Easter Sunday: This Changes Everything
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Greg Waybright
- Acts 25:23-26:26 & Philippians 3:7-10
- Special Sermons
- 26 mins 13 secs
- Views: 1481
Study Notes
This Changes Everything
Acts 25:23 – 26:26; Philippians 3:10-14
This is my 11th Easter at LAC and therefore this is my 11th Easter message. So, I think I’ll speak about the resurrection of Jesus this year! Actually, each year I prepare an Easter sermon, I realize that there are two main parts of the resurrection message that most pastors address at Easter, i.e., on whether the resurrection of Jesus 1) is news to be believed (or, whether it happened) or 2) an experience to be lived (or, does it make a difference). So, I’ve decided this year to speak simply and directly about each of those. As we come to our Scripture reading today, let’s look at passages from the life of the Apostle Paul that speak to those two parts of Easter -- beginning with whether the resurrection happened in history as Paul described it in Acts 25:23 – 26:26.
What we will see in this passage is presented to us as a news report. It’s a part of a courtroom thriller in a section of the Bible we might call, “The Real-Life Adventures of the Apostle Paul.” The chief priests and Jewish leaders, knowing that the Roman Governor Festus was going to be in Caesarea (see https://goo.gl/images/2fwm17), went there to accuse Paul of breaking the Jewish law. But, Paul had heard that these leaders had devised a plot to kidnap him in this process. So, being the Roman citizen that he was, Paul had appealed to Caesar. All this led to a courtroom-like meeting that included the Roman Governor Festus, local King Agrippa and the Apostle Paul. Let us stand now for the reading of this account in God’s Word:
The Resurrection Is News To Be Believed
I want you to notice several things about this report. First, the Apostle Paul, one of the best educated men in his country, knew that Jesus had died. Then, one day, the recently-crucified Jesus met Paul. For the rest of Paul’s life, in good times and bad, he insisted with objectivity and conviction that the event we celebrate each Easter had really happened – and that he was a personal witness to that fact.
I also want you to realize that Paul was just one of many people who were witnesses to Jesus’s resurrection. A group of women were the first to see him. That’s recorded in Matt 28:1-7. Then some followers of Jesus along the road to Emmaus, people who were convinced that Jesus had died and that death was the end of things –but, then met him. Their account is located in Luke 24:13-35. Then, the 11 disciples met him as Luke reports it in Luke 24:36-49. In fact, Jesus met with those disciples a number of times. And, then the big one – about 500 people gave personal testimony to the fact that they had seen the resurrected Jesus. We read about that in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.
All these reports undergird what I just read to you about in Acts 26. Roman Governor Festus was listening contentedly to Paul’s words, until Paul spoke about resurrection from the dead. When Festus heard that, he shouted in 26:24: “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane.”
To this Paul said, "I’m not out of my mind. I’m quite rational. I’m just telling you what happened. And, you can ask King Agrippa about it.” Here, we find Paul making a remarkable statement in Acts 26:26: “The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.”
In other words, this claim that a man who was truly dead had risen from the dead had been witnessed all over the country. Paul is saying, “We know he died – really died. But, we also know he is not dead anymore! He has risen.”
And, do not miss this point: All this had happened just about 15 years before Paul spoke with Herod and Agrippa about it. In other words, the witnesses were still alive. Paul was saying, “The king knows that what I’m talking about is true. The evidence of Jesus being alive is indisputable. I’m not out of my mind.”
I tell you this as we gather this Easter 2018 to let you know that our Christian faith is rooted in history. This one of a number of things that sets our Christian faith apart from most religions. Most religions are either philosophies that need to be grasped (like many Eastern religions) or techniques that need to be practiced (like many rules-based religions) but our Christian faith is founded on news that is to be believed. Jesus really lived. Jesus really died on the cross. And Jesus really rose from the dead. As Paul would say in 1 Cor 15:14, “If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our faith is void – useless – dead!”
After an Easter message, I gave in Chicago a number of years ago, I had a delightful man come up to me and said, “Pastor Waybright, I’m not religious but you gave a good speech today. My wife has been coming to your church and she said you are an educated man. So, I know you had to talk about resurrection today but right now, just between you and me, tell me – you don’t really believe that story happened, do you?”
He went on to tell me what I had heard before, i.e., that he loved Easter as a metaphor of what seems to be dead coming to life, of hopeless people finding hope renewed, etc. He told me Easter is like Spring – with buds coming out on a tree that once seemed to be dead. He told me that it may be that the ancient people were gullible and uninformed and believed in things like miracles. And, he said, some few gullible people still hold on to old religious superstitions but not educated people…”
So, listen to me today: Ancient people were not as gullible and uninformed as we moderns like to think. In the report we heard in Acts 26, when Paul talked about resurrection, the Governor mocked and called him insane. The people back then were not less intelligent than we – and they knew that when a person dies, really dies, that person should not be expected to be eating fish and having meetings (as Jesus did) afterward.
So, if that’s true, why did people all over the world believe in the resurrected Jesus before the end of a century? And the answer to that is found in what Paul said to Festus, “Look at the evidence as the answer to your questions. This resurrection really happened in history. Credible witnesses saw Jesus crucified and then risen. Hundreds of us are witnesses to this. It didn’t happen in a corner. It’s true.”
So, I urge you to face up to your questions about the resurrection of Jesus. Look intently at the evidence. Be skeptical today about your own skepticism. As I said to that skeptical scholar in Chicago, “I do believe Jesus rose from the dead. And I believe if you will look at the evidence carefully, you will too.”
An Experience To Be Lived (Philippians 3:10-14)
I must tell you that simply believing the news that Jesus rose from the grave may not change your life. There are many people who go to church and believe in their heads all that the Bible says about Jesus – but do so and then keep living as they would live if it hadn’t happened at all.
So, let’s now take a moment to see how Paul said the resurrection continued to direct and transform his life. Let’s look at a few words from his testimony about this written while he was in a prison. Let’s turn to Phil 3:10-14 and again stand for the reading of God’s Word.
Today, let’s focus only on those words in v.10: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” I want you to see the context into which the Apostle Paul wrote that sentence.
Before Meeting Jesus: “…of the people of Israel…, of the tribe of Benjamin…, zealous (3:5-6)”
Paul’s words that precede this statement wanting to know the power of the resurrection speak of the life he had lived for before he met Jesus. And, for the people of his world, Paul had lived a pretty sweet life – one that all them would have envied. He mentions just some of the things that he was glad about and proud of:
- That he was a Jewish man –which he still was after meeting Jesus that and was glad about it;
- That he had a good and respected family – and he still had that and was glad about it;
- And, that he had tried to live a good life and keep all of God’s laws – and he still wanted to do that and was glad about it.
But, after he had met Jesus one day on the road to Damascus and experienced God’s mercy, power, love and forgiveness, Paul had developed an identify and longing that eclipsed all the earlier things. He had a new longing, i.e., to know Jesus and to become like him. He would say in a later letter, “I live for the one who loves me, gave his life for me and rose from the dead (2 Cor 5:14).”
After Meeting Jesus: …becoming like Christ… (3:11-14)
Paul followed verse 10 by helping us to know God’s promise for his future. The Apostle Paul knew well that, when we place our faith in Jesus, we are promised that God begin a work in us that he will never give up on. Using Paul’s language from other letters, God promises to make us “complete in Christ”.
So, Paul knew that God wasn’t finished with him yet. See Phil 3:12: “I’m not saying that I have already attained this or arrived at my goal.” But, Paul said, “While I live in this world, I take hold of that promise for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (3:12).” In other words, Paul knew that Jesus didn’t die for us in order to leave us messed up. God is committed to our complete re-making. What does that look like?
- The trials we face (like being in a prison or any other tough place) – will someday be no more.
- The anger that so often consumes us – will be changed into forgiveness.
- In insecurity we so-often grapple with – will be transformed into confidence.
- The sin and failure we give in to – will be turned into deliverance and victory.
How will that happen? I have to invite you back next week to continue with that beautiful story. We’ll be pulling back to look at the larger and wonder-filled story of the Bible that we’re calling “The Biggest Story.” Don’t miss the next 6-7 weeks – and, especially it’s beginning next weekend.
But now, look again at v.10: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” This is what changes us from our current lives into what God says we will be. It starts by knowing Christ. You begin that relationship with Jesus just as Paul did, i.e., by turning your life and all its failures and sins over to him, receiving his forgiveness, and placing your faith in Jesus. That brings you into a relationship that then must grow – as all relationships must grow. But, we need power if our lives are going to be changed.
And when you place in him, you receive the Holy Spirit into your life. This is how what Paul calls the “power of the resurrection” comes into your life. Listen carefully: That is where a new future begins. With the resurrection power of God within, you will see that things can happen that you always longed for but could never do on your own. Paul is saying from this prison, “Even here! -- I have found joy and peace even in a prison because I know Christ is greater than any problems in this world. I even long to share in the fellowship of his sufferings. After all, if Jesus overcame death, then my problems are small for him”
To help you see what this is like, I want to tell you about the most popular tourist attraction on the grounds of St. Peter’s Church in Tewin, England. It’s a tree. http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/images/!/t/tewin/tewin-1.jpg What people from around the world go to Tewin to see is the massive single tree with four trunks that grows over the grave of Lady Anne Grimston, who was buried more than 200 years ago in the church cemetery.
Apparently, Lady Anne Grimston did not believe in life after death so she said to her friends. “It is as unlikely that I shall live after death as that a tree will grow out of my body.” So, she directed that, after her death, a massive concrete slab would be placed over her grave, secured with marble, and locked down, with a fence around it. On the marker were inscribed these words: "This burial place must NEVER be opened."
In time, an acorn, covered over by the stones, began to grow. Slowly it pushed its way through the soil. I want you to see a brief clip of Lady Anne’s burial place now: (Play video here)
It’s true: Growing right from the heart of Lady Anne Grimston’s grave in St. Peter’s churchyard is one of the largest trees in England. The trunk of the tree has grown through the heavy iron railing and the marble masonry of the tomb has shattered to pieces. Be sure of this on Easter 2018: If an acorn has the power to do that – then the power of the resurrection in you is sufficient to change your life.
So, you can leave church today with hope – because the good news of Jesus’s resurrection is not fake news. It’s news to be believed: Jesus is risen! Do you believe it?
But, the resurrection is also an experience to change your life: Through the resurrection power of God at work in you, tomorrow can be different from today. Miracles can happen in you and through – to the glory of God.
Good Friday Study Notes
Good Friday 2018
By his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
- Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, died at the age of 80. He died in peaceful serenity surrounded by a great host of devotees who had embraced his philosophy.
- Confucius died at the age of 72. Though he had suffered many setbacks earlier in his life, at the end he returned to his own home city of Lu having triumphed over all his opponents and having successfully organized a large group of followers devoted to continuing his work.
- Mohammed died at the age of 62. He had enjoyed his last years as political ruler of a united Arabia. He died at his harem in Mecca in the arms of his favorite wife.
So often, I hear people say that the origin of all world religions is basically the same. They point us to people with dynamic personalities who discover some great moral or spiritual truth and dedicate their lives to teaching it, finally succeeding in gaining followers and changing their culture. As far as Buddhism, Confucianism, or Islam are concerned, there's a lot of truth in that opinion. All these were founded by men who died in ripe old age, after a lifetime of teaching, amidst vast popular acclaim, and with the successful future of their movement virtually guaranteed.
In the whole spectrum of world religion, it really is only Christianity that is different ‑‑ because Jesus died at the age of only 33, after a teaching ministry of, at the very most, three years. He had been ostracized by his own people. He'd been betrayed and denied by his own supporters. He'd been mocked and ridiculed by his opponents. He'd been forsaken by everyone; even, he felt on this evening we remember, by his Heavenly Father. And finally, he'd suffered one of the most atrocious, ignominious, agonizing forms of public execution that the cruel imagination of humanity has ever devised.
Jesus died prematurely, tragically, violently, lonely ‑‑ on a cross.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised...
We considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted --
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his stripes we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray…
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:3-6).
And, one of the most startling facts is that Jesus knew that he would have to die this way – he chose to do it. So, why? Why did Jesus die? That’s the question I want to leave you with on this Good Friday, 2018. There is no question that could be asked about our faith that is more important than that. It’s a question that can be asked in two ways: 1) Why? – what motivated him to do it? 2) Why? – what was the purpose of his death.
Why did Jesus die – what motivated him?
Jesus loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
1 John 3:16
Whatever else you take home with you tonight, take this: Jesus knows everything about you and he loves you. He loves you so much that he gave his life for you.
Why did Jesus die – what was the purpose?
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5).
The only way that it would make sense to choose to die because of love would be if there would be some benefit for the one loved‑‑if the one loved were in danger and the only way that she could be kept safe was through the death of the one who loves. Isiah said we are like sheep. And the only way it would make any sense for a loving shepherd to die for his sheep is if there is a danger around‑‑like a wolf. If he dies to save them, then there is love involved. The loving death only makes sense if is a love that desires the salvation of the sheep from enemies. The enemy we face is the one that Jesus faces on Good Friday, i.e., death comes to us all. And, the Bible says, “None of us are ready for it on our own. All of us have sinned. And the wages of sin is death‑‑separation from a holy God. And we know it‑‑though we usually try to ignore it. That wolf comes for each of us and when he comes, robs us of all we live for ‑‑ our wealth, our homes, our friends. We often try to ignore this fact in our younger years but it becomes harder and harder to do so.
The wolf is coming! It's appointed to us all to die and after that, the judgment. That's why we need a shepherd ‑‑ a good shepherd. We need someone who is willing to take death from our midst and bear it himself. That’s what we remember this evening. Why did Jesus die? He died because he loves you and knows you need forgiveness. Why did Jesus die? He died in your place to save you.
With that in your mind and heart, I go to extinguish the final candle even as the music to Phil Wickham’s True Love will be played.
Come close, listen to the story
About a love more faithful than the morning.
The Father gave His only Son to save us.
Good Friday Chinese Study Notes
2018受難節
因他受了鞭傷，我們才得醫治。
以賽亞書53:5
- 佛陀悉達多喬達摩死於80歲。在一大群信奉者簇擁中寧靜中死去。
- 孔子72歲時去世。雖然他早年遭受過很多挫折，但最終他回到了自己的家鄉盧市，勝過所有的對手，並成功地組織了一大批追隨者，致力於繼續他的工作。
- 穆罕默德62歲時去世。他過去幾年擔任聯合阿拉伯的政治統治者。在他最愛的妻子的懷抱中死於麥加的后宮。
我常聽到有人說世界上所有宗教的起源基本上都是一樣的。他們將我們指向具有活力人格的人，他們發現了一些偉大的道德或精神真理，並一生致力於他們的教導，最終成功獲得追隨者並改變他們的文化。就佛教，儒教或伊斯蘭教而言，這個觀點有很多事實。这些人活到足歲，一生致力与教育，廣受歡迎和好評，基本可以保证他們的运动成功之后死去的。
在整個世界宗教的範圍內，真的只有基督教截然不同，因為耶穌死的时候只有33歲，經過最多三年的传道。他被自己的人民所排斥，被自己的支持者背叛和否認，他被對手讥讽和嘲笑，他被所有人拋棄; 就在这个记念他的晚上，他感到甚至他的天父也遗弃了他。最後，他遭受了極盡人類可以做出的最惡毒、最殘酷、最可恥的公開處決。
耶穌過早地死了，悲慘、殘酷、孤獨地死在十字架上。
他 被 藐 視 ， 被 人 厭 棄 ；
多 受 痛 苦 ， 常 經 憂 患 。
他 被 藐 視 ， 好 像 被 人 掩 面 不 看 的 一 樣 ； 我 們 也 不 尊 重 他 。
他 誠 然 擔 當 我 們 的 憂 患 ， 背 負 我 們 的 痛 苦 ；
我 們 卻 以 為 他 受 責 罰 ， 被 神 擊 打 苦 待 了 。
哪 知 他 為 我 們 的 過 犯 受 害 ， 為 我 們 的 罪 孽 壓 傷 。
因 他 受 的 刑 罰 ， 我 們 得 平 安 ；
因 他 受 的 鞭 傷 ， 我 們 得 醫 治 。
我 們 都 如 羊 走 迷 ； 各 人 偏 行 己 路 ；
耶 和 華 使 我 們 眾 人 的 罪 孽 都 歸 在 他 身 上 。以賽亞書53:3-6
而且，最令人吃驚的事實之一是，耶穌知道他必須這樣死 - 他選擇了這樣做。所以為什麼？耶穌為何而死？這就是我想在2018年的這個難忘的星期五給你留下的問題。毫無疑問，我們的信仰比這更重要。這是個可以用兩種方式提出的問題：1）為什麼？ - 是什麼促使他去做的？ 2）為什麼？ - 他去世的目的是什麼？
耶穌為甚麼受死 – 是什麼促使他這樣做？
耶穌愛我們，為我們捨命，是獻給神馨香的祭。
約翰一書 3:16
無論今晚你有什麼其它收獲，毋忘：耶穌深知你的一切，他愛你。他非常愛你，所以他為你獻出了自己的生命。
耶穌為何而死 –他的目的何在 ？
他 誠 然 擔 當 我 們 的 憂 患 ， 背 負 我 們 的 痛 苦 ；
我 們 卻 以 為 他 受 責 罰 ， 被 神 擊 打 苦 待 了 。
哪 知 他 為 我 們 的 過 犯 受 害 ， 為 我 們 的 罪 孽 壓 傷 。 （ 以賽亞書 53:4-5).
選擇因愛而死的唯一的理由就是被愛的人受益。如果被愛的人處於危險之中，她唯一轉危為安的是透過愛她的人的死。以賽亞說我們像羊一樣。唯一叫牧羊人為羊而死的原因就是羊處在危險當中－比如受到狼的威脅。如果他為了拯救他們而死，那就牽涉到愛。唯有渴望從仇敵手中拯救羊的生命，這樣為愛而死才有意義。我們面對的仇敵就是耶穌在受難日所面對的敵人，就是死臨到眾人。而且，聖經說：“我們沒有一個人可以靠自己足以面對死亡。眾人都犯了罪。而罪的工價是與聖潔的上帝分離。我們都知道－儘管我們通常不理睬它。那隻狼會衝著我們每一個人來，當它來的時候，它剝奪我們為之生存的一切－我們的財富、我們的家、我們的朋友。我們在比較年輕的歲月常常不去面對這個事實，但死亡會日日逼近。
狼來了！ 命定中人人都有一死，死後且有審判。這就是為什麼我們需要一個牧羊人──一個好牧羊人。我們需要一個願意從我們中間拿去死亡的，而擔在他自己的身上。這是我們今天晚上要記住的。耶穌為什麼死亡？他死了，因為他愛你，他深知你需要寬恕。耶穌為何而死？他乃是為救你替你而死。
願你心中牢記。Phil Wickham的“真愛”音樂響起的時候，我會熄滅最後一支蠟燭。
就近來，聆聽這一故事
他愛的信實勝過每個日出的清晨
天父賜下獨生愛子拯救我們
Questions for Reflection
- In Acts Paul says that he did not initially respond to the good news of the Gospel. He actively persecuted Christians. Have you ever received news that you did not want to believe?
- Paul claims that his message is true and reasonable. Are there parts of the Christian story that do not seem reasonable to you? What makes you so skeptical?
- In Philippians Paul has tremendous conviction about Jesus Christ. Why is he so confident? How do you normally respond when other people are so confident about something?
- A life with God is still a work in progress. Paul says in Philippians 3:12 that he has not yet reached his goal. Can we experience God in our lives even when we do not have everything together?
- One of the most fundamental messages of Easter is that Christ really does have the power to change our lives. What is one area of your life right now where you need to experience the power of God?