Rev. David Holwick M Easter
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
April 16, 2017
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
EASTER ABSENCES
I. Resurrection in Jerusalem.
A. The competing tombs.
1) The Garden Tomb is outside the walls of the old city.
a) It has beautiful plantings and a picturesque tomb.
b) Tourist brochures call it a quiet spot.
1> We found it overflowing with people with group
upon group, of many languages, filling the space.
2> Our guide, a Jewish Christian, did a wonderful
presentation on what it means to believe in Jesus.
c) It is a nice spot and evokes the original tomb, but
probably is not - it is actually far more ancient
than the times of Jesus, and his tomb was new.
2) The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is more historic.
a) Traditions and archaeological evidence ties it to the
very earliest Christian Church.
1> In Roman times it was outside the walls of the city
but now it is most definitely within.
b) Inside the church is a rotunda and a fancy structure.
1> The structure contains what is said to be the
original place where Jesus' body was laid.
2> They were repairing it when we were there so it
was all covered in scaffolding.
c) An aspect of that repair was to check the underlying
foundation.
1> The archaeologists were surprised to find the
original limestone slab under all the medieval
marble cladding.
2> They saw something that had not been seen in
centuries.
B. One thing both tombs have in common.
1) They are empty.
2) The New York Times has glossed over this in several recent
articles, saying that Jesus lived and died, period.
a) A 2014 Times article suggested that Jesus is still
buried in Jerusalem.
b) The author may believe this, but Christianity does not.
1> We believe Jesus didn't stay dead.
2> He was raised from the grave by the power of God.
3) Maybe neither of these tombs is authentic. Maybe the only
authentic one is in the gym of Ledgewood Baptist Church.
4) But Christians believe the tomb that Jesus's body was laid
in was occupied for less than three days.
II. What difference does this make to you?
A. For many, not much.
1) I talked to several ordinary citizens (not members) this
week and asked them about their plans for Easter.
2) Out of 5 people, all of them said they had gone to
church as kids.
3) All of them had big dinner plans for Easter day.
4) Only 2 intended to go to church.
B. If the tomb of Jesus was empty, it could mean several things.
1) It could mean his body was stolen.
a) This was an ancient accusation, which the Gospel
of Matthew mentions.
b) But the disciples would not have laid down their
lives for the gospel if they knew it was a scam.
2) It could mean his body had been supernaturally
transformed.
a) If this is true, Easter is not just a cute holiday
with pastel colors.
b) It would mean we don't have to die.
C. Christians believe the tomb is empty because Jesus is alive.
1) Jesus proved it by appearing to various people and groups.
a) Paul mentions Peter and the 12 apostles.
b) He also mentions a group of 500 at one time.
c) Lastly, he mentions himself, as a special case.
d) Other passages add the women who were first at the tomb,
the two disciples walking to the village of Emmaus,
and various appearances in the region of Galilee.
2) Jesus even proved himself to skeptics.
a) Thomas was not the only one who was hesitant to believe.
1> Even ancient people knew that death was definite.
2> They were not pushovers when it came to belief.
b) He established that he was not a ghost, but flesh.
1> He ate food.
2> He showed them his wounds.
III. An empty tomb is amazing, but it's not the most amazing Easter fact.
A. The resurrection appearances have their drawbacks.
1) There were not that many of them.
a) In 40 days Jesus appeared to people only around 10 times.
1> It demonstrated that Jesus is really alive.
2> Yet he is absent more than he is present.
b) And when he is present, he discourages people from
holding on to his resurrected body.
1> In John 20:29, Jesus says, "Blessed are those who
have not seen and yet have believed."
2) The lack of resurrection appearances gives insight.
a) The resurrection does not knock your socks off.
b) You could face the resurrected Jesus and still doubt.
c) They are not a slam dunk for faith.
B. Why does Jesus downplay the resurrection?
1) He knew what was coming was even better.
2) He didn't want the miracle worshipped in and of itself.
3) He himself doesn't just want to be worshipped.
IV. The truly remarkable thing about Easter.
A. It is not that Jesus lived again, but that he can live in us.
1) In his own ministry, Jesus talked about his disciples
having a oneness with him.
2) Paul says having Christ in us is the "hope of glory."
Col 1:27
B. "In Christ" is one of Paul's most important phrases.
1) He uses it 200 times.
a) We don't just believe truths ABOUT Jesus - we are
people in whom the resurrected Christ dwells.
b) It is the most distinctive mark of Christians.
Ephesians 3:16-17 says,
"I pray that ... he may strengthen you with power
through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
1> This why Christians talk about accepting Jesus
into your heart to be saved.
2> It is not the physical location, but the symbolic
one.
2) For Paul, the events of this week changed his life.
In Galatians 2:20 he writes,
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
C. How come it is not more obvious?
1) Many people don't notice Jesus in Christians.
2) I often overhear people say things like, "They CALL
themselves a Christian..."
a) (I've heard it said about some of you...)
b) What follows is usually a very negative statement.
3) It is a problem that is widespread.
A 2011 survey found that nearly half of all adults in
America have prayed to receive Jesus.
They say they believe they are going to heaven, even though
many of them rarely, if ever, attend a church, read the
Bible personally, or have lifestyles that differ in
any significant way from those outside the church.
#64917
4) Even Jesus knew that many people would portray themselves
as Christians, but be phonies.
V. Is Easter present in you?
A. The power of Easter is what God can do for you today.
1) We can have assurance that we are loved by God and our
lives matter to him.
2) We can know he has good plans for us.
3) We can have joy in knowing that nothing can destroy us,
not even death itself.
B. Easter also shows what God can do for your future.
1) It shows what our bodily life will be like in God's kingdom.
a) Resurrection is not just in our hearts and minds.
b) We will be like Jesus someday - if we believe.
2) We can have hope for loved ones who have passed away.
a) We don't just have an individual hope of being with
Jesus.
b) Multitudes of people will share that relationship.
c) We will never be lonely.
C. Where do you stand with God right now?
1) Being a churchgoer doesn't make you a Christian.
2) Believing in God doesn't make you a Christian.
3) Only a supernatural experience of the risen Savior makes
you a Christian.
a) It is more than "praying a prayer" but it can begin
with that.
b) Search your heart right now...
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
This sermon was adapted from the article "The Most Astonishing Easter
Miracle," by Mark Galli, Christianity Today, April 2017, pp. 28-35.
#64917 “Should We Stop Asking Jesus Into Our Hearts?” by J. D. Greear,
Christianity Today, July 13, 2012; <link>.
These and 35,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=========================================================================
NOTES
"The Most Astonishing Easter Miracle," by Mark Galli,
Christianity Today, April 2017, pp. 28-35
I. Galli notices the diversity in churches.
A. Identity politics.
B. Christian identity focus.
1) Can descend into judgmentalism and disunity.
2) Takes focus off eternal realities - profundity of gospel.
II. Lack of resurrection appearances gives insight.
A. In 40 days, Jesus appeared to disciples only around 10 times.
1) Demonstrates that Jesus is really alive.
2) Yet he is absent more than he is present.
3) And when he is present, he discourages people from holding
on to his resurrected body.
a) "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
B. Resurrection does not knock your socks off.
1) Even in his resurrected presence, some doubted. Matt 28:17
2) They are not a slam dunk for faith.
III. What the resurrection does.
A. Shows what was accomplished on cross.
1) Forgiveness of our sins.
2) Our reconciliation with God.
B. Shows what our bodily life will be like in kingdom of God.
1) Resurrection is not just in our hearts and minds.
IV. Why does Jesus downplay the resurrection?
A. He knew what was coming was even better.
1) He doesn't just want to be worshipped.
2) He didn't want the miracle memorialized in isolation.
B. The great miracle the gospel proclaims.
1) It is not that Jesus lived bodily after the resurrection,
but that he lives in us today.
2) He is our hope of glory. Col 1:27
V. In Christ.
A. One of Paul's most important phrases. (used 200 times)
1) We don't just believe truths ABOUT Jesus.
2) We are people in whom the resurrected Christ dwells.
a) It is the most distinctive mark of Christians. Eph 3:17
B. Peter's Pentecost sermon ends on this point.
1) He acknowledges resurrection.
2) He recognizes forgiveness through the cross.
3) We are to repent and be baptized so we can receive Spirit.
a) No Spirit, no Christ. Rom 8:9
b) Sometimes Paul even speaks of the "Spirit of Christ."
C. Union with Christ is a big doctrine.
1) We should see ourselves in a new light.
a) "Christ lives in me." Gal 2:20
b) We are united with him in the core of our being.
2) The only thing that connects 2 billion Christians is baptism.
VI. Troubling reality.
A. It means were are intimately united with people we don't like.
1) Different cultures, habits, beliefs.
2) We are even united to them when they sin.
3) Christian brotherhood is not just vague and sentimental.
B. All our distinctions are relativized in Christ.
1) Christ dwells in each and all believers.
2) God is not as interested in our diversity as we are.
a) Paul only brings out the church's diversity to emphasize
our unity in Christ. 1 Cor 12:12-13
b) Galatians 3:27-28 puts negatives before diverse
descriptions of believers' backgrounds.
c) He seems anxious to do away with those categories by
which we form our identities.
d) What really makes us remarkable is our union in Christ.
VII. We must transcend identity politics.
A. Identity politics has too much inward focus.
1) Classifying things or people reinforces stereotypes.
B. The same dynamics can happen in church.
1) Only Jesus can give us our real identity.
2) Diversity initiatives have their place but can't be our
ultimate focus.
C. Where we fall short.
1) Most Christians are hesitant to say Christ lives in them.
a) It is even harder to consider dying with Christ.
2) It is a sign of how little we trust God's goodness.
a) Christ is the center of human authenticity. (Smedes)
b) So why shouldn't we die to our identities?
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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