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The Power of the Resurrection I
By Pastor
Young Joon
Park
November 8, 2009
Mark 16:1-8
16:1-8 pp—;Mt 28:1-8; Lk 24:1-10
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene,
and Mary
the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, so that they might come and
anoint Him.
2 Very early in the morning the first
day of the week, they came to the tomb at the rising of the sun.
3 They were saying to one another, “Who
will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 And when they looked, they saw
that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed
in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he said unto them, “Be not
affrighted: You seek Jesus of Nazareth
who was crucified. He is risen; He is not here: behold, the place
where they laid Him.
7 “But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goes
before you into Galilee; there you will
see Him, just as He told you.’ ”
8 They went out quickly, and fled from the
tomb, for they trembled and were amazed; and they said nothing to anyone, for
they were afraid.
I shared with you about the Jesus’ Passion, His Cross
and His burial last September.
And then I shared with you again on the last Sunday
about the eternal rest from the salvation that is related with Jesus’ burial.
Summary of the last message – Jesus Redemption
– in His Salvation
1. The Eternal Sabbath
The spiritual meaning of
the Sabbath – rest in the Lord eternally
Our daily life is in His
Sabbath – we have to follow Jesus Christ alone and
live His Holy Way.
The main key of the 4th
Commandment is to love God with full heart.
2. We are in His Sabbath right now and forever.
3. Jesus
invites us to come to Him anytime.
After Jesus’ body was rest in the tomb, the tomb was
closed shut with huge stone.
Our concept of the burial is different than today’s
view.
When we traveled we could find the cave tomb in many
places.
Jesus’ Disciples and all of the followers were
excited during past 3 ½ years because of Jesus’ ministry.
They were amazed about Jesus’ miracles, wonders and
signs which they have never seen nor experienced throughout their entire life.
They saw the person Jesus
who was extra ordinary and excellent leader for Israel.
They had expected that Jesus would take over the Israel in
politically. Because of this belief, they had sometimes tried persuading Jesus
to be a king over them.
Many people devoted their lives for Jesus, and followed
Jesus wherever He traveled. However, they were doing this without understanding
of the true Jesus.
They expected that something would be changed soon
when Jesus rode a donkey and entered the Jerusalem
with great welcoming from the people.
But suddenly the environment took a quick turn to the
different way which they had not expected. So they were filled with angers and confusions
when Jesus was arrested in the Garden
of Gethsemane in the
middle of the night. Even Peter denied Jesus 3 times instantly, and all the
rest of Jesus’ Disciples fled away and hid themselves from the soldiers.
Jesus’ was mocked and tortured from the soldiers and the
religious leaders. Their great hope was fainting away from their heart. And
some of them joined with the mob to go against Jesus when He was condemned by
Pilate.
They were watching Jesus’ Passion from the Roman
soldier’s torturing all the way to the cross.
A large number of people followed Jesus with a great
sorrow and at the same time they lost their great hopes on Jesus. There also were
many women who mourned and wailed for Him.
But no one knew why Jesus was arrested in the middle
of night illegally, condemned, had to carry and died on the cross, treated like
one of prisoners in the public and buried the same way as other criminals.
No one knew
why Jesus has to die in this way.
Most of the people’s great hope was totally gone when
Jesus died on the Cross.
No one knew
this is the beginning of the great eternal hope.
No one knew
that this is the great victory for us.
No one knew
that this is the great Salvation and the great Redemption from satan.
No one knew
that this is the beginning of the New Kingdom
of God among us.
No one knew
that this is the real eternal Sabbath Day.
But His
Death grieved many people with the great sorrow, and broken hearts.
They did not have the right discernment and actions
about Jesus’ death because they were so ignorant about Jesus’ ministry and the
Purpose of Jesus’ Life.
I. Spiritual ignorance expects the Hopeless
Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome,
they were close to Jesus during His ministry. Their hearts were so broken, and
gathered together to give the last honor to finish Jesus’ burial, because there
was no time to prepare for Jesus’ burial due to the rules of the Sabbath Day. Saturday
evening when the Sabbath was over, they made a plan to visit Jesus’ tomb with sweet
species that they purchased, in a way that they will be able to come to the
tomb and anoint Jesus’ Body.
I believe that these women listened to Jesus’
teaching and had fellowship with Jesus for 3 ½ years. Even they had a chance to
listen to Jesus that He would die and be resurrected after His Death, but some
how they did not understand what He meant; also they did not understand why
Jesus had to die and on what the purpose. In this time they expected to find
Jesus laid on the bed of tomb as a cold dead hopeless corpse. They wanted to
anoint on His Dead Body according to the custom of the world.
They missed the whole point of Jesus teaching and His
prophetic word.
His Disciples and other followers of Jesus misunderstood about the Messianic Kingdom.
They expected that Jesus
will establish the Messianic Kingdom in Israel,
and He is going to lead the freedom Israel from the Roman government.
Jesus spoke to them about the purpose of His Life.
James and John requested Jesus for the highest
position for them when Jesus established His Kingdom on earth.
Jesus corrected their concept of the high position
comparing the world view.
At the same time Jesus spoke to them about the
Purpose of His Live.
Mark
10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Jesus prophesied them about His Passion, His Cross and His
Resurrection.
He began to reveal His Death and His Resurrection in
the coming months very clearly.
Peter was upset and put Jesus aside and rebuked Jesus
because he knew what Jesus was talking about.
Matthew 16:21
From that time Jesus
began to show His disciples that He must go
to Jerusalem,
and suffer many things from the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and be raised up on the
third day.
Jesus Disciples or the women did not want to hear and
to believe what Jesus prophesied about
Himself because of bad new and bad prophetic word in their view.
Even today many people do not want to hear the
prophetic word of the judgment of God, and do not want to believe it, because
they believe that God is love and never harm to people no matter what we do.
Also They do not want to face the judgment.
Jesus’ Disciples and women they liked or not, want to or
not finally they faced painful and horrible situation and saw the fulfillment
of Jesus’ Passion, died on the cross
fully.
Same thing for us today the judgment of God will come
to pass too.
Even
today we misunderstood the Will of the
Lord even though God spoke to us all areas through the Bible, prophetic Word,
sermons or the small group of fellowship like as Cell Group Meeting.
These
women expected to see Jesus’ dead
body, and wanted to finish the custom of the burial for Jesus.
They
realized that Jesus prophetic word had
come to pass and it had been proved that the word was true from Jesus.
And
it was happened exactly what Jesus
said. Then they should believe it fully and see the result, but all of them
still did not catch what Jesus’
prophecy was.
Matthew 16:21
From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer
many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be
raised up on the third day.
They
were gripped in the pain and sorrow because of situation.
When
I realized our van was stolen, I lost my mind for a while with sudden shock; I
did not know what to do for a moment. My mind was frozen short of moment. I had
sit down anger and cry, but that is not what I was to do.
All
of Jesus 11 Disciples and these women were caught up the situation, and then
they totally forgot the Jesus
prophetic word that was not fulfilling yet.
“be
raised up on the third day.”
Some
time we know the will of God and the word of God and even the prophetic word in
our life, but we did many times we do not believe that and look for Jesus among
the dead, and looking for His Dead Body, and keep fall into the hopeless mind
quickly.
So
we discourage easily and give up quickly according to our own flesh
discernment.
Our
Jesus has risen from the dead, and He is with us no matter what you feel.
Here is the greatest testimony from the men of God
who trust the Living God.
Daniel 3;16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach
and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
17 “ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us
from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand,
O king.
18 “ But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or
worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Our
Jesus is not dead, and He is risen and living with you. He is here with us.
He
is the Living Son of God. He is the Living Lord and the Living Savior.
Please
do not focus about your hard situation and suffering from it.
Someone
might say to me. “Pastor, you do not understand my situation.”
You
are right that I do not understand your situation, but I know that my Jesus is able to deliver you from the hard situation
if you step in Him with your whole heart.
We
serve the Lord who is the Living God, and we believe that our Living God will
bring the Life and the Revival among us.
II. Spiritual ignorance brings the worries
Very early in the morning on the first day
of the week which is early Sunday morning, they came to the tomb at the rising
of the sun.
On the way to the tomb, they started worrying
about the huge stone that blocks entering inside of the tomb, because there was
no strong men with them at the time.
So they were saying to one another, “Who
will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
Because of their ignorance of the Lord’s Will they were caught up with unnecessary worry.
When we are caught up in the hard situation we cannot
see the truth and choose the wrong decision and action.
Have you been caught up with worries?
Do you believe that Jesus’ Word is true and trust
worthy?
Then let’s meditate on what our Living Lord Jesus
said about it.
Matthew 6:27
And who of you by being worried can add
one cubit unto his stature.
Our worries are not necessary and that is what Jesus
said.
I
Peter 5:7
casting all your anxiety on Him, because
He cares for you.
When these women came to the tomb they found that the
very large stone was rolled away already.
If we do not have the faith of the resurrection, then
we are going to face many doubts, worries and no hope.
But their worry was the stone blockage to enter the
tomb to see Jesus’ Body.
They did not realize the blockage was not only the
stone, but also the fierce merciless Roman guards and the Roman Gov. seal.
Actual problem and the hindrance was not only one but three. The three were a
Stone, Roman guards and the seal of
the tomb.
They did not worry about the guards and the seal
without knowing the fact or plan to beg to open, but no one can break the seal without
the permission from the Roman Gov.
Anyway, these problems were not in their mind, but only
the stone.
But God took care of the stone for them, even the Roman
guards and the seal was removed before they arrived. They only found the tomb
opened with no hindrance.
God prepares for the new things through the past
situation.
The hindrance that we are concerned will be gone by
the Hand of the Lord.
God is going to remove the hindrance that we are concerned
with, and furthermore God is going to remove the hindrance even without us
realizing them.
Do you have any worries in your life?
I believe that you have, then remember our Jesus is
not dead, but alive and taking care of you.
III. The power
of the Resurrection
1. The divine encounter
These women were entering the tomb, and they expected
to see Jesus Dead Body, but they found a young man sitting on the right side,
clothed in a long white garment; as soon as they saw him and they were
affrighted.
They found an angel instead of Jesus.
They were surprised because they did not find Jesus’
Dead Body, and instead they had just encountered with an angel with no expectations
whatsoever.
There will be unexpected things happening in the
spiritual realm.
Expect spiritual matter when you seek the Lord.
The angel was waiting for them since God assigned
this angel to meet with these women and God reveals Himself to us when we seek
the Lord.
Until this time God use angels to encounter His
People, but after the Pentecost the Holy Spirit and Jesus
encounter to His People directly. I had encounter with the Holy Spirit in 1999
for several months.
Acts
2:2
And suddenly there came from heaven a
noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they
were sitting.
We need to remember that the angels are not God, and
they are God’s creature just like us, and their function is to serve us. Also
the angel is God’s presence just same as we represent Jesus Christ to the
world.
2. Reveal the Secret Truth
This angel
released the greatest victory news for all of human beings to them.
He did let them know
Comfort first
1) Do not be affrighted:
They were looking for the dead Jesus
2) You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified.
Jesus is no longer dead, but alive
3) He has
risen; He is not here:
4) behold, the place where they laid Him.
Continually, God does not want us to stay in the
ignorance.
God assigned this angel for these women with clear
intention of taking them out from the ignorance and their sorrow is no longer
with them any more, but only joy.
This angel was the messenger from the Lord to give
the great news to them.
The greatest new was released to these women first,
because they came to His Tomb early in the morning.
I really encourage you to meet the Lord the first
hour of your day.
When you seek the Lord you will meet the Living Lord,
not dead one.
After the Pentecost the Holy Spirit dwells in His
People and releases the understanding the truth continually.
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said to you.
3. Reveal the Plan
He
gave instructions to them,
1) But go, tell His disciples and Peter,
2) He is going ahead of you to Galilee;
3) there you will see Him, just as He told you.
This angel gave the
detail instruction and Jesus’ plan to
the women.
After the Pentecost the Holy Spirit will guide us
into all the truth, also He will reveal the future to us.
John 16:13
But when
He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He
will not
speak on
His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose
to you what
is to come.
4. God’s presence is with us
These
women’s reaction
1) They went out and fled from the tomb,
2) For trembling and astonishment had gripped
them;
3) They said nothing to anyone,
4) For they were afraid.
When there is God’s presence and there is always the
fear of the Lord.
According to Matthew 28:1-10
They were full of fear of the Lord and great joy, and
on the way Jesus appeared to them and
comforted them. Finally they carried this greatest News to Jesus’ Disciples.
Jesus promised that He is going to send the Helper who is
the Holy Spirit, and His presence always with us. And the Holy Spirit has been
with us since the Pentecost.
John 14:16
I will ask the Father, and He will give
you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
The Holy Spirit who is dwelling in Christian has a personal relationship with us as
God’s Children.
The angels are serving us, but we do not have
personal relationship with them as we do with our Holy Spirit, our Jesus Christ
and our Father God
IV. Conclusion
John11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her,
“ I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if
he dies,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do
you believe this?”
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