The Resurrection of Hope!

What Jesus’ Resurrection Does For Us.

4.17.2022

Introduction

We’ve all been challenged with the last two years and the changes it has brought to normal life.

Today, I want to breathe hope back into your life.

Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12 (BBE)

Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.

It all starts with understanding Jesus’ resurrection:

What Jesus’ resurrection does for us.

1. The resurrection of Jesus ensures us that we do not have to deal with our problems alone.

God does not want you to deal with life alone!

We have in Jesus a person who has experienced our hard places and is ready to help us!

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious, God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Jesus knows what it is like to be misunderstood.

Jesus knows what it is like to be blamed for something you did not do.

Jesus knows how it feels to mentally, verbally, and physically assaulted by others.

Jesus knows what it is like to be all alone and away from God.

Jesus knows what it is like to die – He died and took the sting death brings away from us!

Jesus knows what it is like to spend time in hell – he went there so you don’t have to.

2. The resurrection of Jesus means that our personal sins and mistakes have been paid for and we no longer have to be guilty before God because of our past. We no longer have to be afraid of death.

Jesus Christ took our sin penalty – spiritual death and incarceration in hell, so that we could be free from the fear of dying.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (TPT)

Since all his “children” have flesh and blood, so Jesus became human to fully identify with us. He did this, so that he could experience death and annihilate the effects of the intimidating accuser who holds against us the power of death. 15 By embracing death Jesus sets free those who live their entire lives in bondage to the tormenting dread of death.

Matthew 27:33-66 (TPT)

They brought Jesus to Golgotha, which means “Skull Hill.” 34 And there the soldiers offered him a mild painkiller, a drink of wine mixed with gall, but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

35 Then they crucified Jesus, nailing his hands and feet to the cross. The soldiers divided his clothing among themselves by rolling dice to see who would win them. 36 And the soldiers stood there to watch what would happen and to keep guard over him. 37 Above his head they placed a sign that read, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of Israel.” 38 Two criminals were also crucified with Jesus, one on each side of him. 39 And those who passed by shook their heads and spitefully ridiculed him, 40 saying, “We heard you boast that you could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days! Why don’t you save yourself now? If you’re really God’s Son, come down from the cross!” 41 Even the ruling priests, with the Jewish scholars and religious leaders, joined in the mockery 42 and kept on saying, “He saved others, but he can’t even save himself! Israel’s king, is he? He should pull out the nails and come down from the cross right now; then we’ll believe in him! 43 He says he puts all his trust in God, so let’s see if it’s true, and see if God really wants to rescue his ‘favorite son’!” 44 Even the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus began to taunt him, hurling their insults on him. 45 For three hours, beginning at noon, darkness came over the earth. 46 And at three o’clock Jesus shouted with a mighty voice in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” —that is, “My God, My God, why have you deserted me?” 47 Some who were standing near the cross misunderstood and said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” 48 One bystander ran and got a sponge, soaked it with sour wine, then put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink. 49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to rescue him.” 50 Jesus passionately cried out, took his last breath, and gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the veil in the Holy of Holies was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth shook violently, rocks were split apart, 52 and graves were opened. Then many of the holy ones (Old Testament believers) who had died were brought back to life and came out of their graves. 53 And after Jesus’ resurrection, they were plainly seen by many people walking in Jerusalem.

Jesus literally paid the sin debt we owe God. We are sinners by nature, and cannot go to the pure place called heaven with the sinful hearts we have.

Jesus cried out when our sin was placed on Him.

God turned His back on Jesus when He became our sin. When He did, that is when Jesus cried out – My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

At that moment, the Bible says that Jesus Christ became every sin that you and I have ever committed.

Jesus became responsible for every wrong thought that you and I have allowed to linger in our minds.

Jesus became responsible for every wrong word that you and I have ever spoken.

Jesus became responsible before God for every sinful, wrong thing that you have done.

He became every lie ever told, every curse word ever uttered, every lustful thought that has tantillized a person, every act of adultery and illicit sex, every deceitful action that has harmed others, every act of selfishness that has marred a marriage, a home, a relationship, or a business. He became the scheme of the outlaw, the embodiment of the narcissist that takes advantage of others to get his way. He became the pimp, the prostitute, the whoremonger, the adult film star, the pornographer, the porn addict, the lying politician, the unjust judge and juror, the child abuser, the rapist, the pedophile, and every diabolical scheme to enslave and kill millions of people. He became the proud, self sufficient person that wants help from no one, he became the hypocrite, the liar, the crook, the thief, the rebel, the mischief maker, and every person who loves and lives a lie.

Jesus became our sin.

Jesus paid the just price for our sins that we should pay.

When a person stands before a judge and is found guilty of a crime, they pay a penalty. It may be community service, a hefty fine, a loss of some privilege, or it may be a prison sentence, or for a far more serious crime, the death penalty.

The penalty for sin against God is spiritual death, physical death, and then the second death – eternal separation from God in hell.

Jesus took our sin and was separated from God. Then, Jesus went to hell for us!

Matthew 12:40 (NLT)

For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

He stayed there until God was satisfied that our sin debt was paid in full.

Then Jesus came alive again. He was raised from physical death!

3. Jesus Christ’s resurrection means that our enemy Satan has been defeated for us so that we go through life knowing we have victory in every hard place!

Revelation 1:18 (MEV)

I am He who lives, though I was dead. Look! I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

The Bible reveals that there are invisible demonic forces that hinder human life.

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Jesus Christ defeated these demonic forces and gave us an ability to use Jesus’ NAME to protect ourselves and our families from their schemes to harm us!

I command Satan every single day to keep his hands off of my family. In Christ you can too!

Colossians 1:13-14 (TPT)

He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom realm of his beloved Son. 14 For in the Son all our sins are canceled and we have the release of redemption through his very blood.

Romans 8:37-39 (NLT)

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. Jesus Christ’s resurrection took the sting out of death, so that even the finality of death brings us a promise of a life beyond the grave.

John 20:1-17 (TPT)

Very early Sunday morning, before sunrise, Mary Magdalene made her way to the tomb. And when she arrived she discovered that the stone that sealed the entrance to the tomb was moved away! 2 So she went running as fast as she could to go tell Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. She told them, “They’ve taken the Lord’s body from the tomb, and we don’t know where he is!” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple jumped up and ran to the tomb to go see for themselves. 4 They started out together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He didn’t enter the tomb, but peeked in, and saw only the linen cloths lying there. 6 Then Peter came behind him and went right into the tomb. He too noticed the linen cloths lying there, 7 but the burial cloth that had been on Jesus’ head had been rolled up and placed separate from the other cloths. 8 Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first went in, and after one look, he believed! 9 For until then they hadn’t understood the Scriptures that prophesied that he was destined to rise from the dead. 10 Puzzled, Peter and the other disciple then left and went back to their homes. 11 Mary arrived back at the tomb, broken and sobbing. She stooped to peer inside, and through her tears 12 she saw two angels in dazzling white robes, sitting where Jesus’ body had been laid—one at the head and one at the feet! 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” they asked. Mary answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him.” 14 Then she turned around to leave, and there was Jesus standing in front of her, but she didn’t realize that it was him! 15 He said to her, “Dear woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Mary answered, thinking he was only the gardener, “Sir, if you have taken his body somewhere else, tell me, and I will go and . . .” 16 “Mary,” Jesus interrupted her. Turning to face him, she said, “Rabboni!” (Aramaic for “my teacher”) 17 Jesus cautioned her, “Mary, don’t hold on to me now, for I haven’t yet ascended to God, my Father. And he’s not only my Father and God, but now he’s your Father and your God! Now go to my brothers and tell them what I’ve told you, that I am ascending to my Father—and your Father, to my God—and your God!”

Jesus defeated death. He arose from being dead and came alive again physically in a brand new perfect human body.

We are promised that, if we know Jesus Christ, we too will go to heaven when we die, and one day will return to earth with Jesus and get a brand new body like He has!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise

from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

5. Jesus Christ’s resurrection brings us the promise that if we give our lives to Jesus, our sins can be forgiven, we have God’s help in life now, we go to heaven when we die, and we will return with Jesus to get a brand new body one day.

If you are here and you do not know Jesus, there is still time and hope for you. You can repent and turn away from your sinful lifestyle today and give your life to Jesus Christ.

The Bible says in Romans 10:13:

Romans 10:13 (NLT)

For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.

The Bible says that all us have sinned – we have broken God’s laws. We have used God’s name in a vain way. We have dishonored our parents. We have perhaps lied, cheated, or stolen. We have been immoral or have taken what is not ours. These things are what the Bible calls sin.

The Bible says that if we break just one of God’s laws then we are as guilty as a person who breaks them all (James 2:10)

The penalty for breaking God’s law is spiritual death, physical death and then at physical death jgoing to a place called hell.

The Bible says that it is appointed to man to die once and after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

The Bible says in John 3:16-17:(NKJV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17 (BBE)

For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to be judge of the world; he sent him so that the world might have salvation through him

The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Pray with me right now, and hope can be restored to your life. You can be forgiven and life a new life now, and have the promise of heaven in your future.

Action Points:

1. Do you feel hopeless and alone? Jesus has been there for you.

2. Do you fear death and the future in eternity? Jesus made a way for you to go to heaven!

3. Are you afraid to die? Jesus took the fear away from dying, guaranteeing us a new body and eternity free from pain and suffering in the presence of God.