Sermon on ‘The Cross of Christ’ by Owen Rogers

People’s responses to the resurrection are many and varied.

The disciples were scared out of the wits by Jesus’ death and didn’t know what to make of the thought that Jesus might be alive. Jn 20:9 “They still did not understand the scripture which said that he must rise from death.”

Thomas wanted proof before he would believe. Paul refused to believed the Messiah could die, until he met Jesus alive. Later when Paul preached in Athens many laughed at his suggestion that a dead person could come alive again.

Many in the last couple of centuries have tried to explain it all away. Their theories include that Jesus didn’t actually die and later revivied. Others teach that someone else died in his place. Still others say he died and lives on in spirit. All deny an actual resurrection of the body.

If someone is going to attack the Christian message the place to go for is the Resurrection. This is the jugular. This is the linchpin, the Hinge of History, the Turning Point for the world. As Paul put it in his letter to the Corinthians, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Cor.15:14). The resurrection is fundamental to Christian faith.

Jesus’ death is the key to our salvation but if he hadn’t risen he could not have paid for our sins. God raised him to life to show that his sacrifice accomplished our forgiveness. If he were not alive he would have no life to offer us and he would be no use to anyone.

How do people get on with coming face to face with the living Jesus?

John, who wrote this for us, was initially confused (20:9), but he had his “conversion experience” when he made a decision to believe in Jesus based on the evidence (20:8). Thomas was walking the fine line between intellectual honesty and prideful, self-centered rejection, “Unless I see… I will not believe” (20:25). He wanted more evidence than John but when he got it he was convinced by it (20:28).

Peter didn’t know if he was still a follower of Jesus at all (Luke 22:54-62). But on the beach Jesus restored him and gave him a new mission in life (John 21:15-19).

Paul blindly refused to believe what the Christians taught until Jesus met him and questioned, “What’s this you say about me?”

Challenge: It’s your turn to come to grips with the Risen Lord. With whom do you identify?

Have you, like John, been convinced and believed?

Do you, like Thomas, have something holding you back from believing?

Do you, like Peter, feel you’ve let Jesus down? Will you let Jesus restore you and send you out?

Do you, like Paul, have your own theories and need to meet Jesus in person?

The other day, I had a man asking me why believing is better than not believing. Among other things I said that knowing God is too good to miss out on; that because Jesus is alive we can have a person-to-person relationship with him.

You may be thinking that, in this sermon, I might have given evidence for the Resurrection to prove it is true. I have not done that because others have done it and we can read what they’ve written. I am coming from the angle that Jesus is alive, so what are we doing with that fact? There may be one or two here who need to get that sorted, and then for the rest of us we need to consider ‘where to from here?’ People need to know this. We have vital, important information that needs to be disseminated as widely as possible.

After his resurrection, Jesus communicated two important realities about his kingdom to his disciples. The first was about empowerment. The disciples wouldn’t be able to fulfill their mission (Matthew 28:18- 20) on their own. They needed his presence and power. That’s why he promised the Holy Spirit. The second was about witnessing. The reason for the power was to communicate a message (1:8).

The Mission.

According to Acts the mission Jesus has assigned to us is to be his witnesses (1:8).

We often struggle to make the message clear and get it heard, but we keep trying.

He has also provided the means: Jesus sends the power of his Spirit (1:4, 8) Unlike everybody else who has ever risen from the dead, Jesus didn’t die again. Therefore, Jesus’ presence and power are still with us. Therefore we are to be willing to prayerfully wait for the Spirit’s leading (1:4)

The Results

Powerful witnessing to the “ends of the earth” (1:8)

Thousands of believers added to the church (Acts 2:41)

The Call

That was then; this is now. Are you carrying out your mission using Jesus’ means?

This week, one man asked me why I became a ‘priest’. Another man asked me what’s so good about believing in Jesus Christ. I speak of my experience. I keep my story short, simple and in words the other can understand. And, yes, I have practiced telling parts of my story. I have told my story a number of times and refined the telling in the process. If you want practice telling your story just get someone to ask you. Short because people are not generally going to listen through the long version. Simple language, and not church jargon, because you want to make it easy to catch on.

The Challenge: Pray patiently. Wait prayerfully. Then go.