The Gift that Keeps on Giving! Part IV
The Resurrection of Jesus

I went to the funeral home this week to see a friend who had lost his mother. When I walked in, I expected it to be real quiet and people crying. That wasn't really the case. People were talking and visiting and even laughing at times. While I am sure the family is sad to have lost their loved one, I felt there was an assurance among them that they would see her again which brought comfort and peace.

It is not the death of Jesus that we celebrate. There's not really anything happy or fun about death. His death was neccessary. Without it, there would be no forgiveness for our sins.

But if it all ended there, there really would have been no reason to celebrate. Fortunately for us all, it didn't end there. He died, but death could not hold Him. He was buried, but His body is no longer there. That is why we can celebrate! That is why that family knew they would see their loved one again. Because He lives, we have been promised eternal life if we have confessed our sin and believed His sacrifice was enough to forgive us our sin.

(Hover you mouse curser over the scripture references to read the verses.)

1. He is Alive!

• Old Testament Prophecy: Psalm 16:10-11
• New Testament Fulfillment: Mark 16:6
  

2. Worked out Salvation:

• Old Testament Prophecy: Is 59:16
• New Testament Fulfillment: Heb 9:15

3. New Covenant:

• Old Testament Prophecy: Jer 31:31
• New Testament Fulfillment: Matthew 26:28
  

4. Send the Holy Spirit:

• Old Testament Prophecy: Is 44:3
• New Testament Fulfillment: John 20:22
  

5. He ascended to Heaven:

• Old Testament Prophecy: Psalm 110:1
• New Testament Fulfillment: Acts 2:33-35
  

There are many sceptics out there who do not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is a fact that His body was no longer in the tomb where they placed Him. If He didn't actually rise from the dead, where is His body?

When the guards reported to the authorities that His body was gone, they reported that a bright light came from the tomb and the stone rolled back. They said that it scared them literally into a kind of coma state.

The Bible says that the guards were instructed and paid to tell people they had fallen asleep and the disciples came and stole the body while they were sleeping.

The guards fell asleep while they were guarding the tomb?
That is kind of a funny story to tell. If they had fallen asleep, how would they have known who came to get the body? Besides that, the Roman guards took their work very seriously. Their life depended on it. The Romans perfected torturing and killing. They would not have spared their own if they had fallen asleep on the job. Also, there were four of them on watch together. Those four would stand watch for three hours and then another group of four would take the next three hours. What are the chances of four guards all falling asleep on a three hour watch especially when it was something this important?