1. Sunday, April 5, 2015 Speaker: Doug Virgint Jesus is risen – But does it matter? Luke 24:1-12 The 2 nd message in our 2-part Easter series.

2. 1) Two kinds of unbelief Fixed, closed, natural laws Post-modern existentialism 2

3. 2) The disciples’ unbelief The women had come to anoint his body – a sign of respect for a dead person They had seen him die He was buried, guarded Bodies that are dead remain dead 3

4. 3) The angels’ message He is not here He is risen Jesus had told them that this would happen Why seek the living among the dead? 4

5. 3) The angels’ message Notice here: Christ rose bodily, not just spiritually Like the body that died - but not exactly Notice the difference with Lazarus 5

6. 4) The logical response Experience teaches that death wins When a new message conflicts with experience, that generates unbelief 6

7. 4) The logical response Peter explains this: “ but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” 7

8. 4) The logical response Notice the difficulty here The women did notsee Jesus rise They simply heard witnesses Instead of allowing us all to see the risen Christ, God has provided us with witnesses 8

9. 5) The response of faith The many witnessesand the historical evidences are convincing But finally, we have to open our heart by faith to the Holy Spirit speaking to our heart. 9

10. 5) The response of faith Unbelief does not mean that we believe in nothing It means that we believe in something else more strongly 10

11. 5) The response of faith Experience tells us that death wins – even over the strongest Life is what you get – enjoy it while you can! 11

12. 5) The response of faith Easter challenges that worldview It calls us from a belief in death to a belief in life Death is real, but it is not final 12

13. 5) The response of faith While the other disciples considered this resurrection story “an idle tale” … … but Peter, at least went to see for himself We need to follow in his footsteps 13

14. 5) The response of faith Our story in Luke ends with Peter’s amazement But the Easter story continues God continues to challenge the certainty of death with the promise of life 14

15. 6) It will matter to you! Hope when loved ones pass Hope when this life disappoints But there is another point –Paul brings this out in his preaching to the Greek philosophers 15

16. 6) It will matter to you! ”God … commands all people every- where to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 16

17. 6) It will matter to you! Christ’s resurrection is God’s seal of approval on him God will one day judge this world, and every person, in total righteousness And he will do it by the God/man Jesus - he will be our judge 17

18. 6) It will matter to you! The whole world is called to repent becausewe have all sinned We are idolaters – we have allowed other things to take the place in our lives that must be reserved only for our Creator 18

19. 6) It will matter to you! Paul’s last word here is significant: “to all” !!!! “The resurrection of Jesus is designed by God to be the global warrantor assurance that repentance is necessary ” (John Piper) 19

20. 6) It will matter to you! Are you ready to meet the resurrected Jesus? Are you ready to be judged by him? Have you bowed to him in submission to make him the Saviour and Lord of your life? 20

21. Jesus is risen – And it really matters!! 21