Have you ever thought of sin as if it were a person or some evil spirit who shouts out commands at you? Be Angry! Do the selfish thing! Put your desires before everyone elses! You know it’s the wrong thing to do, but you do it anyway. You just can’t seem to stop yourself. It’s as though you have no choice, you must obey. Sin used to have power and authority over us. But because of the resurrection, now Jesus has authority over us. We don’t have to listen to sin anymore! When Jesus was raised from the dead, He conquered death. He conquered sin. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can tell sin, No!We can choose to follow Jesus. (This week, as you feel tempted to be angry or selfish, will you ask Jesus to remind you that He is your Lord and not sin?)
In your lesson this week, you read about how Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to Jesus’ tomb. They had brought spices with them and were planning to give Jesus a proper burial, something that could not be done until after the Sabbath. As they got to the tomb, they began to feel an earthquake, and saw an angel that came down from heaven and rolled the stone away. The angel opened the tomb not to let Jesus out, but to show that Jesus was no longer inside.The guards were so afraid, they fainted right there. But the angel invited the women into the tomb to show them the proof that Jesus had risen, and gave them a message for the disciples. When the women left, they were happy, but they were also afraid.
In biblical times, women did not have the same respect that women have here in America today. They were belittled in their society, and they were not considered to be a reliable source for anything. Could it be that they feared that no one would believe what they had seen? No one would trust that their testimony was true? They probably felt they were not worthy or the right people to carry out Jesus’ command to tell the others. But the Lord often chooses those who are considered the least or the most unlikely source to tell His message, and to carry out His plan. What is the Lord calling you to do? Are you scared? Do you feel inadequate or unprepared? Jesus knew how these women felt. He appeared to them, reassuring them, saying, "Do not be afraid. Go…" He tells us the same thing today, and He promises to always be with us as we carry out His work. Are you trusting in Him to provide the words and the faith that is necessary as you tell others about His resurrection?
As the women were on their way to the disciples, the guards went to the chief priests and told them everything that had happened. The Jewish leaders panicked. They paid the guards to spread a lie that the disciples had stolen the body while they were asleep. The guards, not knowing what else to do, took the money and spread the lie. This false story is still being told today. Jew and Gentile alike still believe in it.
How do you think the leaders and guards felt as time went on and their lie spread? Did they start to believe that it was true themselves? Did they ever feel guilt or remorse? Did they realize they had fallen away from doing God’s work, the very thing that they claimed to devote their life to? Did they live in fear of someone finding out?
This one little lie has caused so many people to fall away from God. People had a choice to make back then, to believe the disciples or to believe the Jewish leaders who tried to deny the resurrection and explain it away. Choosing to believe the disciples meant suffering rejection and hostility from the leaders of their day. It was not an easy choice. In fact, it probably seemed much easier to believe the lie. But the resurrection is a historical fact. Let’s consider the evidence:
1. If the disciples were to make up a story, they would not have chosen women, who were considered an unreliable source, as the first people to see Jesus alive.
2. The guards were at great risk of execution if the body was stolen. It is not likely that they would have spread a story that it was. If they had been caught by the Roman Govenor, it would have surely meant death. Instead, they would have tried to cover it up.
3. Sleeping guards would not have known who stole the body anyway.
4. The seal that was placed around the stone made it next to impossible to get in
5. More than 500 people saw Jesus alive over a period of 40 days
6. Matthew’s gospel was written at a time when the people who saw Jesus were still alive and could have disputed the story if it wasn’t true.
7. These 12 apostles and other believers were so sure of what they had seen, they devoted their entire lives to telling others. Some even died for it. Would you die for something that you knew was a lie?
Coming back from the dead does seem pretty far-fetched doesn’t it? And yet that is exactly what happened. We too, must choose who to believe. There are many today who, like the Jewish leaders, try to deny the resurrection and explain it away or even ignore it. What about you? Who do you believe? And if you do believe in Jesus’ resurrection, what are you doing about it? Are you choosing to give a true report to those around you? Are you resisting the temptation to lie or stay quiet?
Jesus’ resurrection is key to the Christian faith:
1. It shows that God is sovereign. He kept His promise and fulfilled all the prophecies. We know that we can trust Him to accomplish everything He has promised us, including His second coming and the bodily resurrection of all who believe.
2. Jesus’ resurrection proves that He has power over death and therefore can give us eternal life. It proves that He conquered sin, the wages of which is death. And it no longer has power over us.
3. He proves His authority in Heaven and Earth-God’s eternal Kingdom. He is our a spiritual King who can overcome all evil and rule in the heart of every person.
4. And we are given power through the Holy Spirit to help bring others to a new life in Christ.
When the disciples got to Galilee and saw Jesus, they worshipped Him. But there were some who still did not believe! Jesus had no ill will toward the disciples. He had forgiven them for deserting Him at the cross. As He spoke to them, He affectionately called them His brothers. He didn’t even get upset with those who were still doubting. Jesus knew what was in their heart. How easily do you forgive those who sin against you? Do you forgive even when they don’t apologize? Do you give them your trust again? Are you willing to help them overcome their sin and lovingly give them what they need? This is what Jesus did for the disciples.
With love in His eyes and in His heart, Jesus reassured those who were doubting, He told the disciples that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to Him. He really was the King, the Messiah. Not just the King of Israel, but the King of everything, of everyone. including you and me.
Jesus told them to go and make disciples of all nations. He trusted them to carry out His great commission, the same men who had abandoned Him when He needed them most. This is what Jesus does for us. He forgives all our sins, even the ones we commit over and over again and He trusts us to carry out the work He has for us.
How can we do that? He tells us "teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Baptism symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live God’s way. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we also accept the Holy Spirit who then lives within us. We are turning away from (or dying to) our sin and turning to a new life in Christ.
Telling others about Jesus may seem like a job for experts such as a Pastor, or a Missionary, or someone special whom Jesus has called. Perhaps you feel as though you have no power or that no one will listen to you. It may seem like an impossible task. But Jesus Christ’s commission to make disciples of all nations is for every believer. It is not an option but a command. He has given us all we need to accomplish His will. Remember He gave the promise, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." It is true that you and I can not in ourselves and our own strength convince anyone to receive Christ. But He endwells and empowers those who believe and obey Him.This is all we need. As we obey, we can take comfort in knowing that He is with us. What are you doing to obey His commission? Have you talked to Jesus about who He wants you to share the news of His resurrection with? Is there someone He wants you to pray for? Who might be waiting for you to invite them to church to learn about Jesus? The command is simple: Go and make disciples. The promise is also simple: Jesus will go with you.
No comments:
Post a Comment