The Loudest Sermon Ever
Introduction
The loudest sermon ever delivered by anyone was given without a word: Jesus simply walked out of His own grave. That act said, “Jesus wins!”.
We have looked at many incidents in Jesus’ life in this journey through His 1,000 day ministry, and we have discussed some implications for our lives today, but let’s finish this series acknowledging that Jesus wins and because he wins we can win. You and I can be victorious people.
There are many kinds of victory, and the victory we are talking about in this lesson is the kind that Jesus taught, the kind that puts doing right ahead of being first, that puts kindness and the other fruits of The Holy Spirit far ahead of ambition and achievement.
Two Kinds Of Victory
Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can be winners. He gives us victory in at least two ways:
1. We Win Peace And Purpose – We became winners when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As we explore the Christian life we become more and more aware of the fact that Jesus is in everything we do and everywhere we go. We have peace in our hearts knowing that we are in the will of God. We have purpose knowing that we are sanctified by God to serve Him and spread His message.
2. We Win Living As Jesus Lived – As we have learned more and more about Jesus and the ministry He led for 1,000 days we become more and more like Him. The better we understand Jesus the better we can serve Him and the more we serve Him the more like Him we become.
What Really Happened?
The disciples had watched the abuse being heaped on Jesus, and they had watched Him die. But they didn’t remember or understand His prediction, so after He died they hid, fearing for their lives too. Shortly after Jesus had spoken His last words, breathed His last breath, a man named Joseph of Arimathea, helped by Nicodemus, intervened to do what he could, to see that Jesus’ body got a decent burial.
Luk 23:50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
Luk 23:51 He was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Luk 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Luk 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Luk 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
On the third day the sun rose and with it the hope of all mankind – The resurrection.
Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luk 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Luk 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luk 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luk 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luk 24:8 And they remembered his words,
Luk 24:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
Luk 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
Luk 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Luk 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
What Didn’t Happen
There is a notion that Jesus didn’t actually die; rather, He just fainted, and the cool air of the tomb revived Him, But friends and enemies alike were convinced that He died. The Romans didn’t bother to break His legs as the customarily did to hasten death because they were convinced He had died. Some thought the body of Jesus had been stolen. This was unlikely because the Roman soldiers guarded the tomb very closely to make sure that no one took the body to start an uprising.
Why It Matters So Much
When Jesus rose from the dead on that first Easter morning, everything changed. He had taken our sins to the cross and to the grave, and He did it to bring us victory. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, our faith would have no meaning.
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Why It Matters So Much To You
If Jesus had not died on the cross there would be no forgiveness of sin. If there is no forgiveness of sin, we are all lost. The Bible says we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God and that the penalty of sin is death.