Rev. David Holwick Easter Sunrise 2015
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
April 5, 2015
1 Corinthians 15:3-4,13-20
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I. There is a feeling of mystery about the resurrection of Jesus.
A. The central event is shrouded in silence.
1) We have heard the stories of the empty tomb.
2) We know how he encountered various people in his new form.
3) But his resurrection itself is never described.
B. Perhaps some things cannot be described.
1) It must have happened in the nighttime.
2) No human saw it or heard it, and perhaps no angel either.
3) Somehow, God just did it.
II. Some think it never could have happened.
A. Even those who identify as Christians can feel this way.
At conference on religion and science last month a panel
of experts discussed how science is handled in churches.
During the question-and-answer period, a rabbi stood up
and said the "elephant in the room" has not been discussed.
He went on: "The fundamental basis of Christianity is a
violation of nature."
In other words, resurrections cannot really happen in this
world.
It would be an anti-scientific event.
The rabbi knew that many Christians understood the dilemma.
At a previous seminar he had asked a Presbyterian on the panel
if he believed in the resurrection.
He said, no, he understood it metaphorically.
It was just a symbol, a word-picture.
The previous seminar had been held at that Presbyterian's
church, and another panelist called out the pastor.
"Did you just hear what one of your members said?
He doesn't believe literally in the resurrection of Jesus."
The pastor had responded, "Where do you think he learned it
from?"
An evangelical from a famous church in Boston (one that Celeste
and I visited last week), gave this answer to the rabbi.
He said the resurrection points to the fact that the natural
world is not all that exists.
The laws of nature are not the only aspect of reality.
Christianity is not opposed to science, but doesn't think
science is the only domain of knowledge.
#64817
B. The Bible clearly teaches it was a real event.
1) Doubting Thomas was able to place his fingers in the
wounds of the resurrected Jesus.
2) The Apostle Paul even says if Jesus has not been raised
from the dead, the Christian faith is useless.
He goes on to say:
"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are
to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead...."
(1 Corinthians 15:19-20)
III. We believe in it, but we can't explain it.
A. Resurrection is a mixture of the natural and supernatural.
1) We can describe what Jesus' new body seemed to be like,
but we can only scratch the surface.
2) I am convinced it is beyond human understanding.
B. What we can understand it that it means something for us.
1) Because Jesus was resurrected, we can be resurrected.
a) It is not automatic to everyone who dies.
b) You have to be a follower of Jesus.
2) And even believers can't really "get it."
The Apostle John says in his first letter (3:2),
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what
we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is."
IV. Mystery is frustrating, but powerful.
A. We have a desire to understand everything.
1) We don't easily accept limitations.
B. Mysteries remind us that there is always more to discover.
1) It engages our imaginations, our feelings.
2) It is dark this morning - the sky won't brighten for
another hour and a half. It's cold, too.
3) Our minds can imagine unusual things happening all around
us.
4) Use your mind, but also use your heart.
a) Ask God to explain what is unexplainable, to get you
assurance where you can't figure things out.
b) None of us can prove God, but all of us can believe
in him.
c) Trust him for those things that are beyond our knowing.
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SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
#64817 “Can Christians Believe In Science and The Resurrection?” Napp
Nazworth, Christian Post Reporter, April 3, 2015,
<http://www.christianpost.com/news/can-christians-believe-in-science-and-the-resurrection-136513/>
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