so the women have told the disciples

[17:29] Cleopas and his mate have told the disciples and now Jesus turns up and tells the disciples apparently having already appeared to Peter Simon Peter he appears to them in his resurrection body and he gets them to touch his body and see his body it's a real physical body which is now scarred for all eternity look at his hands and feet he's not a ghost and we hear for the third time the divine imperative this is his repeated thrust in Luke 24 this is what God wants us to remember suffer and rise suffer and rise suffer and rise and he tells his disciples again that the scriptures say that the Christ had to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead see verse 46 thus it is written the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem you are witnesses of these things suffer for sins paying the penalty for our sins and on the third day rise from the dead conquering death which makes him the one who will judge the world with justice which makes him the one who gives eternal life to all who repent and receive forgiveness in his name and the message verse 47 repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem repentance and forgiveness for sins is found in his name and his name alone for his name is the name above all names there is power in his name to accomplish things it's by renouncing other names and swearing allegiance to his name that forgiveness for sins is found there's no forgiveness in any other religion there's no forgiveness in any other philosophy there's no forgiveness in any other culture

[19:52] Jesus suffered death for our sins and was raised for our justification so we read in Romans chapter 4 to make us right with God just as if we'd never sinned because he is righteous because he was righteous he's been raised not just to life but he's ascended into the highest place we'll look at the ascension next week but this is such great news to the disciples that is extraordinarily hard for them to believe it's just it makes them just incredibly fantastically happy they're joyous and jumping around the Lord is alive he's conquered the grave risen to life it's true we get excited over different things I mean I get excited over meaningless things you see the joy of people rejoicing in winning the lottery and finding it hard to believe that dropping the phone

[21:05] Jesus rising to life again is infinitely better than that because it gives us a resurrection hope come to 1 Peter come over a few more pages over to 1 Peter chapter 1 it's just after the book of Hebrews 1 Peter chapter 1 and have a look at it when we're there we'll just read verses 3 to 5 blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his great mercy he's caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that's imperishable undefiled unfading kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time we have a resurrection hope new birth being born again every one of us was born once by a mother that's a miracle in itself don't get me wrong but those who trust in the Lord

[22:44] Jesus Christ have been born again we have two birthdays alright one we celebrate when we come into the world and the other when we're born into the kingdom of God given new birth into a living hope a real hope a viable hope a certain hope that we've been made new creatures born again no longer the same we're not defined by our earthly life by our past sins we've been born again a fresh start and that's been made possible by Jesus resurrection from the dead without it there's no hope without the resurrection of Jesus we could not be born again but because of his resurrection we have not because we deserve it we certainly couldn't earn it as in accordance with God's great mercy he made it happen we didn't make it happen our new birth gives us certain hope that we have a resurrection to a new body fit for heaven one like Jesus physical now that is great news and our body will have no scars that's what Jesus made possible by his resurrection from the dead it's not wishful thinking of people saying that someone's gone to a better place it's not a false hope of world religions it's not the pride of emperors thinking that they will live forever it's not a vain hope of entering some afterlife of some mystical place maybe if I've done good enough it's a certain hope of those who have heard the message to repent of their sins and making themselves the rules of themselves and their world and relying on

[24:50] Jesus and the resurrection for the forgiveness of their sins the resurrection of Jesus guarantees the forgiveness of sins things and new birth into a living hope which brings great joy because what the men on the road to Emmaus were hoping for has actually come the redemption of Israel Jesus by his death and resurrection has established the kingdom of God rescue for the Jews who will follow their great prophet like Moses the great king David the eternal son of God into a kingdom far far greater than the one that David and his son Solomon brought in and this redemption they long for is not just for the Jews but forgiveness of sins for all nations it's good news for every nation every tribe every culture every nation every person is blessed by hearing this news that Jesus has conquered death the joy of this inheritance is a new joy undefiled imperishable inheritance is coming been stored in the kingdom of heaven

[26:13] God has placed it there and guards it there and we will receive it it's guaranteed God himself is guarding it better than Fort Knox it's going to be revealed to us on that last day the day that Jesus returns in all his glory all the treasures of heaven are coming salvation from the coming wrath of God God's perfect provision for us all perfect relationships perfect bodies perfect health perfect rest is coming we don't see it just yet but it will having believed in the resurrection now so there's an appropriate response in it to the truth of this resurrection and Jesus called us there in Luke chapter 24 to there's repentance and there's rejoice the resurrection response firstly is repentance the Christian life is one of continual repentance and faith repentance from sin trusting in the finished work of

[27:20] Jesus to forgive us for our sins that was the message that Jesus commanded his disciples to preach and it's the message we've got to keep preaching to the world and keep preaching to ourselves notice it's a message that goes out from Jerusalem no longer did the nations come into Jerusalem to hear that message now that message goes out from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth in fact it's impossible for the nations to find the message in Israel in Jerusalem the temple was destroyed repentance is to change your mind no longer denying the resurrection of Jesus no longer doubting the resurrection of Jesus no longer living in rebellion to the king of the kingdom but believing in him which then leads to a joy which transcends all joys that we could ever have in this world how can we not rejoice the disciples were filled with great joy in having heard of Jesus and seen

[28:30] Jesus alive and we are filled with inexpressible joy as our hopes transcend anything this world can give any inheritance this world can give any inheritance this world might offer what the world longs for what the world dreams for having eternal life we who believe have been granted and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and that's something to jump up and down about that's something to dance about that's something to live for that's something to sing about that's real and lasting joy for us all so I'm going to pray and then we'll sing let's pray now father in heaven we thank you for the great news of Jesus conquering death and rising to life to bring about forgiveness of sins to bring a repentance to the nations we pray father that we would be those who live this message and believe this message trusting in what all that Jesus accomplished and that through us the message of Jesus might continue to go out to the nations repentance and forgiveness of sins is found in his name thank you for the certain hope of eternal life thank you for the great joy that is please help us to live as those people who know these things and to enjoy you now and to enjoy living you forever we pray in

[30:06]  Jesus name amen