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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: Always on the look out for interesting life changing sayings, the right words to explain
profound truths. I found a great resource while on vacation. Murphy’s Law Book 2
- most expensive item I bought for myself $1.00.
Murphy’s Law - If anything can go wrong it will.
O’toole’s Commentary on Murphy’s Law - Murphy was an optimist
After things have gone from bad to worse, the cycle will repeat itself.
When you don’t know what you are doing, do it neatly.
Home workshop rules:
- The one wrench or drill bit you need will be the one missing from the tool chest.
- Most projects require three hands.
- Leftover nuts never match leftover bolts.
- The more carefully you plan a project, the more confusion there will be when
something goes wrong.
Shopping rules
- If you like it, they don’t have it in your size.
- If you like it and it is in your size, it doesn’t fit anyway.
- If you like it and it fits, you can’t afford it.
- If you like it, it fits, and you can afford it, it falls away the first time you
wear it.
The other line moves faster. If you change lines, the one you left will start moving faster
than the one you are now in.
If the weather is extremely bad, church attendance will be down.
If the weather is extremely good, church attendance will be down.
Every professor assumes that you have nothing else to do except study for that
professor’s class.
The one course you must take to graduate will not be offered your last semester.
The more boring and out-of-date the magazines in the waiting room, means the longer you have
to wait for your scheduled appointment. When you start reading an interesting article, then
they will call you.
The first bug to hit your clean windshield does so directly in front of your eyes.
Today’s Our Daily Bread: “More has been gained in the resurrection of Jesus than was
lost in the fall.” Praise the Lord.
This is Easter Sunday, and Jesus has some profound words for us that we can quote, and better
believe and put into practice. The Text Luke 22:44-49.
These words of Jesus are a summary of His post resurrection teachings, “These are my words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you" - this is bottom line of what Jesus was
teaching. These words recorded for us tell us now what Jesus’ life was all about then and what
we must believe and practice now. As the Resurrected Lord, Jesus says to us on this Resurrection
Sunday three transcendent and timeless truths:
1. The Resurrected Lord Jesus is the Fulfillment of prophecy. vs. 44-45
- He opened their minds - The Scriptures finally make sense, light bulb. “Aha”
“I get it now” moments. I hope you have had those moments too.
- Jesus reminds disciples that every part of the Hebrew Scriptures spoke of Him - all
three divisions. He did the same thing with the two on the road to Emmaus v. 27.
- To understand the New Testament, we need to know some about O. T.
- 333 prophecies concerning the Messiah coming in OT.
ILLUS: 33 were fulfilled in one day. Chances are 1 in 26,525 and 28 zeros. The other
300 in one person’s lifetime - 1 in 2,037,035,796, and 90 zeros. (Elmer Ubbank,
Shofar Magazine, 1982)
- Predictions about Jesus from Genesis 3:15 to Malachi 3:1. When the wise men
came to King Herod, the chief priests and scribes knew the Messiah would be born in
Bethlehem Matt.2:4-6. Today Jews read their Scriptures and still miss Jesus -
they have blinded eyes and hearts.
- Jesus is the long awaited Messiah, the Savior of the World.
ILLUS: Mission statement of Jews for Jesus: “We exist to make the Messiahship
of Jesus an Unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide.”
- Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead boldly proclaims Jesus has
fulfilled all prophecies of the Messiah, the Savior of the world.
2. The Resurrected Lord Jesus is the Gospel message. vs. 46-47
- Suffer: Psalm 22:1-21; Isa 53:1-9
- Rise again: 17 separate texts in OT: Psalm 16:10; Jonah 1:17; Hos. 6:2
- 15 Messianic Psalms 2,8, 22,23,24, 72, 118, etc.
- Repentance. Many times Israel was told to repent of their sin, turn from their
iniquities: Isaiah 30:15 Ezekiel 14:6. Thread of OT, life of the nation a cycle
of generations: God’s call, then believe, then sin and suffer consequences, then
repent be blessed, etc.
- John the Baptist preached repentance Mark 1:4-5
- Jesus began His ministry Mark 1:15 “repent and believe the gospel”
- Early church understood importance of repentance Acts 26:20
- Repentance means a change of mind. Change your mind about sin and Christ. Admit sin,
accept Christ. The gospel is what Christ has done - 1 Cor. 15:1-7, salvation
how we respond “repent and believe the gospel”
ILLUS: This deflects the false idea of “easy believism.” Problem in some
evangelism is often been people don’t understand the gravity of their sin
which they must turn from. For one to leave out repentance to believe in Christ,
that one will not leave out sinning afterwards - his profession is not a possession.
Repentance is not just saying “I am sorry and I believe” and move on.
Instead grieving for our sins and grasping for Christ and be transformed by Him.
True believer does not want to return to lifestyle of sin.
- Acts 3:19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped
away...that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
QUOTE: Spurgeon: “Sin and hell are married unless repentance proclaims a
divorce...If you look on sin without sorrow, then you have never looked on Christ. A
faith look at Christ breaks the heart, both for sin and from sin...
- Our culture is trying to legalize sin to do away with repentance and still be religious
- that is not the gospel way. God takes sin so seriously He sent Christ to suffer and
die on the cross, then raised Him from the dead to give us power to live a new life of
victory and righteousness, free of sin’s penalty and power.
- Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead boldly proclaims the true Gospel
of Jesus Christ. John 14:6
3. The Resurrected Lord Jesus empowers us to be His witnesses vs. 47-49
- Jesus presents the program for worldwide evangelism, starts with Jerusalem. Acts 1:8
then “Judea, Samaria, remotest part of the earth”
- The risen Jesus had the power to send the Holy Spirit, whom the Father promised -
Trinity working in tri-unity. Is.44:3; Joel 2:28
- Power came at Pentecost and is still here.
- Nearly 2000 years of evangelism, souls saved by the Risen Lord Jesus. The Gospel
transcends time, culture, races, genders, age groups, political regimes. It is
universal, ageless, a timeless message. There are missionaries around the world, you and
I here at home in communities.
- You and I can be evidences of the power of the gospel Rom. 1:16-17
- Do you have Eternal Life? ABC - Admit you are a sinner, Believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord...
- If you are saved, what are you doing to spread the gospel?
Your lifestyle, your words, your time, your talents, your treasures. Inviting people
here, talking to people where they are, giving a tract, Bible
- Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead boldly empowers us to be
witnesses to the world to the people around you - Jesus saves.
CONCLUSION
For 120 years this church has told the same message. God only knows the people saved through this
church. Your own family history can tell a great story as well, our families does. We praise the
Lord that lives are changed now and for eternity because of the events of this Holy Week.
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