Luke 26:6-8 – What Does the Resurrection Mean? – Bible study

Luke 26:6 What Does the Resurrection Mean? 4/5/2015 PM Click here for first part of the message. We live in a world where few things excite the spirit. Instead of spiritual certainities most have spiritual doubts. People doubt God, His existence, and His involvement in our lives. Most reject the possiblity of Jesus bodily resurrection. The few who would consent to any believe in it all would answer with, "Even if it is true, so what?" So what? to the resurrection?? Friend, all of the world could not begin to hold the magnitude of the what the resurrection means not only in the scope of eternity but in our everyday lives. I wrote down some of the ways that resurrection has or should impact us. A. In your theology, the resurrection is 1. Something to believe that has been foretold, fulfilled, proven beyond question, and stood the test of time. 2. It is something that will settle your mind, grow your faith, and save your soul. B. For your mind, the resurrection is 1. the means of identifying the one true God. 2. the source of faith. 3. the seat of your new found power. 4. and the assurance of your salvation. C. For your body, the resurrection is 1. freedom from the fear of death. 2. the means of physical healing. 3. the guarantee of eternal life. D. For your soul, the resurrection is 1. that which can mend the broken heart (Mary). 2. that which removes sin, guilt, and shame (Peter). 3. that which cures the confusion and destroys the doubt. It is that last thought, what the resurrection means to your soul that I want to dwell on this evening. Your soul is that part of you which is you. It is the part that lives, thinks, feels, worry, loves, chooses, and is aware. What can the resurrection mean to you? I. \#John 20:11-16\ The resurrection can mend the broken hearted. A. There are many Marys in the New Testament. 1. Mary the mother of Jesus 2. Mary Magdalene 3. Others B. While both had an unshakable faith in Jesus, once beyond the birth of Jesus, Mary Magdalene is spoken of more than Mary Jesus mother. 1. \#Mark 16:9\ Jesus had cast seven devils out of her. 2. \#John 20:1\ It was this Mary who is mentioned as the one coming to the tomb on resurrection morning. 3. Again, both of these ladies had unshakeable faith. a. A mothers faith in her children is unshakeable. Of course Mary had faith in Jesus even BEFORE He began to reveal Himself. b. Who is going to make a person who was once possessed by seven devils believe the One freed her was a fake? C. But although Mary Magdalenes faith was not busted, it was broken. 1. Here is the portrayal of a woman who is as broken as can be. a. She was crying so much that she could not see! She had spoken to angels and did not recognize them. She even spoke to the risen Lord and did not recognize Him. b. I would say that at this point, she is crying uncontrollably. c. I only know of three things that can drive a good- hearted woman to this place. (1) A great disappointment. Something way out of the ordinary like a personal betrayal. (2) A prolonged hurt. Something that has lasted for weeks, months, years. (3) The death of a loved one. d. In some ways, Mary was going through all three of these. (1) She was not disappointed in Jesus but she was in what had happened. (2) She was in a hole that she never thought she would get out of. (3) As far as she knew, Jesus was dead. 2. I have known this Bible passage for many years and I have never found a way to put into the words how broken Mary was as she wept that day. 3. By the same token, I have never found words to describe the emotions backed into \#16\. a. In that troubled state, she heard one familiar voice say one familiar sound, "Mary"; and everything changed! b. I cannot put into words what Mary felt at that moment. You will have to get into the passage and feel it for yourself. D. What mended Marys broken heart? It was the power of the resurrection! 1. It is that same power that can mend your heart no matter how bad things are! 2. Sedatives, sessions, and suicides will not help. 3. Oh, that the world might see what the resurrection can do for them! II. \#Luke 24:13-32\ The resurrectin can conquer confusion and destroy doubt. A. These two men are on the road to Emmaus. 1. I cant help but to wonder why the Lord appeared to them. 2. Surely they were not the only two disciples talking about the events at Jerusalem or confused and filled with doubt? 3. Yet, he did! B. \#Luke 24:21\ These two were disciplesor should we say "used to be"? 1. At this point, they were filled with doubts and confused. 2. Life can certainly play tricks with our faith. (sickness tragedy, problems) C. By the way, having a perfect Teacher give them truth did not help them. 1. \#Luke 24:27\ Jesus started at Moses and taught them concerning Himself from the Old Testament. a. You cant get a better classroom than that! b. It did not help! 2. Teaching and truth are needed to help deal with the agnostics, atheists, and doubtersbut it will not be enough. D. Then Jesus blessed the food and their eyes were opened. 1. What opened their eyes? Perhaps seeing the marks of the nail prints in the hands of the Savior! 2. Whatever caused it, it was the release of the resurrection power! 3. What does this world need today to conquer confusion and destroy doubt? Not more preachers preaching truth but the power of the resurrection! III. \#John 18:16-27\ The resurrection can remove sin, guilt, and shame. A. We all know of Peters sin. 1. He denied the Lord three times. 2. Did you know that his sin ruined Peter? 3. What Peter did and how he felt about himself changed Peter. It darkened and killed himas sin always does. 4. Lets see. B. \#John 20:1-10\ 1. This is after the resurrection. 2. John is writing and he is the "other disciple." 3. \#John 10:8\ Notice what the text DID NOT say. a. It say "he," John saw the empty tomb and believed. b. It did not say "we believed" because Peter did not believe at that time. c. Peter and John likely talked of this day many times in the days ahead. If Peter had believed, he would have surely told John. 4. This is Peter the firebrand. a. Peter the impetuous. b. Peter the one who does and says and thinks about it later. c. It had not taken much to get him to walk on water. He just thought that was Jesus out there on the water and jumped in. d. It had not taken much to get Peter to cut off Marcus ear. He just believed he should and jumped in. e. It had not taken much to get Jesus to believe in Jesus. He saw some nets filled with fish and jumped right in. f. Why isnt Peter jumping in here? John did. 5. It was because his sin, guilt, and shame was keeping him from jumping in. 6. At this point, the resurrection power is available to PeterJohn is getting in on itbut Peters sin is keeping him out of it. 7. Jesus is going to take care of that sin. C. \#1Cor 15:5, Luke 24:34\ Are the only two Bible passages that I know of which tell us of Jesus private audience with Peter. 1. This is before Jesus met with the two on the road to Emmaus or the Twelve (just eleven but called the Twelve) in the upper room. 2. We dont know where they met, but you can bet Peter was probably by himself when they did. Peter was likely spending all of his time by himself, discouraged, depressed, feeling like the worlds greatest failure. 3. We dont know why they meet or what they said, but I believe we can guess. a. I believe Jesus met with Peter to deal with his sin problem. b. I believe that Peter readily acknowledged his sin and that it was removed. c. That is the resurrection power! It both gives sin and helps us to forgive those who sin against us. 4. Even so, Peter still carried the guilt and shame. D. \#John 20:19-25\ 1. Peter was in the upper room. a. He listened to the two disciples from Emmaus. b. He listened to what others had to say. c. Yet, there is no account of him standing to say anything. d. Does he even tell them that he had seen Jesus? e. Then Jesus is in the midst of them! f. Still there is no record of Peter saying anything. 2. Where is the impetuous, speak-first-think-later Peter? a. I think Peter is glad to see Jesus. b. But I believe he is sitting off to the side somewhere, feeling so ashamed that he says little if anything at all! 3. He is still broken. E. \#John 21:3\ 1. Peter decided to go fishing. a. This is not "get a fishing pole and go fishing" fishing. b. This is "Im going to take the family boat business back and go fishing" fishing. 2. Why is Peter going back? Why he is taking the others with him? He is still feeling the guilt and shame. 3. Of course, they catch no fish and Jesus appears on the shore. he tells them to drop the nets on the right side and they get catch a full load, 153. 4. John realized that it was Jesus and Peter jumped in! 5. Maybe Peter was sick and tired of being sick and tired! 6. Jesus takes him aside and asked him three times if he loved Him. He answered three times, "You know I do." 7. Finally, it appears as though the power of the resurrection is getting through! 8. But that is the beauty of the resurrection powerwe have a risen Lord who is able to take all of the time and make all of the effort necessary to get us where we need to be! F. Peters load was pretty heavy. He may have needed more doses of this resurrectino power! Thank God for the resurrection power and what it can do for you right now!