A Risen Savior the Living God

Jesus Was Buried and Rose Again

Book of John Chapter 19:38-20:10

We left off last week at the death of our Savior. The truth is the Lord Jesus Christ, Almighty God came down from Heaven to die in payment for the sin of this entire world from the time He was born of a "virgin" to the end of time.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lord Jesus came to this earth to fulfill every Scripture that was written about Him in the Old Testament.

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

This was the theme behind the preaching of all the Apostles!

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Let us pick up where we left off last week at Chapter 19 verse 38.

*****Joh 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

We already know that the disciples of Jesus had scattered and not one of them would take the chance of of going to Pilate to take care of the body of Jesus.

So we see a secret Christian by the name of Joseph from Arimathaea. We can see what type of man he was by looking to what is written of him.

We must understand that we are not to be ashamed of claiming the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Joseph was a good person.

Joseph was a believer.

Joseph feared what his friends and the other members of the Sanhedrin would think of Him if He claimed to believe Jesus and to believe the Word of God.

He feared the loss of position.

He feared the loss of prestige.

Others fear their chance at promotion.

Some fear their acceptance.

Some fear popularity.

Some fear losing their friends.

Some fear losing their job, their income or their livelihood.

I fear that many in our world today are going through these things.

I myself was a victim of many of these things, but I am far better because I took a stand.

From Matthew

Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

From Mark

Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

From Luke

Luk 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

Luk 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

Luk 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

From Luke we also see that this was the preparation day. In other words it was the day that the sacrificial lambs were slain in celebration of the Passover.

Joseph was a rich man, who was a secret disciple of the Lord, who himself knew he did not have many days left and had prepared his own tomb which he placed the body of Jesus before 6 PM that day, in honor of the Laws of Moses.

He went boldly to Pilate and demanded the body of Jesus be released unto him. Pilate would not do this until he had verified the death of our Lord with the Centurion in charge of the crucifixion.

It was the cross that finally awoke Joseph to the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ just as it has so many others.

As Joseph desired to finally take care of the body of Christ, we should understand that the Church is the Body of Christ today and it is the disciples of Jesus that is to care for the Church!

Joseph was not alone!

It is only John who tells us of Nicodemus who was no longer ashamed to acknowledge his love for the Savior.

*****Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

No one could have guessed that these two men were believers they had kept it so much a secret.

They had waited until Jesus had died to show their worship of Him.

But we must also remember all those who had been with Jesus every day for nearly three years had abandoned Him in His time of need.

Then there were the women of Galilee who followed Jesus all the way to the borrowed tomb, who had watch Joseph and Nicodemus do these things and felt they had not done it right because they were rushed by time and planned to return to the tomb after the Passover.

We know that there were others that may have come just to see Jesus buried:

Luk 23:48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

Luk 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Jesus Christ never owned His own house and now He would also be placed into another man's tomb.

If no one had claimed the body of the Lord, he would have been cast into an open pit with others who had been crucified by the government of Rome.

The prophets would have been wrong making the Word of God to have errors, but it is our Heavenly Father who is in control of this world and He makes things work according to His masterful plan!

That tomb may have received the body of Christ, but that grave could not destroy the Body of Christ. There is nothing in this world or any other world that stop the believing Church!

As we know our hope lies in the promises of God!

Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Mat 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Rom 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Rom 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

There are some things we need to keep in mind as we get closer to our day in the grave. Not our soul for it will be with the Lord.

1) Our grave will not be dug until it is time:

Job 5:26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

2) When our body reaches the grave, we should know that even the grave was defeated by Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

3) We should know that only Jesus Christ now holds the keys to death.

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

We also know that the Lord Jesus loved the garden, so He made His bed amongst the lilies.

*****Joh 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

Joh 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Preparation day was the day all the lambs were slaughtered, and the Passover Meals were being prepared and Joseph and Nicodemus were required to be at the Temple, but they had chosen the slaughtered Lamb of God, the true Passover to show their worship for Him.

Since these two men had handled the dead body of Christ, they were now considered unclean and it would 7 days before they could be cleansed and return to their duties in the Temple.

A Garden would first see the death of Christ but in three days this garden would be the place of God's glory.

The tomb of the Lord was hewn out of rock and we can be sure there was no other way to enter into this tomb nor could anyone enter into by digging under the ground.

We should feel sorrow for having so much sin it required the death of our Savior!

But we should feel joy because His sufferings are over, and His happiness had begun for providing our means to escape death.

We should have an earnest desire to be where ever the Lord is right now.

All these things will cause us to be better prepared for our own death bed.

The prophet had said:

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Again the Prophet said:

Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

In three days things had changed.

*****Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

The first day of the week on the Jewish calendar is Sunday. Some may ask why does the Church meet on Sundays? It is because Sunday is the Lord's Day. The day our Savior walk out of that tomb.

The sepulchers of the rich of that day were hand carved caves into solid rock. In most all cases the sepulchre would be on land that belong to the owner of the sepulchre. In other words the tomb of Jesus belonged to Joseph of Arimathea and was on land that belonged to him.

We can tell something about a sepulchre by listening to this phrase. “He that selleth his neighbour a place of burial, and he that takes of his neighbour a place of burial, let him make the inner parts of the cave four cubits, and six cubits: and let him open within it eight sepulchers.”

In other words a sepulchre would be about 6 feet deep,

into the rock by 8 or 9 feet high and 9 feet broad and the actual burial place would be carved into the walls on both sides enough for an entire family could be buried in the same sepulchre.

One thing we should know about the Holy Spirit, when He gives us details in the Scriptures, He is not trying to convince us of the truth or to prove anything, He is just stating the facts!

John's Gospel was written many years later than those of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We can still get the full picture when we take into account, all 4 of the Gospels.

A lot of things may be said about Mary Magdalene, but it would be hard not to mention that she was a devoted Christian!

This Mary openly showed her devotion in front of Roman soldiers, the High Priest, and the Pharisees.

She was not afraid to claim her "faith"!

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

This Mary did not know what to think about the empty tomb, but she did know where the disciples were hiding.

*****Joh 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Joh 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

Without a doubt even though Peter had failed by denying the Lord, he was still considered to be the chief among the disciples.

We can understand that Peter and John may not have been in the same place by the way this Scripture is worded. Remember John had taken Mary the mother of Jesus to his own home.

The phrase "whom Jesus loved" can be said of John but also of Peter, again by the way it is written. Jesus loved all His disciples just as He does us here today!

At this time Mary Magdeline believes someone has stolen the body of Christ, which was impossible.

That word "we" suggest that Mary was not alone when she had gone to the tomb of Jesus.

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Peter and John ran to the tomb of Jesus as fast as they could.

*****Joh 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Joh 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

Joh 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

Joh 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

The fact that they both saw the linen clothes is very important.

The body of Jesus could not have been stolen and those linen wrappings still be in the tomb.

Neither of these two disciples understood what they were seeing at this time and they did not discuss it between them.

We already know that the roof of the sepulchre was 8 or 9 feet tall so Peter stooped down to get a closer look at those linen wrappings, and we could say that the body of Jesus would have had to pass through those wrappings because they were not disturbed.

Peter could not believe what he was looking at!

The last time Peter had seen the Lord was during the false trial when he had denied Him.

Peter craved to look upon his Master one more time, but all he saw was the wrappings.

One other thing in particular was noticed. The napkin that covered His face was neatly folded and laid in another place.

Say what we will, we would have been just as puzzled as these two disciples had we seen such things.

We must realize that the body of Jesus could not have been taken away in a hurry, and could not have been taken by thieves since everything lay in such order.

The only answer was, that Jesus had done these things Himself or the Angels had done these things.

Some say that the folded napkin had its own message that Jesus was not yet through with the work He had to do!

The important things are these.

1) It would be impossible to still steal a body out of the wrappings and leave them undisturbed.

2) The wrappings would have been taken with the body had the body been removed.

3) Those wrappings would have been scattered if thieves had stolen the body of Jesus.

4) It would be impossible to place the wrappings as if they had never moved after the body was removed.

John realized that there was only one answer and it was that Jesus Christ was alive just as He had said, but John did not know how!

John did not relay his thoughts to Peter!

Luk 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Neither Peter nor John knew of a Scripture that said, He must rise again from the dead.

*****Joh 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Joh 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Above all things these disciples had believed that the Messiah could not die. There is not one particular Scripture that has these words in it.

There are many places in the Psalms that refer to the resurrection of Christ such as:

Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The Prophet Isaiah:

Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

The Prophet Hosea:

Hos 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

There are others:

King David said: I foresaw the Lord always before my face.

Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

For those doubters the resurrected Christ was seen by many witnesses:

Act 13:31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

The Apostle Paul had these words:

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

We serve a risen Savior!

Our God is alive!

These disciples full of doubt and many questions went away unto their own homes with some gathering together to talk about what was said by these eyewitnesses!

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Resurrection Of Christ

The Certainty of Christ Resurrection

Book of Luke 24:1-35



The truth is, the atonement of Jesus Christ did not end with His death. The atonement of Jesus Christ could not end until His resurrection.

Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

When John and Peter raced to the tomb of Jesus they saw grave clothes lying in the tomb still retaining their shape as though the body of Jesus was still in them but He was not there.

They realized that only one thing could have happened. The body of Jesus had passed through His burial wrapping and Jesus had risen from the grave just as He had said He would do.

It is John who later writes how Jesus had passed through the walls or the physical doors in that upper room in His resurrected body.

Joh 20:19  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Joh 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

It was John who verified the reality of a bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord and in His final work, He had overcome death to show us all what true life is all about!

Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ what hope would we have of eternal life?

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Jesus Christ openly displayed this truth for all the world to see!

It must be clear to us all discovering that empty tomb was the greatest discovery in human history.

The facts remain, that many people either have not heard of the resurrection or they simply refuse to accept that Christ Jesus arose from that grave having defeated death.

Every human being must discover this fact for themselves in order to be saved from the wrath of God!

It's called "Faith" and that faith in the Word of God and His promises.

*****Luk 24:1  Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

This first day of the week would have been on Sunday and would have begun at 6 PM the previous Sabbath evening.

This was the day after the Jewish Sabbath and the same day chosen by the early church and the modern day church to gather together to worship the Lord, the Apostle John called it the Lord's Day.

We are to worship the Lord everyday but the Lord's Day should always be special!

The Lord's day should remind us all of the "Resurrection" of the Lord.

After all, Jesus Christ is the only One who said He would come back from the dead and then proved it by doing it!

That empty tomb that morning was the greatest discovery in all of human history and there is no other way to look at it.

The truth is, Jesus arose before the dawn of that day because He had made a promise to another man on a cross and we know that God will always keep His promises.

Luk 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was His triumph over death to prove to us all that we could also triumph over death if we would place our "Faith" in the work that He did at the Cross.

Death reigns no more in the life of the believer!

The rule of death hanging over our heads has been broken forever!

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The laws of the Sabbath and it's observances no longer had any authority over the Lord nor His New Testament Church.

The New Covenant was in place for the Church!

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Because of "Resurrection Power" every believer is now dead to the law but open to the laws of Christ.

Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Those who first witnessed that empty tomb are a strong evidence of this truth because they had also witnessed His death.

They knew He was dead. They knew He had been buried in a borrowed tomb. They had no question in their mind about His death because they had been eyewitnesses to all these things.

If it had been a stranger who found this empty tomb, it could have made all these things irrelevant and no one would have ever trusted in the resurrection.

Further proof is the fact that they had purchased spices to anoint the body of Christ in a more proper Jewish way as it had only been hastily done before.

They knew Jesus had died.

They truly cared for the Lord.

They wanted to take care of the body of Jesus just as they would have for any family member who had died.

They were also obedient to the Law because they had strictly obeyed the law of the Sabbath.

They had refused to break the Sabbath even though they certainly wanted to take care of the Lord.

They certainly would not have lied about any of these things and they had no cause to!

*****Luk 24:2  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

On the way to the grave they had discussed how they could ever roll the stone that had closed off the tomb from thieves, so we can just imagine that it was a great stone.

Mar 16:3  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mar 16:4  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

They were perplex at what they saw, the stone was not where it had been placed as they had also witnessed.

We now know that the physically resurrected body of Jesus was was not bound by the physical laws of this earth!

Jesus did not resurrect as a spirit but His body was now obedient to the Heavenly Laws and this world we know of, had no control over Him!

So twice already we have had a glimpse of a "Glorified Body"!

*****Luk 24:3  And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

There was no body in that tomb.

Oh, the folded napkin was there, to serve it's own purpose.

The wrappings that had been placed around the body of Jesus were there, still holding to the shape of the body but his body was not within those wrappings.

The body of the Lord Jesus Christ was not inside that tomb anywhere!

They were then persuaded that what Jesus had said that He would do, He had actually done!

Rom 4:21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

We must believe that God means what He says and He also says what He means!

2Ti 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

And if further proof was needed God also provided His own witnesses.

*****Luk 24:4  And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Luk 24:5  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luk 24:6  He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luk 24:7  Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luk 24:8  And they remembered his words,

We should clearly understand that stone was not rolled back because Jesus could not have escaped without that being done.

That stone was rolled back so these ladies could enter that Garden Tomb.

AND, There was no doubt that these were angels:

Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

These women fell down in reverence but they fell down more in fear.

But these angels only had one question which really meant, "Why Did You Not Believe The Words Of Jesus"

We are fools not to believe the Word of God!

The world is full of people who honor truly dead men, who they believe to be their savior.

How can anyone honor a dead man in that way, as they certainly could not save themselves, so what power could they have over death.

I worship a Living Savior!

I worship a Living God who has power over death, the grave, and in fact over all things!

All these that worship a dead savior have no hope for any life after this life they live now!

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

To be without God, is to live all your life in the grip of death!

These angels said He is not here, because He has risen!

That evidence was very clear. Jesus was not in that tomb!

Those angels reminded these ladies that Jesus had done exactly what He said He would do.

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

They had never accepted these words of Jesus as being true!

But now they were convicted by their own thoughts.

All the followers of Jesus had been confused about these things Jesus had said but they now realized that they had been wrong.

We should all remember these simple words of Jesus:

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

We serve the God who has the power to do as He wishes to do at any moment!

There are some places we just will never find our Lord!

We will never find Him dead and in some grave!

We will never find Him in man's law!

We will never find Him in human nature!

We will never find Him in philosophy!

Since our Lord is alive and cannot die, He certainly cannot be found among the dead!

Even though some Christians are worldly, you will never find Christ Jesus to be worldly!

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

What we see in the Scriptures about the Lord will always hold true!

The modern day Christ is the same One who is written about by the New Testament writers!

These ladies who now knew the truth then rushed to tell the 11 remaining disciples what they had seen.

*****Luk 24:9  And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
Luk 24:10  It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
Luk 24:11  And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

It seems amazing that these men who had spent so much time with the Lord and had heard the words that He had said, simply refused to believe these ladies who now knew the truth.

To these 11 men these things just seem to be too astonishing to be true and had to be ridiculous and wild imaginations.

Mat 28:8  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

It would have been hard to miss the excitement these ladies had when they were trying to convince these men of the truth and them so full of doubt.

They had a lot to tell.

The stone was rolled away, the body of Jesus was not in those grave clothes that were still laying there.

They had seen the angels and the angels had told them many things.

These 11 men really had no excuse to not believe, these were the very things that Jesus had said He would do.

Mary Magdalene was a true believer not some religious nut.

Joanna had provided finances for the ministry of Jesus and no doubt much of that had provided for the families of these men. She was a sincere Christian.

Mary was the actual mother of James the Less one of these 11 men and a mother would have never lead her son in the wrong way.

And there were other women also.

Salome the mother of James and John.

These men simply thought that the government had done something with the body of Jesus.

The government thought these disciples of Christ had stolen the body but neither of these things could have been true.

This secret could not have been hidden!

The governments persecution proves they did not have the body of Jesus.

The faith of the disciples proves they did not have the body of Jesus.

The family of Jesus became believers so they could not have stolen the body of Jesus.

There was only one alternative, Jesus had done exactly what He said He would do!

There can be no Church if this is not true!

1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

But Peter's heart was still drawn to the Lord, even though he had failed Him!

*****Luk 24:12  Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Peter who had denied Jesus three times at His trial and whose heart was broken for what he had done, just could not wrap his head around the things that Jesus had told Him.

BUT, Peter was still drawn to the Lord despite his failures.

When we look down on Peter we need to take a hard look at ourselves in life's mirror.

Peter arose.

Peter rushed to the tomb.

Peter was ready to believe what Mary and the other ladies had told him.

Peter took a close look at the evidence.

The folded napkin lying by itself. We already know that a folded napkin meant the one who folded it was not finished.

The linen clothes in which Jesus had been wrapped lying undisturbed as the body of Jesus had just passed through them.

It was plain that the body of Jesus had not been carried away or stolen because no one would have taken the time to do these things!

BUT, Peter still could not accept what he saw as many do today.

The truth is, it is very dangerous for us not to understand the Word of God.

God says:

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Unless the words we read are intended to be symbolic and those places are noted, we need to accept the Word of God just as it is written!

Twisting the Word of God to mean something else is sinful.

Adding to the Word of God is sinful.

Taking away from the Word of God is damnation!

These things lead to unbelief and eternal damnation.

The evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks for itself.

That tomb was empty!

The evidence within, revealed that no one could have stolen that body of Jesus.

Peter was so locked up in the impossibility of these things that he just could not believe at this time.

This my friends is where most of the world is today, yet they still believe in so-called gods whose bones are still within the tomb in which they were buried.

Who can figure that one out?

What other proof do we have?

The Apostle Paul wrote these words:

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

But at this time Peter and John departed from that tomb just wondering about these things that had seen and heard.

Next we see how the Lord Jesus deals with those who have lost all hope.

*****Luk 24:13  And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Luk 24:14  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

The first thing we see is how easily the Lord Jesus can join in communication with us.

And like Jesus has already said, where two or three are gathered He would be there with them.

Mat 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Many have guessed who these two men are but that is not even important or the Word of God would have said.

This was simply a lonely walk by two disciples of the Lord who walked with broken hearts, their world was crushed by the death of our Savior.

This day was the same day that those women had discovered the empty tomb and reported it, so these two disciples had heard all these things.

As they made their way to Emmaus they were very sad to the point of despair.

So as they walked they hardly noticed as a stranger joined with them.

*****Luk 24:15  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luk 24:16  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

As these two disciples were walking and discussing all the things that they had heard that morning, Jesus did what He does for everyone of us. "He went with them"

They had been so caught up in their sorrow that they had not noticed Jesus who had joined them in their travel.

Their eyes being "holden" would be similar to not being able to see because of the glare of the Sun.

The truth is, we can become so preoccupied with our own sorrows and distress, that we do not recognize the truth of our Lord:

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Jesus had been walking along with them for a while and they had not noticed Him.

*****Luk 24:17  And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Jesus will always show concern for our troubles and sadness as He said unto them, "why are you so sad".

The Lord will always ask us "Why are we so sad".

No matter what happens to God's people, we are still saved.

The truth is, these two were trying to understand the death, the burial, and the empty tomb of out Lord.

Jesus Christ was the subject of their conversation!

They wanted answers that only God could provide!

*****Luk 24:18  And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Luk 24:19  And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luk 24:20  And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

Then Jesus ask them "what things" have cause you to be this way?

God will always want us to know exactly what is bothering us.

When we pray to God we need to give Him a good description of what our problems are!

He already knows, He just wants us to see if we know exactly what we are seeking the answers to.

At first this Cleopas attacks, saying "how could anyone in the area not know what had happened in Jerusalem".

We need to always be aware that when we are full of doubts, that is when the Devil will launch one of his attacks.

It helps to have friends we can discuss these things with. That's why God wants us to be like a family because we are the family of God.

Cleopas said Jesus, the Great Prophet of Israel had been condemned to death and crucified.

It had not just been the elders of Israel but also the Roman rulers, in a sense the whole world that had done this evil thing.

BUT, this was not what they had expected from Jesus, they had had higher hopes.

*****Luk 24:21  But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luk 24:22  Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Luk 24:23  And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
Luk 24:24  And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

You see the biggest disappointment of Cleopas and the disciples. They had expected Jesus the Messiah to over come all these enemies of the people and it had been just the opposite, He had been overcome. He had even promised to return in 3 days and they still believed He had not even done that.

The disciples could only see the end of all their hopes.

When we allow the things of this world to take us down to this level, we need to question our faith!

Jesus had told them to watch, for on the 3 day something dramatic would happen, days are still 24 hours long.

They had expected this to mean that His triumph over Rome would have taken place but they had seen no changes in these things.

Added to all this, they felt that even the body of Jesus had been stolen.

They had heard about the heavy stone that was rolled away, the women could not have done this thing.

They had heard of the empty tomb but could not understand the significance of this.

They had heard about the angels but that seemed too far fetched.

Some had felt that Jesus was alive but how could that be true.

If so, then why had Jesus not been seen.

The things of this world had robbed them of their "faith"!

Jesus Christ wants to know all the things that bother us as we go through this life down to the most minute detail.

And how did Jesus respond?

*****Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luk 24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

What's wrong with this world? This world does not take the Word of God serious!

These disciples of Christ Jesus simply did not believe what the prophets had said and they had come up with their own plan of what the Messiah would be and would do.

The greatest sin of all is the sin of unbelief!

The world today refuses to accept the truth of a "risen Savior".

The sin of unbelief will send them to an eternity in the "Burning Lake of Fire"!

If we have faith in our risen Savior, then we must relinquish the control of our lives to Him and obey and serve Him.

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

What had been the truth of the Scriptures?

As true disciples we are to take the Word of God seriously!

We are to study the Word of God to see what it says and not so much how men interpret what it says.

God says what He means and God means what He says and we need to feel comfortable with this truth!

If we were not capable of understanding the written Word of God, God would have chosen another method to teach us.

If the death of the Messiah and then the Resurrection of the Messiah had not been necessary we can be sure God would have used some other method!

In order for our salvation, these things had to take place.

Jesus had no choice but to obey the will of His Father!

We must accept these things and also realize that we are also to obey the will of our Father who is in Heaven.

In fact to be in the will of our Heavenly Father is to be in the safest place we can be in the world!

The pure truth is, that the plan of God had not been defeated but there was actually a great victory!

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

When our doubts over come us, then we need to return to the Word of God and begin at the beginning, the Book of Genesis and we will see that the Messiah was promised even from the words of Moses.

The Lord Jesus Christ can be found throughout all the Bible!

Unbelief will ruin our day and also our testimony and break the heart of our Lord, but He will never give up on us because His faith remains steadfast.

1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Jews lived according to the Pentateuch, the 5 books of Moses so Jesus began from these books and went through the writings of all the prophets and pointed out all the places that concerned the Messiah.

We are expected to believe what the Word of God says!

If we are to slow to believe, then we may listen to what some man says that opposes the Word of God.

We are to believe what the prophets of God say. If we are to slow to believe we may miss the fulfillment of that prophesy.

The Bible plainly states that the Messiah had to die!

The Bible plainly states that the Messiah had to rise again!

The Bible plainly states that the Messiah had no choice!

These things were the will of God and had been God's plan even before creation began.

AND, God's plan was a complete success!

Jesus showed these two disciples "all the Scriptures" concerning these things.

We can see that "unbelief" not only destroys our testimony but it will leave us sad, perplexed, and in despair.

We simply cannot symbolize all the Scriptures.

The disciples of Jesus Christ had begun to accept a dead Savior just like the world does, and so many other men today but they had a hard time dealing with a risen Savior and most of the world has that same problem today.

We simply cannot pick and choose what we are going to believe in the Word of God. It is an all or nothing book.

This trip was about 7 miles or as much as 3 hours as they drew close to the village where they were going.

*****Luk 24:28  And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luk 24:29  But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Luk 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

When the  truth of the Scriptures open up our eyes then we will always want to hear more.

Jesus wold have gone on further because He will never enter into any house where He is not invited, just as He will never enter into any heart unless He has been invited.

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

In order to hear the truth, we must invite Jesus into our temple to become a Temple of God!

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

There are 9 different occasions recorded in the Gospels where Jesus broke bread with His disciples and then blessed it.

SO, We can see why they remembered this thing but not only that, those hands still bore the scars of the nails that bound Him to the cross.

God opened their eyes to the truth and Jesus vanished out of their sight!

If they had not invited Jesus into their home they would have missed out on this great opportunity.

We miss so very much when we do not accept the Lord when we first come under Holy Ghost conviction. Even when we do later, we have already missed out on so many blessings.

It is a fact that once we are saved, the Word of God will burn within us and our need to tell others about  what Jesus has done in our lives will just want to come out.

When we hear the Word of God explained and conviction comes, the only thing lacking is a response on our part.

What is Christian Heartburn?

Jer 20:9  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

It is a fact that once we are saved the Word of God will burn within us and our need to tell others about what Jesus has done in our lives will just want to come out.

When we sit on our hands and refuse to do the work of the Lord we not only hinder our blessings but someone in this world may have missed their own opportunity to know the Lord.

Quit having Christian heartburn and get busy serving the Lord!

That soul that is won to the Lord is the remedy to Christian Heartburn!

These two disciples of the Lord had Christian Heartburn.

They now knew the truth and they had to let it out!

*****Luk 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luk 24:33  And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Luk 24:34  Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Luk 24:35  And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

It was night time and night time travel was dangerous but that did not stop these two disciples. They now knew the risen Savior and not just a dead Savior.

It was a late hour when they arrived back in Jerusalem but most all the disciples were already gathered together and all the talk was about their risen Savior!

They were all bursting with excitement because the truth of the Messiah was finally sinking in!

The amazing truth about the Word of God is that there are promises that no man has ever tried to find!

There are treasures that no one has taken the time to dig up.

There are medicines that have not been uncovered.

There are truths that have not yet been exposed.

There are little golden nuggets of information that are waiting on those that are willing to search for them!

The Bible is a love letter from God, He has not left anything out that would be a help to us but we just refuse to search the Scriptures.

These disciples had been around the Scriptures all their life and the truth of a risen Savior had never been a part of their reality until now when the truth was before their eyes.

This was one of those things in the Scriptures that had eluded them but was now exposed by the Lord Himself.

One of the most beautiful sights there are is when that lost soul finally realizes the truth of the Scriptures and faith takes over.

Once we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, it is then time for our feet to take over and go tell someone else about it!

Our biggest mistakes are made in this life when we look at our plan for this life from ground level and not from God's level

We can be certain that Jesus Christ arose from that grave, not because there were so many witnesses to this truth but because the Word of God has told us about our Messiah, our Savior, from the very first book of the Bible and has relayed His truth all the way to the Book of Revelation and every book in between.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Preservation Of The Lord Jesus Christ "He's Alive"

The Preservation Of God's Servant

"He Is Alive and Now In Heaven"

Book of Mark Chapter 15:40--16:20

When we left Christ Our Lord last, He had just given His life in payment for "all sin" since the time of Adam till the end of time as we know it.

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also "for the sins of the whole world".

The Lord Jesus was terribly abused by men but mankind had not taken His life, He had willingly given His life!

Since that was true, He could take back up His life!

This a power that only God has!

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and "I have power to take it again". This commandment have I received of my Father.

We will meet many eye witnesses to this fact today!

Let's begin

*****Mar 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mar 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

During all the time in our study of the Book of Mark, there has been some one behind the scenes that were doing what they do best. They take care of so many of our needs! The precious ladies of our world who do so many things including fixing our meals and repairing our clothes and keeping them clean.

They stood afar off because, it was not wise for women to be to close to such things as were taking place on Golgotha. One more thing is certain, besides John and possibly Peter from a great distance, the remaining disciples had scattered. It seems these women were more brave than the men!

Who were these women?

Mark wrote of these:

1) Mary Magdalene:

Mary was a common name used in the middle east. In the Old Testament, the name Mary would be Miriam in Hebrew. Moses had a sister named Miriam. This Mary was from Magdala. It is a mistake to believe that this Mary was a woman of bad character. This is the Mary whom 7 demons were removed but showing gratitude to her Deliverer she became a follower and she was probably not a poor woman.

Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. (Substance meant goods and property, things she owned)

2) Mary, possible wife of Alphaeus, who could also be Cleophas, (the mother of James the less).

James the less, was a different man from James the Apostle. And I do not believe this to be James the brother of Jesus as some say. Remember the brothers and sisters of Jesus did not care to be a part of the ministry of
Jesus until after He had resurrected from that grave!

3) Salome, the wife of Zebedee, the mother of the Apostles James and John.

We also know that Mary, the mother of Jesus, stood by her son but closer and not afar off, at least until the time when it seems the the Apostle John took her to his own home.

Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Mary, the mother of Jesus also had sons and daughters, who it seems were not present with her this day of her first son's death.

Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Jesus was not Joseph the carpenter's son. Jesus was Son to God the "Master Carpenter" Our Creator!

Mar 6:3 "Is not this the carpenter", the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

It Is Our Carpenter who built His Church, this day at the cross and would place His seal on the Church with His resurrection for ever!

It was 3 more hours until preparation day began at 6 PM.

It had been only 21 hours since Jesus had partaken of the Lord's Supper, with His disciples.

*****Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

The Passover day would end at 6 PM and the "Feast of the Unleavened Bread" would begin at 6 PM.

Friday would begin at 6 PM.

By the laws of Moses, no criminal should be left hanging on a tree till the setting of the sun. It was important to get the body of Jesus off of that cross by 4 PM in time to prepare it for His burial.

Deu 21:22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deu 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

There was an honorable man that understood this very well!

*****Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin Court but he was also a silent believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joseph had had a tomb prepared for himself because he wanted to be buried as near to Jerusalem as he could and not in his home town. It is probable that Joseph had been hiding in this tomb during the time Jesus was crucified and had witnessed everything that had happened.

This may be when he also realized, just like that centurion, that truly this was the Son of God.

This gave him the boldness to approach Pilate and openly reveal his love for Christ Jesus.

We accept that we may have to give our life for Christ once we believe on Him and forgiven!

The Body of Jesus would have just been discarded into a criminal's grave if not for this man, who placed the body of Jesus in a grave he had prepared for himself.

At that time the body of criminals who were crucified were just thrown in the trash dump!

Joseph was a rich man by Jewish standards.

But Joseph was now also rich by God's standards.

And the scriptures cannot not be broken:

Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, "he shall prolong his days", and "the pleasure of the LORD" shall prosper in his hand.

So Isa 53:10 must also be fulfilled.

*****Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

The Jews had already requested that the legs of all those crucified be broken to hasten their death before 6 PM and Pilate marveled that Jesus had died before this had not yet taken place.

Again prophecy:

Psa 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Joh 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
Joh 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Joh 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Not one passage about the death of Our Lord would go unfulfilled!

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

And the blood of Jesus did flow:

Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

This was the centurion that knew that Jesus was truly the Son of God!

A soldier who has been in wars knows what death looks like.

Jesus Christ was physically dead!

*****Mar 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

No doubt Joseph had help from others as he could have done this alone. We do know of one other who help him.

Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Nicodemus was also a member of the Sanhedrin Court and a member of the Council just as Joseph.

He may also have been hiding with Joseph in that tomb that the Lord Jesus would only borrow for three days.

Nicodemus was a Master of Israel and no doubt he would never be treated again as one after this day he had helped the true Master, in his death.

Even these two old men could not have done this alone.

But there were also others watching.

*****Mar 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

It is probable that this Mary is the same Mary who was mother to James the less from verse 40.

This was day 1 and it was almost the beginning of day 2 the way the Jews count days.

*****Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning "the first day of the week", they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

What is this so important to the Christian?

The pure fact is that a dead Savior, cannot save anyone!

IT IS A FACT, that the Lord Jesus Christ was not in that borrowed tomb after the 3rd day!

Jesus Christ had said these words.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; "so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth".

This thing took place about 6 AM on Sunday Morning and will now be referred as "The Lord's Day" and also called ,"the first day of the week".

Today in our so-called modern world, Monday is called the 1st day of the week but to the Jew Sunday is the 1st day of the week.

The Apostle John said.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit "on the Lord's day", and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

This is the reason that the New Testament Church gathers together on Sunday and not the Sabbath which is on Saturday!

Every Sunday we are celebrating the day our Savior came out of that grave "ALIVE"!

But we are to worship Our God 7 days a week!

These precious ladies had come to complete the work that Joseph and Nicodemus had only started because they had only a very little time.

They had come to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus Christ BUT another Mary had completed this task before the Lord had died.

Joh 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

This is also where the phrase "Sunrise Service" comes from. The Lord rose at sunrise.

*****Mar 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mar 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

This Jewish tomb had been carved out of the mountain or hill side and a stone was constructed to cover the entrance when that person was buried within. Depending on the entrance size, the size of the stone would be from 1000 to 2000 lbs. on average.

Generally speaking, this rolling stone was set inside a groove in front of the entrance, and secured from falling over by a stone wall that stood in front of tomb opening. Often, the groove was not level, but slightly sloped to make very difficult for anyone to roll the stone away.

To close the tomb, the stone would be rolled down the groove at a decline and come to rest in front of the entrance. To open the tomb, the stone would have to be rolled up the groove at an incline.

Given the structure of such tombs, it would not have been possible for Jesus to simply push the stone over from the inside of the tomb.

Jesus would have to roll the 2000+ pound stone back up the groove without having anything to grip.

Such a feat would not be possible for one healthy man, yet alone a man who had just been beaten to a bloody pulp by the Romans.

These ladies, who were traveling from Bethany and not Jerusalem were discussing how they might remove that stone. They knew they even though there were at least 3 of them that they would still not be able to do so.

But as always God had all these things worked out!

The High Priest and the elders had had real concern that the Lord Jesus would do as He said and come out of that grave sometime within those three days and they had gone to Pilate.

Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Mat 27:66 "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch".

There had been an earthquake at the death of Jesus and there would be another earthquake at His rising from that death.

Mat 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mat 28:4 "And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men".

These brave soldiers had passed out in fear of their own lives as this angel of the Lord rolled back this great stone right in front of them.

As these ladies were approaching from Bethany these soldiers were retreating to Jerusalem.

Mat 28:11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
Mat 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Mat 28:13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

These men were paid a bribe to keep quiet. Without the help of the Jewish leaders and the High Priest, these men would have been killed for their failure!

Mat 28:14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Mat 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Not knowing all these things, these ladies observed that the stone had been removed but they also saw something else.

We should also be very clear. That stone was not removed so Jesus could exit this grave!

In that glorified body Jesus could pass through the walls of that cave just as He, in His glorified body, had passed through those grave clothes.

That stone was removed so the inside could be observed by those who were to come and see that Jesus was not inside and the view of His grave clothes could be seen.

*****Mar 16:5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Mar 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Mar 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

Matthew 28:2 says that the women encountered an angel.

Luke 24:4 says that there were two men.

John 12:12 says that Mary Magdalene saw two angels.

Since angels often appear as men, there is no contradiction in these words.

The word "angel" is the same as messenger, and God had sent these two messengers to roll the stone from the tomb so these women could observe that the body of Jesus was no longer where He had been laid and to tell these women what had happened. What was their message? "Jesus was risen".

These women were told to go tell the disciples and "especially Peter" that Jesus would meet them in Galilee, "just as he had said".

Mar 14:28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

But did they believe God's messengers?

*****Mar 16:8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

These women had seen the empty tomb.

These women had heard the message from the angels.

However they were too confused and terrified to do much of anything, so the Lord came to their rescue.

Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene.

*****Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mar 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

There are those that try to make something out of this first appearance of the Lord.

As we see the men were still mourning and weeping the passing of the Lord, this woman, Mary Magdalene had organized a group of women to adorn the Body of Christ.

The other women had fled back to where they had come from and Jesus would appear to them also but Mary Magdalene had lingered for a moment in tears and confusion.

Joh 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
Joh 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Joh 20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

The Lord will always respond to His children:

Joh 20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Joh 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Mary with her eyes full of tears only caught a glimpse of some one coming up from behind her and as she turned herself.

Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

But Jesus said:

Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Many are confused with this verse but if we just see what happened it makes the explanation easier.

When Thomas finally had the opportunity to touch the Lord, he fell down and worshipped Him.

Mary was about to do the same thing!

We should realize and we should never doubt that Jesus stood before Mary in a body that was touchable and not in some ghostly spirit!

Jesus said that there were other things that needed to be done at this time and He needed Mary to deliver the message that had been given to her by those angels.

After all, Jesus was not about to ascend into Heaven at that moment and there was still much time for worship.

It was more important for Mary to obey the Lord than to fall down in worship of Him.

Obedience to the Word of God is the greatest sign of our worship!

So Mary then obeyed.

*****Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mar 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

These that loved the Lord so much simply could not believe the truth that the Lord Jesus was risen from the dead.

The world still refuses to believe this truth!

But the "truth" does not require a believer to still be true!

While Mary Magdalene was doing this thing Jesus had caught up with the other women.

Mat 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

But Jesus also had others to meet.

*****Mar 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Mar 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Luke describes this for us:

Luk 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Luk 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Luk 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luk 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

If you were ever out on a day that was so bright that you could not look up but held your head down for the brightness and could not see all things clearly then you can understand this word "holden". It was the glare of the sun that hindered their sight.

So the Lord listened to them for awhile and then joined in their conversation.

Luk 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
Luk 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Luk 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luk 24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
Luk 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luk 24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Luk 24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

In their unbelief John and Peter had actually ran to the tomb.

Joh 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
Joh 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
Joh 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Joh 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
Joh 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Joh 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
Joh 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Joh 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

And Jesus continued.

Luk 24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luk 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luk 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Luk 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

The Lord had indeed showed to us all the concern He had for Peter and He has that same concern for all of us when we fail Him.

Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Luk 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

And Jesus went to the others of His chosen disciples.

*****Mar 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

But the Lord was not through for Thomas was absent at this time.

Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

We should be very careful of the words we say because the Lord is always listening to the words of His children. The Lord repeated to Thomas the exact words that he had said.

Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

And Jesus still showed Himself again after this.

Joh 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
Joh 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Joh 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
Joh 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Joh 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Joh 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

They knew Jesus by His actions, after all they had spent nearly 3 years with Him almost daily.

Joh 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
Joh 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
Joh 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Joh 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Joh 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Joh 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Joh 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Joh 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Joh 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Joh 21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Joh 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
Joh 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.

But the Lord was still not through.

Jesus stood before many others before He ascended back to Heaven.

1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

500 witnesses with the same exact story cannot be denied!

And again the Lord appeared to the disciples to give them their final orders, what we call the great commission to the Church.

*****Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

There was a family member that needed to see the Lord!

1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And even later after His ascension the Lord Jesus came back to visit the Apostle Paul on more than one occasion.

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

We should never doubt that Our Lord rose from that borrowed tomb and is "ALIVE" EVEN TODAY!

Then Mark mentions some signs of gifts given to the Apostles.

*****Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Just as the office of the Apostle was limited to the those 12 who were called by the Lord Jesus Christ, there were special gifts given to them and a few others.

1) There was the gift of prophecy. These men received instructions by direct revelation from God.

Since the foundation of the Church and because we have the complete Word of God there is now no need for this gift.

Does God still reveal His message to His preachers? Sure, but only through His completed Word!

2) There was the gift of miracles. These 12 and for a time a few others seemed to have performed miracles.

The fact is, that The Lord gave them the "authority" through His name only , to perform miracles and not the actual power to perform miracles.

Mar 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and "gave authority" to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

What these Apostles asked of the Lord was done. Since the foundation of the Church this power has ceased and is not now given to any men.

Do miracles still happen? Sure but directly through the power of God and by answered prayer and most miracles go unnoticed today.

3) There was the gift of healing. These 12 and a few others were given the authority to heal for a period of time.

Since the foundation of the Church this authority has also ceased and "healing" is only in the power of God and it can be said that every healing is a result of God's intervention and a response to prayer!

4) There was the gift of tongues or the speaking of many languages.

God expects those that serve Him to be educated in the languages of the people where He decides for them to serve today and the gift of tongues has ceased since the foundation of the Church and the completion of the scriptures. The same goes for the gift of interpretation of tongues.

Everyone that serves must study to show themselves worthy!

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; "whether there be tongues, they shall cease"; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

5) The gift of preaching and teaching the Word of God is still given to those that are called of God to do so.

God expects His message to be delivered and that by a preacher.

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Every preacher must also be a teacher but not every teacher is called to preach but in that sense we are all called to be evangelist.

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till "we all" come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, "do the work of an evangelist", make full proof of thy ministry.

Evangelist are all those who proclaim the good news of the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ"!

6) In the Church Age, all devils and demons are cast out by the simple prayer of faith, which then brings the filling and the sealing by the Holy Spirit.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

No believer can be then occupied by any demon or devil!

7) The only snake handler in the Bible was the Apostle Paul:

Act 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Act 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Act 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Paul shook that snake off into the fire and it caused him no harm. This was not a gift but only the fact that God will not allow death to come to those that serve Him until that work is complete and in most cases then they are taken on to Heaven to live with Him.

The same would go for any poison.

We are fools to handle poisonous snakes or drink poisons. Even alcohol is toxic!

It was only after all these things that the Lord Jesus ascended back into Heaven.

*****Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

We know that the Lord spent 40 more days on this Earth after He arose from that grave and He did so many things that proved He was still alive.

Act 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Act 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion "by many infallible proofs", being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

An infallible proof cannot be denied!

And none of these powers and gifts that we have talk about came permanently!

At the death of these Apostles and a few other these powers ceased!

But the followers of Christ Jesus had to obey the Lord and remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came to begin the New Testament Church.

This would have been 7 more days and on a Sunday.

Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

The Church Age officially began the day of Pentecost and it was then that the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus" began to spread around this world we live in.

*****Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Questions?

Let's Pray!