HOW I KNOW JESUS' BODY ISN'T IN THE GRAVE (Luke 24:1-7)

It is said in the scripture that when the two Marys and the other women at the tomb heard from the angels that Jesus had arisen, they experienced great joy. Matt 28:8 “Joy" is the word which is often translated "rejoice." Joy is an emotion of great delight or happiness. It is opposite of sadness and gloom.

The apostle John met the risen Christ on the isle of Patmos and says to us in Rev 1:17,"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And he laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First And The Last."

I am going to give you several reasons why I know that Jesus body is not still in its grave.

I.                   BECAUSE OF HIS PERSON--In John 5 the Jews understood

that Jesus claimed equality with God.

John 5:18 "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him,

because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God

was His Father, making himself equal with God."

The Lord had just healed the man who had an infirmity for thirty-

eight years, that had hindered him from getting into the waters to be

healed. An angel from time to time would stir the waters, and made

possible the healing of the one who could get there in time. He did

this on the sabbath, so the religious people were infuriated. Even

Jesus' enemies understood that He claimed to be God. Of course, that

was blasphemy to them.

John 10:30, " I and my Father are one." He is not just talking about a

oneness in purpose but also a oneness in person

II.    BECAUSE OF HIS POWER  (Matt 28:18)

Beyond any shadow of a doubt the Lord Jesus had power over the chains of death. How do we know that? Because of those who he raised from the dead.

Someone said JESUS never came upon a funeral procession without raising the one who had died from the dead. It would be interesting to know how many people in His ministry that Jesus brought from the dead.

John 21:25  " And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

III.             BECAUSE OF HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCES--The Lord Jesus desired that many reliable witnesses would could substiantiate the truthfulness of the risen Savior.

1 Cor 15:5-8  Jesus was seen of 500 at one time and most of those

were alive when Paul wrote 1 Cor. called as witnesses to it if

necessary.

IV.             BECAUSE OF HIS PURPOSE---I Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Christ did not come into this world to die a martyr's death or

even to just set a good example.

SAVING SINNERS was His purpose

Involves two main things:

1. Providing redemption for man -dying & blood

2. Being alive to save those form whom He died-I am saying a dead

    savior cannot save! It takes One who is alive Himself!

V.         HIS PLACE--Colossians 3:1 says, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. "

Hebrews 12:2 " Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

He lives in our hearts through the Holy Spirit today and we are told that he is seated at the right hand of the Father on high.

Why is he there at the right hand of the Father?

1 John 2:1 " My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

The word "Advocate" suggests "one called to you side to help and assist."  It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, an advocate; then, generally, one who pleads another's cause, an intercessor, and advocate. It should be clear; it doesn't  take a Ph.D to realize, that if Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father on high, then He is alive. His place, and His position indicates that His body is not in that tomb in Jerusalem!

VI.             BECAUSE OF HIS PROMISES

A.     To Return-John. 14:1-3…A dead corpse cannot get anything done. It is impossible for one to drive a car, fly an airplane, sweep a floor, climb a ladder, or pick up a stone off the ground.It is going to take a live Savior to return.

B.     To Raise Himself -John 2:19…Jesus answered and said unto them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

C. To Resurrect Others--I Thessalonians 4:16,17