What are characteristics of being alive?
Big Idea: Jesus is Alive! Don’t treat the One who is fully alive as though He were dead!
Scripture: Luke 24:1-12 NLT – But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” 8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
What were the common reactions to Jesus being alive?
a. Surprised
i. Luke 24:1-2 NLT – But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
ii. Mark 15:46-47 NLT – 46 Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.
b. Puzzled
i. Luke 24:3-6a NLT – 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
c. Disbelief
i. Luke 24:11 NLT – 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.
ii. Mark 16:7 NIV – 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
iii. Luke 24:12 NLT – 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
iv. Mark 6:5-6 NLT – 5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
v. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT – 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
Jesus Appearances after His Resurrection
i. Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark 16:9)
ii. Women on the road (Matthew 28:8-10)
iii. Disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)
iv. Peter (Luke 24:34)
v. 10 of the disciples together – minus Thomas (John 20:19-25)
vi. 11disciples which included Thomas – 8 days later (John 20:26-31)
vii. Disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25)
viii. 500 disciples (1 Cor 15:6)
ix. James (1 Cor 15:7)
x. Ascension in to Heaven (Acts 1:3-11)
xi. Paul (1 Cor 15)
What is your reaction to Jesus being alive today?
i. Surprised
ii. Puzzled
iii. Disbelief
1. John 3:16 NIV – 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. Romans 10:9 NIV – 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Do you realize Jesus is Alive?
a. Isaiah 53:5 NIV – He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Next Steps
i. Memorize: Romans 10:9
ii. Evaluate: Do I believe Jesus is alive?
iii. Action: Choose to believe in Jesus and trust Him with your life. He wants a relationship with you.