Matthew 16:21

And from that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Matthew 28:6

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Introduction

More than a dozen times, Jesus told his disciples that He would be crucified, but that He would also rise again on the third day. After witnessing the cruelty of the Roman soldiers, the plotting of the religious leaders, his rejection by the people, and their knowledge of how brutal death by a Roman cross would be, they had lost all hope of His resurrection. Even his mother and her companions did not believe He was alive. They came to the cemetery just to give Him a decent burial. Had they believed He was alive, they would not have brought embalming spices to anoint his body. Although their faith in His resurrection had dissipated, their love for Him was ceaseless. Apostle Paul hit the theological nail on the head in 1st Corinthians 13:13, when he said faith, hope, and love are great attributes, but the greatest of these three is love.

Jesus made an accurate prediction about His saving work. Whereas, many predictions, such as those made by meteorologists or statisticians, are not one hundred percent accurate, Jesus’ prediction about His resurrection was perfect and powerful. On this Resurrection Day, let’s look at these events once again but with more gratitude, admiration, and wonder.

Exposition

1. He Went To The Cross Because He Was Obedient To The Father.

(Luke 2:49; John 9:4.)

2. He Went To The Cross Because He Loved Humankind.

(John 10:11; John 15:13; Romans 5:6.)

3. He Rose In Spite Of The Evil Perpetrated Against Him.

(Matthew 27:62-66.)

4. He Rose To Keep His Holy Promise.

(Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18.)

5. He Rose To Display His Awesome Divine Power.

(Matthew 28:18.)

Closing Thoughts

Belief in Jesus Christ’s Lordship and bodily resurrection is essential for salvation. According to Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians chapter fifteen, without His bodily resurrection, the claims of Christ and the message of Christianity rest on a false foundation. Believers are spiritually risen with Christ, and we have the assured victory over death. As we walk in the newness of our resurrected spiritual lives, we can allow God to resurrect the many aspects of our lives that are dead. He can resurrect dead relationships. He can resurrect dead self-esteem. He can resurrect dead finances. He can resurrect dead joy and happiness. God can resurrect many things in our lives as we await the great general resurrection, when we will all be raptured up to meet Him. Give God Glory! Give God All The Glory!

Related Scriptures

Matthew 12:22-23; Matthew 20:18-19: Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 14:28; Luke 9:22; Luke 18:31-33; Luke 24:6-7; John 2: 19-22.

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