April 17, 2020

Good Morning Friends,

Today as we begin our time together, we will continue to answer the question, what does the resurrection mean to me. The answer that we will look at today is, the resurrection confirms the truth of scripture.

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied, by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:10-12 (NIV)

Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. Psalms 16:10 (NIV)

The Messiah who suffers, dies, and is raised is Isaiah’s suffering Servant. Building on previous revelation, Isaiah 53:10–11 describes his death and resurrection as part of God’s will. It pleased God to crush His Servant. That this crushing led to death is clearly stated in the old testament scripture when we read. And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death. He was buried; burial confirms death in addition to the crucifixion. Isaiah, along with the Psalms, confirms that the Messiah would die. However, the new Covenant will fail if the Messiah stays dead. His resurrection becomes critical to fulfilling God’s promises. Not only does the resurrection confirm the Old Testament prophecies it also confirms the words of Jesus. Many times, in the gospels Jesus foretells His own death and resurrection.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt 12:40 (NIV)

Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:3-4 (NIV)

Jesus’ entire life, from his human conception to his resurrection, was planned, promised, and fulfilled by God. His nature as God’s Son was made clear when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. He was, is, and will always be the Son of God. Christ’s resurrection unmistakably reveals the truth to scripture.

At the time of his resurrection, Christ was glorified and restored to his full rights and status as Son of God in power. Allowing us as Christians to have both privilege and authority.

The meaning of the resurrection is that God is for us. He aims to close ranks with us. He aims to overcome all our sense of abandonment and alienation. The resurrection of Jesus is God’s declaration to Israel and to the world that we cannot work our way to glory, but that he intends to do the impossible to get us there.
The resurrection is the promise of God that all who trust Jesus will be the beneficiaries of God’s power to lead us in paths of righteousness and through the valley of death.

May the grace of God be with you,
Pastor Dennis