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April 7, 2020 1:00 am
My friends the remains to this day more bodies about losing you living sent you, me, place our faith in this risen Savior. We carry about in our bodies which are now the temples of holy God. We announce to our world is all true, it's all true. He is the way he is the truth.
He is alive follow him the gospel without it, there can be no salvation from our sins. There can be no hope of eternal life. Matthew 27 gives us a remarkable account. As Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross. Many who believed in God, but had already died. Came back to life.
They walked into Jerusalem and they started interacting with their family and friends. This incredible display of God's power over death adds to the body of evidence for the truth of the resurrection. That's our theme today here on wisdom for the hard with Steve and David several years ago University student was becoming tired of college life. He even went to church a couple of times in his hunt for happiness and meaning in left board and unsatisfied. He ran for student leadership positions, but was disappointed how quickly the glamour wore off on selected tried the party circuits but would wake up on Monday. More empty than before.
One occasion he saw a group of college students sitting outside on the campus grounds with Bibles open on their laps and he went over and listen. Then as I talked about the passage they were studying and he was particularly intrigued by the radiance of one of the young women and he asked her a reason for it and she looked him straight in the eye and she said the reason is Jesus Christ. He said how document that garbage about religion. She said oh no, I didn't say religion. I said Jesus Christ and invited him to join their study group and while there they challenged him to examine the claims of Christ and what the Scriptures delivered as evidence and he accepted their challenge and after much study and research came to the place where he put his faith in Jesus Christ and his research is a university student who disbelieved became the foundation for a book he would later write entitled evidence that demands a what a verdict Josh McDowell once responded to a reporter with these words, I was not able to explain away this singular event in history. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. What do a myriad of authors and witnesses say separated by time and distance. Is there evidence that Jesus Christ has power over death will and are serious bodies of evidence. We began at the funerals of others. We've already uncovered the evidence of Christ's deity over death. We watched him in our last session raise gyrus's daughter from the dead. We slipped into that funeral procession of a young man who was lying in his coffin mourned by his mother who was a widow and with resurrection power at both scenes in a very simple command arise corpses came back to life, they became literally bodies of evidence want to do today is discover more bodies of evidence with you if you'll turn to Matthew chapter 27 Matthew chapter 27 that's the scene I want to address. Typically, on this day we look primarily of Christ.
His is the signature event of power over death and I'll refer to that in his appearance is what I want to spend some time in this very intriguing passage is your turning.
I do want to know that this gospel, you're turning to was preceded by several years, many years. In fact, the gospel of Judas which has taken our secular present world by storm is a typical second century Gnostic writing. Like other Gnostic writings disbelievers of Christ, they deny the deity of Christ and then elevate those that were part of Christ's disciples as both men and women whether smearing Magdalenian or in this case.
In this gospel. Judas, who according to this gospel was evidently very close friend of Jesus who helped him out and betraying him, Jesus needed his help to pull off this plan and gather a following. So Judas is not the villain. He's actually the hero Christ becomes a conniving little man who needed help together is following this past week I was asked by the news and Observer to give a quote on this discovery and I wrote back.
Something about those who believe the Gnostic Gospels as opposed to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke have that right and certainly have the privilege but they need to be caution with that privilege and right comes eternal risk great risk and want to write if I am wrong in the gospel of Judas is right that I have nothing to lose. Really, I was still of my life over just as I am now my eternal destiny would remain fairly unchanged. Whatever it's going to be with those who believe the gospel of Judas. If they are wrong they had everything to lose, right because the biblical record indicates the Judas was not the hero, but I demonically inspired trader who ended up in hell, where all followers of Judas will end up as well. From what I understand Michael didn't make the cut. So look in your newspaper today is not in their listen original eyewitness accounts are delivered to us, written over the space of years. Thousands of years by dozens of authors and they all agree on. The truth of Christ's deity. His prophetic fulfillment. His messianic claim, his miraculous authenticating claims, his miracles, his crucifixion, his resurrection and his ascension.
The chief evidence or evidences of Christ's power over death.
I want to cover a text of Scripture and uncover a few bodies of evidence that seem to be left out in this typical Easter scene. Matthew chapter 27.
Look at verse 45, a sort of reenter this crucifixion scene verse 45 can be very difficult for me to go through this passage without stopping a dozen times I'll try. I may stop once or twice but let's look together now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour, and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, Lana, Suboxone that is translated, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, and some of those who were standing there when they heard it began saying this man is calling for Elijah and immediately one of the ran, taking a spongy filled with sour wine and put it on a read and gave him a drink, but the rest of them said verse 49 let us see whether Elijah will come and save them. Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit and to hold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earth shook, and the rocks were split. I was supper just can you imagine this miracle of this veil splitting into two, one of the many miracles bound up with in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was the temple that Herod built was a magnificent structure, seven, eight stories high.
The time of indicated by Matthew when Jesus gave up his spirit. The temple would have been filled with people. In fact, filled with priest going about their duties they would have been exchanging the shewbread they would been trimming the wicks of the candelabra they would of course been separated from the holy of holies. By this magnificent veil. Josephus of first century Jewish historian describes for us this veil.
It was an interwoven fabric of blue and purple and scarlet interwoven and defined white fabric forms in that fabric with these purple and scarlet blue threads work. The forms of Angel, the Angels that as it implied were guarding people from the presence of God. In fact, it would be the cherubim that they would weave the charity were the ones you gather about the throne of God. Even now, chanting the holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, that guard the holiness of God beyond that veil, of course, in the holy of holies would be the ark of the covenant it's lid mercy seat upon which the high priest would sprinkle blood. He alone was allowed behind the veil that massive veil they would sprinkle the blood of an innocent animal on top of that ark that mercy seat and they were so terrified by the time of Christ of God's displeasure. They knew in our hearts, they were disobedient that they would tie a rope around the foot of the high priestly ankle and they heard him stop. Are they called his name and he didn't answer, they could drag the carcass out this signified God. It is to be feared alone that God is separate from, he is not accessible or available now at the death of Christ. This veil begins to riff and I get in your mind's eye the enormity of this veil, we know that Herod's veil. According to Josephus, and other accounts. This veil inherits Temple was 60 feet in length from top to bottom. Now, to give you an idea of the ceiling in here is 30 feet up so just double that and that's the height of this massive veil and suddenly it begins to rip starting the gospel accounts those from the top as if to imply this is the hand of God without scaffolding. A human Hank can't reach it, but without any presence of scaffolding that anybody up there suddenly begins to rip all the way down to the very bottom, thus exposing the holy of holies, as if to say Judaism now is set aside. We now by our high priest can enter with boldness into the very holy presence of God and what do you think the Jewish leaders did so tobacco and they continued worshiping in that manner until A.D. 70, when the temple was completely destroyed well at the moment of Christ's death is powerful.
Miracle occurs, implying now the because of his death the way into the presence of God is available for everybody to look back at his account.
Behold, the veil verse 51 of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earth shook, and rocks were split open. I noticed this in the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared in many one of the world is this talking about my wife is reading to the gospel of Matthew recently couple of us who actually she came to me she's a honey, what is this verse me has been in Romans for six years on with me as your talk but I'll find out. As I begin the study.
A couple of months you knew this was the text I wanted to preach on this Lord's day. Many tunes were opened and bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Here is the company of bodies. This is not some mythical ghost like spiritual resurrection.
This is a symbol of the coming resurrection when all humanity will be raised both believers and unbelievers. Can you imagine this though bodies he says. Who were the with the word he uses is how you simply means holy ones were separated one. These were among the famous ones, his testimony would bear witness of Christ power that would be undeniable. Daniel use this word in the Septuagint. We talk about these are the holy ones who will possess the kingdom forever. Can you imagine this, Matthew says, there tombs were open. People often ask me what was Jesus doing after his death on the cross before he rose well when I given many details but we do know that while his physical body lay in that tomb.
The shell, his spirit was very much alive.
In fact, already reunited with her father. Any talk of him going to hell for three days is not substantiated by the text of Scripture. In fact, the last thing that Jesus said was father, into thy hands I commit my what spirit so though his body lay in that tomb is spirit was already moralizing ever and reunited with the father and several things were going on in one of the things was this illustration of his power over the grave.
These saints these hog Eloi coming back to life.
What I believe is happening in Matthew 27 is the fulfillment of Psalm chapter 68 verse 18 repeated for us again in Ephesians chapter 4 were Christ descended into the depths of the earth and let out.
I believe the Old Testament same. Who would have been in that one compartment of Hades known as paradise. He led those saints out of Paradise and into heaven.
While there.
Colossians 2 implies he delivered the message of his victory to the condemned hosts of hell he isn't suffering he is victorious Jesus Christ descended led those into the freedom of this heaven that he said he would created if he could create only created in a matter of days. Imagine what he could create in one moment that the language here in Matthew's gospel is difficult. In fact, there's quite a debate about her that I won't bore you with.
It can be taken to mean that they came out of there tombs and then on Sunday, enter Jerusalem or they stayed in there tombs and then came out and enter Jerusalem on Sunday. I personally believe after my study that they were immediately raised from the dead and then on this resurrection Sunday entered Jerusalem and of course the question will be what were they doing for three days. I'll tell you what they were doing they were creating havoc and quite a sight to reunions and joy thrill. I believe that many of them would've been traveling during the three day. Having been buried in around Israel and in other parts of the Middle East, arriving just in time on that resurrection Sunday to add their testimony to the resurrected Christ would make several appearances that Jesus Christ had power over death. Can you imagine these bodies of evidence.
Matthew implies in his choice of words that these resurrected saints did not stay around very long after the end of verse 53 it says they only appeared to many. Evidently they ascended soon after having been I believe given glorified physical bodies as a illustration of the coming day when the believer will be given a glorified body reunited with his spirit and enter the glory of heaven. They appeared to many.
This is the language of the risen Christ who will make appearances to many before you sense we don't know. Maybe these ascended with him were not even given any sliver of implication on that Matthew's words also imply that these saints would have been known made appearances to many there appearances were credible testimony only, and that we were able to identify themselves, they would have been known perhaps as Israel's heroes of the past, or maybe those who had died only recently in to see them would be obviously a miracle of resurrection power.
Suddenly, they are in Jerusalem. Can you imagine these bodies of death is not the end. This was the illustration that it is only the beginning course, our Lord's resurrection was that signature event that revealed his deity over deaths.
He appeared many many times.
The first to Mary Magdalena and John 22nd appearance to the other women in Matthew 28. The third was to Peter and special appearance on the Lord's day that resurrection day.
How sweet. That must've been as he forgave Peter. Luke 24 in Mark 16 Christ appeared to two disciples who were trudging along filled with despair back to their little village called Emmaus member that in Christ appeared to 10 disciples in Luke 24 and in only 10 not 11 because Judas was buried in believe, but next he appeared again his patience. Now all 11 were there. They coaxed Thomas in the coming and Thomas gave that wonderful declaration as he fell at Jesus's feet and said, my Lord and my what God while the seventh appearance was the seven of his disciples on the seashore and that's where the Lord reinstated Peter to ministry after asking him three times. Do you love then according to Paul's writing in first 2015.
The Lord appeared to 500 people all at once.
Be sure to like us right now they probably assembled they heard the news. The rumors were flying. There were those who said Jesus is alive. We see them and they gathered and are filled with expectation and suddenly the Lord appeared in their midst and maybe he delivered the sermon.
Next, our Lord appeared to James, John seven records his half-brother, James and Jesus as other half-brothers and half-sisters didn't believe in. They thought he was fraudulent claims the Messiah's role but after his resurrection and then the special appearance to James's half-brother James went on to become the leading elder in the church in Jerusalem, and wrote a little book. We call the book of what James he appeared to the 11 disciples on the mountain in Galilee, where he gave them the great commission next in Matthew 28. This final appearance was at his ascension, only 24 from the Mount of olives, but we know there are other appearances after that, Stephen's death, he appeared in acts chapter 7 records. He appeared in a later to Paul on the road to Damascus acts chapter 9, he appeared to Paul in the temple in acts 22 later in acts chapter 26 he appeared to Paul in Arabia and we have every indication of the train pulled pork three years to prepare for ministry is the spokesman of the gospel to the Gentile world. And finally, he appeared again to Paul in acts 23 while he was in prison informing Paul that he would indeed stand before the Caesar.
No wonder one author called the resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence of the Christian faith. Bodies of evidence we have for faith, but I really want to go back to this text here. Can you imagine these Old Testament bodies of evidence along with the Lord providing an illustration of the resurrection and the glorified state of flesh and don't miss this.
There is a coming day unbelievers will be raised to judgment and condemnation eternally in hell and others to an eternal heaven. Can you imagine what these Old Testament hi DOI could have said imagine reunions, fainting spells, the joy, tears who were these chosen bodies of evidence.
Who were these heroes of Israel's past who died in faith believing in the coming Messiah were not told, but that didn't stop me. I just use my imagination.
I wondered you know if I were the Lord who would I choose from Israel's past. I think it start with Abraham he could come into the city of Jerusalem say I trudged up that hill Ridge centuries ago with my only son to take his life and their God stopped me and gave me a promise he didn't fulfill them but he just fulfilled here, God would provide a what a lamb. Jesus Christ is the Lamb.
I would choose Joseph as one of those Old Testament saints to come back and he could say I was the preferred assignment of my father, but rejected by my brethren, who put me in a pits and sold me into slavery and but I rose to protect. Ultimately, my family and our people from famine and certain death. This one who is the unique son of his father rejected by his brother and has arisen to save his people from certain death, believing him. That would be the testimony I imagine Boaz would be when I choose to come back and say I was the kinsman redeemer of Ruth.
You all know my history and my story. I rescued and kept for myself a bride of my life was my story was really nothing more than an illustration of the coming divine kinsman redeemer who even now is beginning to form his bride become a part of it I could to see Job coming walking through the gate say I know that my Redeemer liveth. I know that my Redeemer liveth. I know that my Redeemer liveth with David have been one. What a testimony he would be of this throne. I sat on this the throne of this one.
You put to death, but rose he will sit in the new Jerusalem and he will reign forever and forever believe this one. David would have provided a powerful testimony.
I imagine astir to because of Nehemiah was allowed to be one of them came back the great builder and reformer of Jerusalem who would say that in this temple, is now put out of business that she cornerstone is what you need to build your life upon believing you imagine. Isaiah coming in. Isaiah could say Jesus Christ was indeed the suffering savior.
He was the man of sorrows, whom I said would be pierced through for our transgressions, he would be crushed by our iniquities, but he is the counselor, the great God.
He is the Prince of peace follow him. Here comes John the Baptist. I'm in his grave is still fresh when that be great. I think you come in and you have one message I told you so. I told you so. He is the Lamb of God, follow him.
If I were able to choose.
I would've chosen these I would've chosen two more. I can just see them husband-and-wife entering the city, introducing themselves. Perhaps the husband speaks, my name is Adam this is my wife, Eve. It was because of us that sin entered the world death because of our disobedience to our Creator human heart corrupted and depraved murder would come division in the family and sorrow upon sorrow and it started with us, but we were forgiven for Kevin. We were given the promise deceived of wife bring one about a second Adam would create a new race. This one is the second Adam bodies of evidence.
These would make my friends there remains to this day more bodies of evidence living living same. You mean who place our faith in this risen Savior. We carry about in our bodies which are now the temples of holy God. We announce to our world. It's all true. It's all true. He is the way he is the truth. He is the life follow him.
Every person who longs to be at peace with God and enjoy an eternity in heaven with God needs to settle that question forever if that issue is not settled for you. I hope you'll place your faith in Jesus Christ today. This is wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi yesterday and today Stephen taught a two-part series entitled bodies of evidence we've taken those messages and turned them into a booklet if you'd like to have this resource to help you understand the resurrection. I encourage you to get a copy today working to make bodies of evidence available as our gift to everyone who makes their first contact with our ministry. Call us today at 86 648 Bible 86 648 Bible will continue with another lesson related to Easter tomorrow. So join us, right here on wisdom for the heart