The Power of Easter Pt 1 | Bible Study Series

THE POWER OF EASTER - Pt 1 | BIBLE STUDY SERIES

SEVEN SIGNS OF EASTER

 INTRODUCTION

• The power of God that was displayed in the resurrection of Jesus is now available to us.

• Each of us strives to improve ourselves. But for most of us, habits, addictions, and poor decisions can wear us down like a mighty storm, eroding the better life we seek. Just where do we get the will to alter?

• The resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates God's power at work in us, and this is what we celebrate on Easter. The miraculous power that gave Jesus new life after three days in the grave can do the same for us.

 “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” Romans 8:11, NLT

 “We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to Himself together with you.” 2 Corinthians 4:14, NLT

 “(Jesus) included everyone in His death so that everyone could also be included in His life, a resurrection life, a far BETTER LIFE than people ever lived on their own.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 (MSG)

 1. HOW DO WE KNOW THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS REALLY HAPPENED?

1. The Soldiers - Matthew 27:62-65; 28:11-15

2. The Seal - Matthew 27:66

3. The Stone - Matthew 27:59-60, 28:2; John 20:1

4. The Sepulcher (Tomb) - Matthew 28:5-6; John 20:2

5. The Shroud - John 20:3-8

6. The Scars - John 20:26-28

7. The Sightings - I Corinthians 15:3-8 

1. THE SOLDIERS  

Matthew 27:62-65 – “The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” (NIV)

Matthew 28:11-15 (NIV).“11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”

2. THE SEAL

Matthew 27:66 – “So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.” (NIV)

[The seal was sign of authentication that the tomb was occupied and the power and authority of Rome stood behind the seal. Anyone found breaking the Roman seal would suffer the punishment of death.]

3. THE STONE

Matthew 27:59-60 “Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.” (NIV)

Matthew 28:2 “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” (NIV)

John 20:1 “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” (NIV)

4. THE SEPULCHER (TOMB)

Matthew 28:5-6, NIV “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

John 20:2, NIV “So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

5. THE SHROUD

John 20:3-8, NLT – “Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed”

6. THE SCARS

John 20:26-28, NIV – “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

7. THE SIGHTINGS

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by the Twelve disciples. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time … Then He was seen by James and last of all, I [Paul] also saw Him.” I Corinthians 15:3-8 (NLT)

2. WHY IS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IMPORTANT TODAY?

•  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is about our past, our present and our future

•  Because of the resurrection:

1. My past is forgiven - My failures are not fatal 

2. My present is meaningful - My life is not futile

3. My future is secured - Death is not final

• How do personal failures limit a person’s life?

• How might a person feel trapped in an empty or pointless life?

• In what way does the reality of physical death make someone feel hopeless?

 THE IMPACT OF CHRIST’S RESSURRECTION ON BELIEVERS

1. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN MY FAILURES ARE NOT FATAL

Jesus: “For this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” Matthew 26:28-29, NLT

“Christ died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God, filling us with God’s goodness.” Romans 4:25, LB

“If Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, NLT

 “But the fact is that Christ did actually rise from the dead and has become the first of millions who will come back to life again someday.” 1 Corinthians 15:20, LB

2. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN, MY PRESENT LIFE IS MEANINGFUL

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope God has given to those He called—His holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:18-20, NLT

• Jesus’ core message to all of us is, “Follow Me.” Below are some “Follow Me” passages with blessings for Christ-followers.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19, NIV

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” John 19:27-28, NIV

“Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” John 12:23-26, NLT

“As you get to know Jesus better, He will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His own glory and His own goodness with us!” 2 Peter 1:2-3 (LB)

3. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN, MY FUTURE IS SECURED – DEATH IS NOT FINAL

Jesus said, “I am the One who raises the dead and gives them life again! Anyone who believes in Me, even though He dies shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in Me and shall never perish.” John 11:25-26a (LB)

 “Now we live with great expectation because Christ rose again from the dead. And God has reserved for His children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in His mighty power, is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting Him …  So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead” 1 Peter 1:3b-6 (LB+NLT)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, NLT

“The truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised.  For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, GN

Conclusion: Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . .

• We don’t have to be afraid of anything

• We don’t have to feel that our life is out of control

• We don’t have to feel helpless

TO BE CONTINUED . . .