Luke 23-24, Acts 1:6-11
I heard a story about a woman who was sexually abused as a
small child by her father. She grew up, overcame the
emotional damage that had been done, and eventually
married a missionary. Years later, after her children were fully
grown, she received a letter from her father telling her he
had become a Christian and had asked God for forgiveness
and received it. He had, moreover, realized he had sinned
dreadfully against her, and was writing to ask for her pardon.
Feelings she didn’t know were there suddenly surfaced. It
wasn’t fair! He should pay for what he had done, she thought
bitterly. It was all too easy. And now he was going to be part
of the family! She was sure her home church was busy killing
the fattened calf for him and that she would be invited to the
party! She was angry, resentful …
Then she had a dream. She saw her father standing on an
empty stage. Above him appeared the hands of God holding
a white robe of righteousness. She recognized it at once, for
she was wearing one just like it! As the robe began to
descend toward her father, she woke up crying out, “No! It
isn’t fair! What about me?”
The only way she could finally rejoice, as her heavenly Father
pleaded with her to do, was to realize that her earthly father
was now wearing the same robe that she was. They were the
same in God’s sight. It had cost His Son’s life to provide both
those robes. As she began to see her father clothed with the
garments of grace, she was able to begin to rejoice.
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
Easter is a celebration of Christ’s death, burial,
resurrection and ascension and a reminder that He is
coming back for His church.
These things remind us that the work Christ
completed on the cross at Calvary provides us
forgiveness of sin and reconciles us to the Heavenly
Father.
Today we are going to spend most of our time in the
gospel of Luke, chapters 23 and 24. We will briefly
look at a few other passages as well.
Would you join me as we pray and ask God the move
among us this morning and to speak through the Holy
Spirit?
Luke 23:32-46
This passage encourages us to;
Remember His Death
Jesus’ death was God’s plan for the forgiveness of sin.
Jesus predicted His death three times to His disciples,
now it was coming to fruition.
Isn’t it humbling to read of Him praying to the Father
to forgive the ones crucifying Him?
Isn’t it convicting to see Him remain silent in the face
of the mockers?
Isn’t it encouraging to hear Him promise forgiveness
of sin to the repentant sinner being crucified next to
Him?
The death of Christ assures us the forgiveness of sin.
Luke 23:50-56
This passage helps us;
Remember His Burial
Joseph of Arimathea was a good and righteous man.
He was part of the council, yet he did not agree with
their decision to put Him to death.
Joseph knew that Jesus was dead so he asked Pilate if
he could take the body.
He carefully wrapped Jesus’ body in linen and placed
Him in the tomb.
The women followed Joseph to the tomb to see where
His body was laid. They went back to prepare spices
and ointments for Jesus’ body.
The burial of Jesus gives us assurance that Jesus was
actually dead.
If Jesus didn’t actually die, there would be no need for
the resurrection.
Remember what Jesus said before He breathed His
last breath? “Father, into your hands I commit my
spirit!”
He also said,
“it is finished”
The burial of Christ sets the stage for His predicted
resurrection.
Luke 24:1-12
This passage enables us to;
Remember His Resurrection and Appearances
When the women arrived at the tomb with the spices,
they immediately noticed that the stone that had
been placed over the mouth of the tomb had been
moved.
Matthew tells us that an angel of the Lord descended
from heaven and rolled the stone away and sat on it.
Matthew also tells us that the guards that were
stationed outside the tomb trembled and became as
dead men.
When they went inside they didn’t find the body of
Christ.
They did encounter two angels who asked them why
they were looking for the living among the dead.
The angels also told them to remember what Jesus
had told them while he was still in Galilee – that He
would be crucified and on the third day rise.
It had happened just as He had told them.
The empty tomb shows us the power of God to
raise Jesus from the dead.
It also proves that the debt for our sins has been
paid.
Paul explains in I Corinthians 15:17 “And if Christ
has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are
still in your sins.”
And then in verse 20 “But in fact Christ has been
raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have
fallen asleep.”
Appearance of Christ
Unfortunately we don’t have time to read all of the
appearance accounts, but allow me to summarize.
Luke 24:13-35 describes Jesus talking with two men
on the road to Emmaus.
Luke 24:36-49 describes Jesus appearing before the
disciples and showing them His hands and feet.
He also reminds them that because of His death and
resurrection they should proclaim repentance for
the forgiveness of sins to all nations starting
with Jerusalem.
The appearance of Christ gives us assurance
that He is alive, and His obedience to the Father
was completed.
In John 20:4-9 John tells about he and Peter running
to the tomb and going inside he saw the empty tomb
and believed.
Do you believe Christ conquered death by being
raised from the dead?
You can read of the ascension in the final verses of
Luke 24, but I enjoy Luke’s account in Acts 1.
Acts 1:6-11
These verses cause us to;
Remember His Ascension
Before Jesus left He promised that when the Holy
Spirit came they would receive power to be His
witnesses to the end of the earth.
This is the same power that raised Jesus from the
dead!
Then Jesus ascends in a cloud and is taken up into
heaven.
Again two angels appear and ask the disciples why
they are standing there looking into heaven.
The angels tell the disciples that Jesus is going to
come back the same way He was taken into heaven.
It’s a reminder of 1 Thess 4:16-17 “For the Lord
himself will descend from heaven with a cry of
command, with the voice of an archangel, and with
the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are
left, will be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will
always be with the Lord.”
The ascension gives us the promise of His future
coming.
For most of us this is a great reminder of the
importance of the death and resurrection of Christ.
But there may be someone here this morning that is
hearing this for the first time.
It’s not a reminder, but a moment of decision.
The gospel requires a response.
Paul explains what it means to be saved in his letter
to the church at Rome.
Romans 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your
mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and
with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
And I John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.”
If you need to do that this morning would you do
that?
Your sin separates you from God and for it
you deserve death.
But God wants you to receive the gift of salvation.
He wants to forgive you.
He wants to make you His child.
Now as we continue I want us to take some time to;
Remember His Sacrifice
We are going to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
During this time we remember everything Jesus
endured for us in perfect obedience to the Father.
Matthew 26:26