Jesus died

Jesus rose

So what?

What’s the Big Deal about the resurrection of Jesus Christ? What is Easter about? Is it just a nice story? Does it actually bring meaning and power to my life?
He Said It
Jesus literally told us how he was going to die and how he was going rise on the third day…
They Saw It
There are hundreds of witnesses to the event…
They Told it
This Truth of the Resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it… They began to tell the story…
Others believed it
The people who hear this story can also have a resurrection. They can encounter a live Christ also…
The Big Deal about the resurrection is that the same Jesus is still raising people to life.

What's the big deal about the Resurrection? Easter at Redemption Church from Redemption Church on Vimeo.

What’s the big deal about the resurrection?

Sermon notes by Chris Fluitt

Redemption Church – A Nondenominational Church that believes Jesus is alive and well in Plano Texas!

**Bumper Video – EASTER
Welcome

He died
He rose
So what?

Christ has risen from the dead… but so what? What does that have to do with me and you? It is a nice story… it is an amazing story… but is that all it is? What’s the big deal about the resurrection?

If the resurrection of Jesus holds meaning for our life then it needs to be more than accident. If the act of resurrection is for us, then it must be more than a made up story.. it needs to be more than “oops the roman soldiers made a mistake, he wasn’t really dead.”
If the act of resurrection is for us, then it must be literally a miracle. And if Jesus is everything He claims to be then He should know about it before hand…
He said it…
Jesus said himself that He would die and be resurrected. He does this more than once. This means it was not an accident. It was purposeful and deliberate.
Matthew 20:17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them,(NIV)
Matthew 20:18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death(NIV)
Matthew 20:19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”(NIV)
Jesus tells us that He lays down His life and that He will raise it up again.
John 10:18 No one takes it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Now if some guy tells you they are dying but will raise themselves back to life 3 days later… you don’t have much reason to believe them. It is logical to think they are crazy. BUT if on the third day they are standing in front of you resurrected… then that is a big deal.
He said it… Jesus said He would die and rise again. When someone makes that CRAZY of a claim… that impossible of a prophecy… and actually brings it to pass… That is a big deal. In Fact you should trust whatever else they have to say.
Can I remind you that this same Jesus said…

He will return for us
Will send God’s Holy Spirit to infill us
That He is not far from us.. He is with us always..
That whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have their own resurrection… they shall have eternal life

If you believe the resurrection is true, you better believe everything else He has to say!

They saw it…
This resurrection was witnessed. But first let me point out what went down as Jesus drew his final breaths on the cross.

Matthew 27:50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.(NIV)
Matthew 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.(NIV)
Now this is a big deal! The Pharisees and priests, many of whom called for the crucifixion of Jesus… as Jesus died the veil, the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies, God’s presence, was ripped in two. These priests walked back into their temple and were met with something no man could do. This very tall and very thick veil was torn from the top to the bottom. They had to know that it was God who ripped it.
The earth shook and rocks split. The sky grew dark according to Matthew 27:45 and covered the land.
Matthew 27:45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.(NIV)
At a time when the sun should have been shining… but there are more witnesses…
Matthew 27:52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.(NIV)
What!? As Jesus died on the cross, other people are raised to life! Sound like a big deal?

On that Sunday morning we are told about some women who went to see the body of Jesus Christ… They made their way to the tomb…
Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.(NIV)
Mark 16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.(NIV)
Mark 16:6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.(NIV)
They see an angel… but they do not find the dead body of Jesus. They are told HE HAS RISEN.
Paul who converted later gives us a time line of some who witnessed a risen savior..
1 Corinthians 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.(NIV)
WAIT!? Hold up! 500 people witnessed a resurrected Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:8 and last of all he appeared to me also…
Jesus appeared to those who were not believers. James the half-brother of Jesus was not a believer… until he saw a resurrected Jesus. And Paul was in complete opposition of the message of Jesus… until he himself encountered a very alive Jesus Christ.

They told it…
These people who saw Jesus then told others about Him. Even though it might cost them their lives and freedom. They knew that what they had witnessed was real.
They were not ashamed of this resurrected Lord.
Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.(NIV)

Others believed..
Peter tells a crowd of people about Jesus in Acts 2. They ask what they can do… Peter tells in them, in Acts 2:38, to..

Repent – To turn your life around.. to turn toward Jesus
Be Baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin – All of your shame, all your regret, all your sin can be washed away by Jesus.
Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit – The very presence of God can live inside of you.
3000 SOULS WERE SAVED BY JESUS THAT DAY! Jesus can save you today. That is a big deal.

MUSICIAN
Without the resurrection…
What would it be like if there were no resurrection?
It’s safe to say that we wouldn’t be here today at Redemption Church. It’s likely that the followers of Jesus just disband after the death of Jesus. They certainly had no reason to give their life for a dead man who lied to them.
And if for some reason they tried to build a religion based on a dead guy… Paul says it would be like this…
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.(NIV)
If there is no resurrection your faith is useless and you are still buried in your sin.
If there is no resurrection all those that have gone before are gone forever.
If there is no resurrection.. if the hope we find in the story of Jesus Christ only exists in this life… and it doesn’t have the power to take us into a new life… then we are pitied more than anyone.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.(NIV)
How big of a deal is the resurrection of Jesus? Sin and death came through a man named Adam… and it impacted everyone. ..But forgiveness and resurrection of the dead come through a man named Jesus… and it impacts everyone.
It is not just Jesus’ resurrection… It is your resurrection also.

He died
He rose
Even if you die
You can live again

Do you want a resurrection?

He said it… will you believe what He said?
They encountered a very alive Jesus… do you want to encounter Jesus today?
They told others… they gave their life… they were not ashamed… Will you? If you say yes… that is the biggest deal

We are going to open this altar for a time of communion, worship, and prayer.
Everyone is welcome to share in communion with us. Please make your way to the front..

Redemption Church

We meet every sunday afternoon in Plano Texas. 3pm worship!

We meet in the Ivy International School on the North East corner of Parker and Alma

Hope to see you next sunday. :)