Crown of Life Sermon -- 27 January 2008

EASTER 2 -- March 30, 2007

Acts 2:22-32

What a difference a couple of months make. Weeks earlier, Peter had been too scared to admit he even knew Jesus to a servant girl in a courtyard. Weeks earlier, Peter and the rest of the disciples were so afraid they hid behind locked doors, afraid what the Jews would do to them now their Lord and Savior was dead and gone. Weeks earlier, doubt consumed them.

Only 50 days had passed since these actions, but what do we find now? Peter and the other disciples boldly standing before those from whom only weeks earlier they had hidden. We find Peter and the other disciples raising their voices before those whom only weeks earlier they had remained silent. We find Peter and the other disciples, even doubting Thomas, full of confidence.

So, what changed? What led the disciples' dramatic turnaround from hiding in silence to shouting in public? Three words: HE IS RISEN! Jesus being risen caused the disciples to raise their voices, telling the crowd to let them explain, listen carefully to what they had to say.

This morning we hear Peter explain and listen carefully to what Peter has to say, and when we do, we hear God Has Raised Jesus to Life -- as foretold by Jesus, as witnessed by us.

If I were to ask you what are the two things all of us can be certain of, the answer that pops into our mind is probably death and taxes. Death and taxes are the two things we have been told are a sure thing. But what took place early in the morning one week ago was a sure thing. The women finding the tomb empty was a sure thing. Peter John running to the tomb, only to find it empty, was a sure thing. Mary seeing Jesus in the garden was a sure thing. Jesus appearing to His disciples, saying, "Peace be to you," was a sure thing.

For we hear words today about how it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. It was impossible for death to contain Jesus in the tomb. These words give us a picture of a women in labor pains -- for those of you who have children you know that once those pains begin, and the child wants to come out, there is no stopping it. It is going to come. That is the picture here. No matter how much death wanted to keep Jesus in the tomb, there was no stopping Jesus' resurrection. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. Jesus rising form the dead was a sure thing. Jesus Himself foretold of His resurrection.

Jesus used the mouth of King David to proclaim: "I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, ?because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let your Holy One see decay. ?You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.

As Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, Jesus was not shaken. Even as He was handed over to wicked men, He saw the Lord before Him. Even as He cried out, "Eloi, eloi lamma sabactani," He said it with hope. Even as Jesus suffered all He did on Good Friday, there was still gladness in His heart and rejoicing on his tongue because He knew Easter was a sure thing. He knew His body would not be abandoned to the grave, that His body would not experience the decay that death inflicts on a body.

God raising Jesus from the dead was a sure thing. It was foretold by Jesus Himself. And we know who Jesus is, for listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him as you yourselves know. They knew Jesus raised the dead -- there was Lazarus. They knew He healed the sick; they were probably running into people Jesus had healed on a daily basis in the city streets.

Then there was that strange darkness and earthquake at Jesus' death, and people who had died but had come out of their tombs following Jesus' death. These people were also walking the city streets. The sign of Jonah was given to them. Jesus burst from the tomb three days after being in the grave, just as Jonah was in the huge fish for three days. All of these miracles and signs and wonders demonstrated, proved, showed publicly one thing: Jesus is the promised hero, Savior Messiah who was sent by God to deliver them from all their sins. He was the one they were waiting for. But you with the help of wicked men put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

Can you imagine putting to death the only one who could save you? Here God had sent their long awaited Savior, and God displayed to everyone Jesus was the Savior through miracles signs and wonders, and you go and put that person to death. It is no wonder that when many of the people who were listening carefully to what Jesus was saying said, "What shall we do?" These words affected the people’s heart.

And these words affect our heart. For we know all about the miracles, wonders and signs which God has done through Jesus. God has recorded them for us in His word. But what have we done? We have put Jesus to death. No, we were not there shouting, "Crucify!" We did not drive the nails into His hands and feet. We did not hand Jesus over to be crucified. But we also bear responsibility for putting to death the only one who could save us

In spite of the wonders, miracles and signs God displayed in his Son, proving he is the Messiah, the Christ, God himself, we say, “Jesus, Your words are not as intelligent as my words. I know the best way to live in 2008. I cannot agree with what You are saying. I do not accept Your roles for man and woman. I find Your fellowship principles to be incompatible with my and society’s viewpoint. I will not be so closed minded as to say there is only one God and one way of salvation.”

No, we were not physically there when Jesus was crucified, but He was still put to death by us because of our refusal in spite of the wonders, signs and miracles to believe Jesus is God, and His word is best for us.

But we did not only put Jesus to death, He was put to death for us. God used the wicked actions of the lies, deceit andjealousy of the people who put Jesus on the cross, nailed to the cross, to accomplish His good purpose, according to His plan and foreknowledge. God used all the wicked actions from Judas to Caiaphas, to Pilate, to the people who shouted "Crucify," to bring about the salvation of our souls.

The forgiveness of our sins. We are forgiven for doubting Jesus is the one who is our hero, our Savior, the one who is the path to life, because the death Jesus died, He died for our sins, but now is raised to life for our justification. We are declared not guilty of all sin. How can we be certain? Jesus is risen. He has been raised to life. God raised Him from the dead, as Jesus himself foretold. As witnessed by us.

The disciples were witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. They saw Jesus with their own eyes. These disciples wrote down what it is they had heard and seen so that we too might know that Jesus is the Christ, and by believing we may have life in His name. Today we are the witness to Christ's resurrection. We ran with Peter and John to the tomb and found it empty. Through the eyes of Matthew we see the angel tell the women, "He is not here, He is risen -- go tell His disciples."

This morning John tells us of the encounter he and the rest of the disciples had on that first Easter evening when Jesus appeared to them, saying, "Peace be with you." And then a week later to Thomas. We are witnesses to Jesus appearing to Mary in the garden next to the tomb. We know what happened one week ago. No one came and took Jesus' body. Jesus was alive, for death couldn’t keep its hold on him. As witnesses, we will be bold to speak up, to raise our voices, urging everyone to listen carefully to what we have seen and heard.

God raised Jesus from the dead. This changed everything for the disciples. They went from hiding behind locked doors in silence to boldly proclaiming in public, God has raised Jesus from the dead. We have not seen the wonders, miracles and signs Jesus performed. We were not firsthand witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. But Jesus' resurrection -- it is a sure thing. God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior foretold it, and we are witnesses to it.

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