HE LIVES ETERNALLY

5/27/2012

1.     DO YOU REMEMBER? (LUKE 23: 50 – 24: 8)

Luke 23:50-56

50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51(he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 And it was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 And they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.

And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

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·         Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (John 19: 39) were both secret disciples, but now they come out in the open for the first time.

·         Apparently there were many believers in the Lord who were not open about it like the disciples were.

·         However at the time of the Crucifixion the disciples went underground, and those that had been underground came out in the open.

1A. REMEMBER (LUKE 24: 1 – 8)

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel;

John Gill— “…as these were the first witnesses of Christs (sic) resurrection, there were two of them; for by the mouth of two or three witnesses every thing is established.”

 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. "  8 And they remembered His words,

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2.     DO YOU BELIEVE? (LUKE 24: 9 – 12, 36 – 43)

Luke 24:9-12

 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. 12[But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at that which had happened.]

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o       V13 – 35 Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus.

2A. TRUST (LUKE 24: 36 – 40)

36 And while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst. 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."  40[And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.]

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·         The Scriptures records fourteen appearance that Christ made after His resurrection:

1. John 20:14 To Mary Magdalene.

2. Matt 28:9 To certain women returning from the sepulcher.

3. Luke 24:34 To Simon Peter.

4. Luke 24:13 To the two disciples going to Emmaus.

5. John 20:19 To the ten disciples in the upper room.

6. John 20:26 To the eleven disciples in the upper room.

7. Matt 28:16 To the eleven disciples (and perhaps others).

8. John 21 To the seven disciples beside the Sea of Tiberias.

9. I Corinthians 15:7 To about 500 brethren at once.

10. I Corinthians 15:7 To James.

11. Acts 1 To the eleven and possible others on the Mount of Olives at His ascension.

12. Acts 7 To Stephen.

13. Acts 9 To Saul on the road to Damascus.

14. Rev 1 To John on the island of Patmos.

Luke 24:41-43

41 And while they still could not believe it for joy and were marveling, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"  42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them.

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3.     DO YOU UNDERSTAND? (LUKE 24: 44 – 46)

44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."  45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

John Gill— “He not only opened their hearts, to attend to what he said, and the proofs he gave of his resurrection from the dead in a true body; but he removed the veil from the eyes of their minds, and gave them an understanding of the sacred writings, respecting this matter.”

46 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day;

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4.     DO YOU FOLLOW THROUGH? (LUKE 24: 47 – 53)

47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 "You are witnesses of these things.

·         It is clear that Christ was telling the disciples that this was their responsibility ... and Christ is telling us through His Word, that this is OUR responsibility as well... individually and personally.

·         The power to carry the witness to the world comes from the Holy Spirit.

 49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 And it came about that while He was blessing them, He parted from them.

·         THE PURPOSE OF HIS ASCENSION AND EXALTATION.

1. As a Forerunner.

Hebrews 6:19-20

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

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2. To prepare a place for His people.

      John 14:2-3

2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "

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3. He is now appearing before God in our behalf (Heb 9:24; I John 2:1-2) as our "high priest" "advocator" Propitiation," etc.

Hebrews 9:24

24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

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52 And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple, praising God.

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