 Amen. All right, John chapter 19. Happy Easter, everyone. So John chapter 19, of course, a very sad chapter in the Bible talking about the trial and the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, we're going to talk about that whole thing tonight or this morning, I'm sorry, but John chapter 19 pretty much details on the whole thing out for us, you know, very, we'll go through that a little bit this morning. But what I really want to talk about in the sermon this morning is I want to talk about, I want to focus on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I mean, it's Easter. I mean, that's what Easter is about. You know, everybody a couple days ago celebrated or a day and a half ago celebrated Good Friday. And you know, we're Garrett and I were kind of joking. It's like, okay, Good Friday. And then a day later, you know, Jesus rise from the dead. And you know, after he'd been in the grave for three days, it's like, what? Of course, Jesus was crucified, was, you know, dead in the tomb for three days and three nights. And what we're going to talk about tonight, the title of the sermon this morning is Why the Resurrection? So we know we're going to go through the trial, the death and the burial of Jesus Christ. But I really want to focus on and apply this morning, you know, why the resurrection? And that's the question that I want to answer for you on this Easter. Okay, so we see in John chapter 19, you know, this, this cruel trial of Jesus Christ. So let's first look at the, the history of it. Let's look at Jesus's trial, his, his death. And then I want to answer the question for you this morning and this Easter of why the resurrection of Jesus Christ, why was it necessary? Okay, so let's first look at the death. Let's first look at the death of Jesus. Now turn to 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2, just to get some context of the resurrection. Let's look at the death and the burial of Jesus Christ this morning. Let's look at the death. Go to 1 Peter chapter 2. Now the death is pretty easy to understand if you understand the concept in the Bible of the death of Jesus Christ. But turn to 1 Peter chapter 2 and let's just go over it real quickly. So what was the purpose for it? What was the purpose for the death of Jesus? And the purpose was this. In 1 Peter chapter 2, look at verse 21. The Bible says, for even here unto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously. Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness by whose stripes ye were healed. So Jesus it says here in 1 Peter chapter 2, he had no sin, he did no sin in verse number 22, and I'll use verse number 24 a lot out soul winning. You know, who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness by whose stripes we were healed. So Jesus basically took all the sins of the world upon himself. He bear our sins in his own body on the tree, on the cross. Okay, turn to 1 John chapter 1. 1 John chapter 2, I'm sorry, 1 John chapter 2 and look down at verse number 2. So basically in 1 Peter chapter 2 we see this idea that Jesus, he just took the sins of the world upon himself. He could do it because he had no sin himself. He did no sin, the Bible says. In 1 John chapter 2, look at verse number 2. The Bible says and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. So here we see this word propitiation. I won't usually use this one out soul winning. It's a little bit more in depth, it's a little bit more deep. But basically what propitiation means is appeasement. He was the appeasement for our sins or atoning sacrifice. Okay, so we see that there's all this symbolism in the Old Testament about sacrificing animals. We talked about it Wednesday night about sacrificing the two birds. You know, there's many different sacrifices that picture the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of what? Of the whole world. Okay, so anybody has access to this atoning sacrifice. Sins of the whole world. It's very clear. Okay, I mean think of it this way. When you think of propitiation, think of it this way. It was that it was the appeasement of God. It was the only thing that would appease God. Think of it this way, you borrow someone's car. I mean this isn't a good analogy. There's no analogy that's going to be good for this. But you borrow somebody's car, and you wreck their car, you smash their car, you total the car, and then you pay them back with like a pencil or something. That's the equivalent of us trying to, you know, earn our way to heaven or, you know, pay for our own sins. We can't do it. It's not even close. It's not the right, it's not the right appeasement. God doesn't want that appeasement. Okay, the appeasement, the only appeasement that God would accept was a sinless sacrifice, which is why God had to provide that propitiation himself. Okay, so first John chapter two shows us that Jesus was the appeasement or the atoning sacrifice. Turn to John chapter three. John, you know, atoning, appeasement of what? Right? I mean, appeasement means to, you know, calm someone's anger or to make someone satisfied who's not currently satisfied with you. Right? That's what the word appeasement actually means. Look at John 3 36, another great soul-winning verse, probably my favorite soul-winning verse right here. John 3 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but what? But the wrath of God abideth on him. So the Bible says here, I love, you know, John 3 36 because it's so, it's two, it's two sentences, right? Or it's one sentence, but basically it's basically two phrases and it explains the whole gospel right there. Right? And I don't usually focus a lot on the last part, but this is what needs to be appeased is this wrath of God that abides on you. So if you're not saved this morning, if you're not saved this, this Easter, you say not saved, it means if you have not totally trusted on, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, period, 100%, nothing in yourself only on Jesus, if you have not done that, I hate to tell you, but the wrath of God abides on you. That is what the propitiation, that is what Jesus's death did. It satisfied, it appeased that wrath that we see in John 3 36. So look, if you get to a point in your life or at the end of your life, and you do not believe on the Son, then unfortunately that wrath will abide on you forever, for eternity. I mean that's a scary thought, but that's why we need, when we explain the gospel to people, they need to understand how scary that thought is, that how eternal God's wrath is. Just like eternal life is eternal, God's wrath, if you do not believe on the Son, is eternal. Okay, so let's look at the death itself. Turn to John chapter 19, go back to John chapter 19. John chapter 19, the chapter that we just read. Let's start in verse number one, where the Bible says this, it says, then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him. So basically Jesus had already been before Herod, he had already been arrested, he'd already been before Herod, he'd already been before the high priest. Jesus had already been severely beaten at this point, then Pilate takes Jesus and he scourges him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. In Matthew, we talked about this on Wednesday as well, in the book of Matthew it talks about a scarlet robe. So purple scarlet, similar dark red color, you know, they were making fun of him that he said he was the king of the Jews. Okay, and said, Hail, king of the Jews, and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again and said unto the behold, I bring him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him. Turn to Isaiah chapter 50. Isaiah chapter 50. So just picture the situation here. Okay, it's much worse than these, you know, few sentences tell us. I mean, Isaiah 50 actually, you know, shines a little bit more light on what Jesus actually went through here. But at this point where he is standing, he has been scourged, he has the crown of thorns on his head, they have already put the robe on him, and he's standing in front of Pilate again, and Pilate says to the Jews, here he is. At this point, Jesus is probably near death. He has been beaten half to death at this point. Okay, turn to Isaiah chapter 50 in verse number six. You say, where do you get that? I'm going to show you. I get it from the Bible. Isaiah 50 in verse number six. The Bible says in this prophecy of Jesus Christ, it says, I gave my back to the Smiders and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Turn to Isaiah 52. It says that his beard was pulled out of his face. And that was another thing that was done to shame people. You know, the beard was a source of pride for a man. And to pull out a man's beard was something that was done to shame him or to cut off a man's beard. You remember the men that David sent? And what did they do? They shaved half their bodies, half their beards off. That was to shame them. That was to shame them and cause them great shame. Turn to Isaiah chapter 52. But they did not shave Jesus. They plucked out the hair of his face. Turn to Isaiah 52. Look at verse 14. And the Bible says this was the result of that. So imagine this. This is the Jesus that is standing in the robe and the crown of thorns next to Pilate right now. The Bible says as many were astonished at thee, it says they were astonished even looking at him. Astonished. Why were they astonished? His visage, his visage, his face, his image, his face was so marred more than any man and his form more than the sons of men. That says that his his face and his body was so marred at this point that it was marred more than any man, any son of man that had lived. I mean, it says, I mean, he must not have even been recognizable at this point. It's a little bit. I mean, it kind of explains a little bit why, you know, people didn't recognize him right away when he rose from the dead, first of all, because he was beaten beyond recognition at this point. And then in verse 15, it says, so shall he sprinkle many nations, the king shall shut their mouth at him. For that which had not been told them shall they see and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Turn to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53, look at verse number five, explaining again the death of Jesus Christ and the purpose of it. In Isaiah 53 in verse number five, the Bible says, but he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed. Look, he was horribly beaten near death. The Roman scourging, just just look it up. Look up Roman scourging. This is not just being whipped. I mean, Roman scourging was that many times by itself killed the person. It would tear the flesh off of you. It was a horribly, the Romans were brutal people. You know, everybody, I mean, the Romans actually, one thing that little kind of annoys me a little bit about the Romans and Roman history is it's glorified a lot. It was a very brutal society. And I'm going to show you a little bit more about that this evening. But look, even after the death, so look, this was a terrible death. This was a terrible day. This was a terrible afternoon. This did not go quickly. It was a long suffering period for the Lord Jesus Christ. But turn back to John 19. Even after the death, you know, there was more to be done. Okay, let's look at the burial of Jesus Christ. Look at John 19 in verse number 38. And the Bible says this, it says, And after this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So Jesus, as we just read, has, has, he's died on the cross. He has, he has died. And they take the body off the cross. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night. This is John chapter three right here. Okay, this is Nicodemus and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. This is to, you know, embalm the body. Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden and in the garden, a new sepa culture wherein never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus, therefore, because of the Jews preparation day for the sepa culture was nigh at hand. So Jesus was doing something now. He was dead, but this was not finished. There was something else that Jesus was now doing. His body was dead, turned to Acts chapter two. Now to those people that would say, I don't believe a God, I mean, how many times have you met these people that say, I don't believe in a God that would send people to hell? How many times have you met people like that that say, you know, I don't, I don't believe in a mean God that would, that would damn people to hell. When you're out soul winning and you start off trying to explain that, you will find these people that believe this. You'll meet these people, but turn to Acts chapter two and let me disprove that God for you right now. Acts chapter two, let's start reading in verse number 25. And I know that Acts chapter two in verse number 31 is something that you very well know, but I want to explain the entire context of this and explain to you what Peter was actually explaining to these Jews that he was talking to here. In verse number 25, the Bible says, for David, now this is Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost here, for David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord all way before my face, for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved. So he's saying, David foresaw the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm going to prove to you several times as well that the gospel of the Old Testament was the same gospel that these people believed here. Here's the first one, David foresaw the Lord. He foresaw the Lord Jesus Christ and that's what we're going to see, put a finger in Psalm 16, we're going to head there next, but in Acts chapter two in verse 26, the Bible says, therefore did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad, moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope. He's quoting David here. Verse 27, because thou will not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David that he is both dead and buried and his sepiculture is with us unto this day. This is what Peter says, therefore being a prophet, he's saying David was being a prophet when he said these things and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that the fruit of his loins, this is the promise of David, that your kingdom will last forever into eternity. So David knew that that meant that the Messiah would come from him, from his physical line, that the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. You see, David knew it. David knew the means that God was going to use to take his David's kingdom into eternity. He knew that he would raise up the Christ to sit on the throne of David. You see? And verse number 31, he's seeing this before, so he said, David knew all this. David knew it and he's seeing this before, spake. When he spoke in verse 26 and verse 27, he spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell. Neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. Turn to Psalm 16. Here's what he's talking about. He's talking about Psalm 16, where the Jews knew Psalm 16. They knew this verse in the Bible, but he's explaining Psalm 16 to these Jews who were looking at Psalm 16 through a glass darkly. Okay? And look at Psalm 16. Look at verse number nine and tell me if this sounds familiar. Psalm 16, verse number nine, the Bible says, therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. My flesh also shall rest in hope. That looks a lot like verse number 26 of Acts chapter 2. Okay? And look, that one's not hard to understand. David says, my flesh is going to rest in hope. I mean that makes sense, but now if you just read Psalm 16 and you're a Jew and you do not have Acts chapter 2, things could get a little confusing for you here. It says in verse number 10 of Psalm 16, for that will not leave my soul in hell. Neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Well who's he talking about? Who's he talking about here? So Peter is explaining Psalm 16 to the Jews that he was talking about Jesus. He said, David saw the Christ. David knew that that was the promise that his kingdom would would continue in eternity. I've told you this many times. We've looked at the the lineage of the kings of Judah, but David knew that the Christ would come from him and that what would is what would take his kingdom to eternity. David knew it. And Acts chapter 2 tells us that and then he tells us that because of the fact of verse 31 that he spoke of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. Look what he says up in verse number 29 of Acts chapter 2. This proves it. He says, men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David that he's dead and buried and his sepiculture is with us unto this day. Look, he says that David's flesh did see corruption. We could go, he basically is saying we could go look at his grave right now. We could go literally look upon his bones now. We could go look upon what the dust of David's body, his physical body looks like. Now he says their sepiculture is here. So he was speaking of Christ. So the his in Acts 2 31, this proves is referring to Jesus. And the Jews looking at Acts 16 or Psalm 16, we're just looking at a, they're looking at a prophecy darkly. Not anymore. Now it's clear. Right? So look, this was not understood by the Jews until Peter explains it to them right here. So look, to believe that Jesus, Jesus's soul went to hell for three days when he was in the grave. You either have to believe that or you have to believe that Peter was wrong in Acts chapter 2. Pick one. It's very confusing to me on why people don't understand this doctrine but this is what Jesus was doing when his body was in the tomb. His soul was in hell. But the Bible says that it wasn't left there and his and his flesh would not see corruption. Jesus's flesh in the tomb. All right? Now look, here's another note and here's why a lot of people get confused on this doctrine. If you get away from the KJV, the King James Bible, I mean all bets are off on this one. I mean this, I mean we don't even, it's not the point of the sermon, we don't have time to explain it but this is where you get this doctrine of different levels of hell and certain Christians are going to go to hell and there's a sheol and a Hades and a Paradise. I mean it's different versions of the Bible. That's where it comes from. Okay and that's where things get really strange and confusing. So just stick to the King James Bible once again. All right, so back to these people who don't believe in a God who would send people to hell. Look, he sent his own son there. He sent his own son there. So yes, he's going to send people there. He sent his own son there who is by the way your only chance to not go there. All right. So that's that's the death and the burial of Jesus Christ. We understand that, that it's the it's the propitiation, it's the payment for our sins. We get that. It's easy to understand. But let me ask you this. Why the resurrection? Why the resurrection? I mean the sacrifice, the sacrifice was done. The payment, the appeasement, the propitiation was done. Turn to Colossians chapter 2. So I want to give you two reasons tonight for the resurrection. Two reasons for the resurrection. Two good reasons for the for the resurrection. Turn to Colossians chapter 2 and look at verse number 13. Colossians chapter 2 and verse number 13. It's where the Bible says, and you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross. Sound familiar? Now, so that's the first part right? There's the payment right there. In verse 14. Blotting out. So that was the purpose of the death, the sacrifice, the payment and hell of what Jesus did. Blotting out the handwriting of the ordinances, it was nailed to the cross. He bare those sins in his own body on the tree. But then look at verse 15. And having spoiled principalities and powers. He made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it. Turn to Ephesians chapter 6. So he's saying that there's these principalities and powers and he made an open show of them. He showed them up, so to speak. And he triumphed over them. Look at Ephesians chapter 6. Look at verse number 12. Where the Bible says, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood. This is talking about us, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness where? At the local level. Against spiritual wickedness in high places. So where are you going to see the most wickedness in the highest places? In the highest places of power. So look, the most wickedness is at the upper level of power in the world. We know that from the Bible. And guess who's at the top of that chain? Satan himself. Turn to Matthew chapter 27. Matthew chapter 27. It was for this, it was for this reason right here that the upper level powers in Jesus's time feared the resurrection. They feared the resurrection. You say, what do you mean they feared the resurrection? Let's look at it in Matthew chapter 27. They literally feared that he would come back from the dead. They were afraid of it. Look at Matthew 27 in verse number 59. Where the Bible says, And when Joseph had taken the body he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewed out in a rock and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepiculture and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting over against the sepiculture. Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation the chief priests and the Pharisees came together unto Pilate saying, Sir we remember that the deceiver said while he was yet alive after three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepiculture be made sure until the third day lest his disciples come by night and steal him away and say unto the people he has risen from the dead so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them you have a watch go your way make it as sure as you can so they went and they made the sepiculture sure sealing the stone and setting a watch. So the upper level powers of that day feared the resurrection of Christ. They feared that he would come back or that even that his disciples would say that he came back. All right. Now look the first point of the resurrection is this is to prove the victory over the principalities and the power to make a show of them openly. If he were to look if he were to rise again it would prove he said he was who he said he was. If he literally rose from the dead I mean can anybody else rise from the dead? No. Think of this I mean think of this turn to John chapter 12 but think of this all the miracles that Jesus did and these upper level spiritual leaders could not believe the Bible says they could not believe they couldn't believe turn to John chapter 12 let's look at the Pharisees let's look at the Pharisees Jesus has done all these miracles right in front of them I mean you ever think about that? John chapter 12 look at verse 37 the Bible says but though he had done so many miracles before them yet they believed not on him that the saying of Asiahs the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake Lord who had believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed therefore they could not believe because that Asiah said again he had blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them look at a certain point Jesus didn't even want he didn't even want the Pharisees to believe he just hardened their heart and they couldn't believe the Bible says these things said Asiahs when he saw his glory and spake of him nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue so there was there was a fringe of even the chief rulers that believed on him but it says these certain group of Pharisees the mainstream Pharisees they didn't believe on him and Jesus hardened their heart and they couldn't believe so that look that's why that it didn't matter how many miracles Jesus did in front of them at a certain point they just Jesus hardened their heart at that point turned to Matthew 28 even the resurrection itself and they couldn't believe even the resurrection itself look at Matthew 28 and verse number two now I mean picture the scene here in Matthew 28 and verse number two it says and I mean so here's these pilot gave him the guard he gave him the soldiers there's all the there's Roman soldiers standing guard at the tomb okay this is the scene and behold there was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back to stone from the door and sat upon it so here it is this huge earthquake this angel comes down from heaven rolls this stone away and sits on the stone and these Roman soldiers saw the whole thing they saw it all I mean they were right there and they saw it look at verse 11 skip down now when they were going behold some of the watch came into the city and showed under the chief priests all the things that were done they went and they told the chief priests and the Pharisees and when they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel they gave large money under the soldiers saying say ye his disciples came by night and stole him away while he slept so the thing that they feared they actually said they told pilot that they feared that his disciples would steal him away and then say he rose again so the soldiers come and say you know this angel came there's a huge earthquake you know they tell him this big supernatural event happens and was the first thing that the Pharisees say pay the guys off they don't say wow he was who he said he was they just say pay the soldiers off right now look the amazing thing here isn't the soldiers right because look the typical just think about what the typical Roman soldier did to Jesus before his death they didn't even know the guy they just the typical Roman soldier turned to Luke chapter 3 I mean these Roman soldiers they would just do anything for money so this is what the Pharisees knew they're just like just pay him off I mean they knew Jesus was innocent they went out they went out of their way to not just scourge him but to you know beat him unmercifully I mean just think of this what kind of sadistic person you need to be to make a crown of thorns and smash it onto somebody's head and to torture somebody I mean they weren't told to do that they were just these band of thugs just that's just who they were that's just who they were that was the Roman soldier look at Luke chapter 3 this is John the Baptist talking to Roman soldiers verse number 12 then came also publicans to be baptized and said unto him master what shall we do and he said unto them exact no more than that which is appointed to you and the soldiers likewise demanded of him saying and what shall we do and he said unto them do violence to no man neither accuse any falsely and be content with your wages John the Baptist knew that these were violent people all right so he wasn't telling them to fight in wars the Roman soldiers were just violent they were just violent sadistic people period they would oppress, torture and kill anyone that they were ordered to do especially for money I mean after the Jewish persecution of the first few decades it got really bad when it became Roman persecution and that was executed by Roman soldiers the persecution of Christians so look it's not really surprising here that the soldiers took the payoff and that the chief priests and the Pharisees knew to just pay them off but it shows once again that the Pharisees literally could not believe they did not have the ability to believe there was no miracle there was no miracle that Jesus could do that would make them believe they were completely blinded so the first reason for the resurrection is that Jesus claimed victory over all of them with the resurrection over all of the spiritual wickedness in high places throughout all history past, present, and future why? you say what do you mean throughout all history past, present, and future because at the top of that chain no matter who the wicked mortal leader is at that time at the top is Satan at the top is what John 12 would call the prince of this world at the top is what second Corinthians chapter 4 would call the God of this world Satan himself so Jesus with the resurrection claimed that victory point number two my final point tonight on the resurrection what it proves and what it did for us is it proves God's promise to us turn to Matthew chapter 10 turn to Matthew chapter 10 Matthew chapter 10 look at verse number 28 where the Bible says and fear not them which killed the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body both soul and body in hell look turn to John chapter 11 we this same victory that Jesus promised that Jesus achieved over the principalities and the powers we are promised this same victory turn to John chapter 11 I'll prove it to you look at verse number 24 we see the story here of Lazarus Lazarus has died and Jesus is going to rise raise him from the dead and Martha is sad and she is coming to Jesus and she's she's not she's upset that her brother has died okay and she says Martha in verse number 24 of John chapter 11 Martha sayeth unto him I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day Jesus says he will rise again and she says I know Jesus that he'll rise again in the resurrection at the last day and Jesus said unto her well first of all let me just say this I find it interesting that Martha didn't have the New Testament Jesus had not died here's another example of the gospel of the Old Testament being the exact same gospel of the New Testament Martha did not have the New Testament and she says to Jesus she says I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day sounds a lot like what we believe look at verse 25 Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die believeth thou this and she said unto him ye Lord I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the world sounds like she was waiting for a Christ sounds like she knew a Christ was coming and sounds like she knew that she would be resurrected on the last day before she read the New Testament and before Jesus had even died on the cross before Jesus had even risen from the dead more proof that the Old Testament faith was the exact same faith as we have now look look at verse 25 Jesus says unto her I am the resurrection Jesus is the resurrection the resurrections that makes all other resurrections possible just like the one that Martha was referring to Martha was referring to a resurrection that she was going to receive that Lazarus was going to receive so Jesus but here's a funny thing Jesus talks about the resurrection when he says I am the resurrection he talks about it like it's already happened isn't that strange to say I am the resurrection but look turn to John chapter 8 Jesus did this Jesus talked like this in more than one occasion and I'll explain to you why look at John chapter 8 and verse 58 you guys were just talking about this the other night John chapter 8 and verse number 58 all the Jews were talking about being children of Abraham and all this and Jesus said unto them verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am Jesus says that before Abraham even existed I am but he says I am like like it's now like before Abraham even existed I was I am you see he turned to revelation chapter 13 and I'm going to read for you 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 19 and 20 where the Bible says you turn to revelation 13 the Bible says but without with the precious blood of Christ as of the lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you so Jesus was foreordained before the foundation of the world was even laid before the world was even created Jesus was foreordained he was manifest in Jesus Christ in his body in at this time when he's standing by in the New Testament look at revelation 13 8 and all that dwelt upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world so the Bible says that from the foundation of the world it was like Jesus was already slain isn't that funny that God talks out how can God talk that way how can God talk like before the world was even created before the foundation of the world was even created Jesus was was like he was already slain I mean look this this it was like to God it was like it was already done before the world was even created this should give us by the way added faith to the word of God because God says something first of all the word of God we've already studied that the word of God was was already complete before the foundation of the world as well before it was written down for us on these nice pages and this nice bound bible it was already done so it was like all this had already happened in God's eyes it had already happened you see to God the plan was as good as done before the foundation of the world was laid so Jesus could rightly say I am the resurrection before he even resurrected in the eyes of us you see so he was the resurrection he could say I am the resurrection because he is what he what he was saying is I am the resurrection is what he was saying to Martha I am the resurrection it's it's already done it's like it's already finished because that's how God operates the words already done the plans already done it's already executed to God and he says I am the resurrection that will create all and make all these resurrections including yours possible and he says how do you get that resurrection by believing on me if you believe on me you will have that resurrection that I make possible through my resurrection you see that's the second reason for the resurrection is it proves that we have that same promise we will have that same resurrection because Jesus is the resurrection that makes ours possible he proved it to us he proved it to us turn to Romans 8 chapter 11 to God if it's in the word it's already done God transcends time you say I don't understand that you don't have to all you have to do is just believe what's in the Bible because God has proven over and over and over to us that what is in the word of God will come to pass Romans 8 11 just a little tidbit just this would this will be two this will be reason 2a the Bible is proof that the resurrection is proof that the Holy Spirit is in us look at Romans 8 chapter verse number 11 where the Bible says but if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you so look you when you got saved so look do you have to have the Spirit dwelling in you in order to be get that resurrection the Bible says yes because that is the Spirit that raised Jesus up from the dead it's the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead and that's why when you get saved when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says that you are sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise you're indwelled by the Holy Spirit and that same Spirit will raise you up from the dead in that resurrection so look folks we don't serve a God that is all talk that is all words he has proved everything to us on this earth already I mean from the proof of creation that he talks about in Romans to the proof proof of the invisible things of God to the proof of Jesus's actual perfect life on earth from the miracles to the just the dramatic traumatic death of Jesus Christ to the burial and then to the most historically significant event in history which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ it proves the victory over satan that's the reason for the resurrection and then it proves of our it proves our access to that same victory that resurrection if we just believe on him that's that is the beauty of the resurrection that we don't have a God that just says things he's a God of action and he took action through his son and he has taken that action he has proved everything that he said that he would do in his word and he proved it through Jesus Christ he proved it through the death the burial and the resurrection so look happy Easter everyone I mean he is he has risen you know and celebrate your victory through his resurrection this Easter let's power heads and have a word of prayer dear heavenly father we thank you for this wonderful day we thank you for just the gift of your son Lord we thank you for just taking this action for us Lord we act we ask that you know just just help us to never forget the action that you you came and you interceded for this world and you gave us this perfect sacrifice that anyone has access to Lord and help us know you know when we go out soul winning that anybody has access to this Lord and help us be clear in presenting that gospel and telling this story and this this great sacrifice that you made for all the people that are alive today and that will be alive in the future help us never to forget this Lord we thank you we love you in the precious name of Jesus we pray Amen