Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
3 30 2024
THEY ALL KNEW HE WAS DEAD.
Their isn’t much written about the day after. Except they knew he was dead. Their hopes and expectations had been crushed. The one they hoped was the Messiah had been killed as a criminal. They hadn’t understood Jesus’ predictions about suffering and dying before the crucifixion took place (Matt. 16:21–23; 17:22–23; 20:17–19 and parallels), and it would not be until Jesus appeared among them the following day as the risen Victor and conqueror of death that they would begin to understand. Most likely, they were concerned, if not anxious or even terrified, that what had happened to their leader
would now happen to them as well.
The Pharisees also knew what Jesus said about raising from the dead and asked Pilate Matt 27:65 to do something. He said, “You have a guard of soldiers”. Making it highly unlikely that anyone would steal the body. Beyond the fact that the stone covering the tomb weighed around 3,000 pounds and was sealed and guarded by soldiers.
Even so they concocted a story of the disciples stealing his body. Matthew 28:13 but it didn’t work, because people don’t risk their lives to listen to self-made falsehoods. The body was not in the tomb! Evangelist Stephen and the Apostle James lost their lives Acts 7:60 12:2. And for 40 days Jesus was appearing to individuals and groups, some as large as 500 Acts 1:3 – Corinthians 15:6 Most of these were not gullible, but hard to convince Luke 24:11, 38; John 20:25, 27.
As the possibility dawned on the skeptical disciples that the resurrection might be true…maybe he was a ghost or an apparition.
But Jesus was ruthless in abolishing the speculation immediately. To doubting Thomas he said, put your finger here, and see my hands;
and put out your hand and place it on my side.
“Do not disbelieve but believe” John 20:27
When the apostle Paul described the future resurrection body of Christians, he was describing the resurrection body of Jesus too, because Christ was raised as the first fruits of the rest of the dead who belong to him. 1 Corinthians 15:20. In other words, the body of the risen Christ is the first of the same harvest all of the other bodies that he will raise in glory on the last day.
Christ, Paul says, will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:21, therefore, this description of our future resurrection bodies applies to Jesus body 2:1 Corinthians 15:42–44
“What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor: it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness: it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body: it is raised a spiritual body.”
Coming through death with sovereign power, Christ entered into an imperishable, never-ending life. Jesus has become an ever-living high priest according to ” the power of an indestructible life” Hebrews 7:16 God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him “a name that is above every name”. Philippians 2:9 Jesus!
Therefore the resurrection of Jesus assures all his future work on behalf of his people: his authority and rule over everything in the universe. Matthew 28:18 His Priestley intercession on our behalf. Romans 8:30 for his advocacy with God the Father! 1 John 2:1 His protective, comforting presence with us to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 and his final coming to earth in glory to give rest to us and retribution to all who “do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ .“
2nd Thessalonians 1:7 -8.
In the end, the risen Christ will raise us with him. If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:5
He makes this promise for all who believe: I will raise him up on the last day John 6:40
thus his resurrection guarantees theirs.
Jesus says: I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me shall never die John 11:25–26. The most important week of the most significant and paramountly important person who ever lived leads us up to Resurrection Sunday.
Father, we praise you that you mightily raised your son, Jesus from the dead. We praise you that the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. And now, oh God, grant us to live in the riches of all that Jesus’ resurrection means. Banish fear, fretting, and moodiness from our lives. Rivet our attention on the ultimate reality of Christ’s final triumph over death. Give us a broken-hearted boldness in the mercy and the might of Jesus. Father, we want our lives to count for the display of his greatness. Work in us this end with all your might, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen
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Come Join Us this Sunday the 31st at Raymond James Stadium
for our Easter Celebration. We are bringing all our campuses together and are praying for 35k to 50k people to attend. Invite your friends and Families.
Tony Dungy, among others, will be speaking. We will be tailgating by Gate 6B for breakfast from 8 am to 9:30. Please come and bring your family and be sure to look for me.
Service is at 10:30 Check us out at https://gfcflorida.com/easter
Excerpts taken from Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper
Excerpts Adapted from Andreas Köstenberger and Justin Taylor, The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014), 169–71.
He’s Alive David Phelps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9tY5xV3b_I
