“The Great Power of Jesus’s Resurrection”『耶穌復活的大能』

Acts 2:32-26, 3/27/2005

【中文/卯思興，英譯/Victor Lin】

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◎Introduction: I believe in resurrection of the body

Today is Easter. In church’s calendar, this is a very important celebration event. Why is Easter so important? Because “resurrection” is one of life’s enormous mysteries and the ultimate end of life. This mystery is God special gift for every one who believes in him, resurrection also is the beginning of the transformation from a mortal life to an immortal life. In all religions, Christianity is the only one that believes in the resurrection of the body. In the “Apostle’s Creed¨, we proclaim that: “I believe… … resurrection of the body, everlasting life “.

Easter is a matter that affects the entire human race, just like what the gospel of John says in chapter three verses 16, 17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17). Jesus’s resurrection made John 3:16 seem more certain that “we shall not perish, but have eternal life”.

Easter is great joyous news. This great delightful gospel is for everyone. Two millenniums after the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension to heaven, the great power of Jesus’s resurrection has continued to affect the world, changing the world, changing individual, changing families, even transforming the national society and rewriting human history. Just as Jesus’ birth affected many people around the world (Luke 2:10), Jesus’ death also impacted people around the world. I believe that Jesus’s resurrection is to specifically prove Luke 2:14, which says “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.¨ This statement began with Jesus’s birth and was fulfill at Jesus’ death and resurrection.

◎Jesus’s resurrection answers our questions of highest concern

Jesus’ resurrection answers some of humankinds most asked questions: “Where did I come from? Why am I alive? After death where do we go?” Before Jesus was leaving his beloved students, he said to them “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.¨ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?¨ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.¨ (John 14:1-7)

“The resurrection of the body” is not merely our belief, but is a matter that we can taste and experience. Because of such faith, next Sunday, April 3, our entire church will hold a “Clear and Bright Remembrance Special Service.” to commemorate our family members. Today we have emigrated to US. Some of our ancestors and graves of family members are in Taiwan, some in US, some in China, some in Brazil, but we believe that one day at the second coming of Lord Jesus, when he mentions a list of name in the sky, at that time we will have “bodily resurrection” and will meet with ours family member as well as Lord’s brothers and sisters in that place. We maintain such hope, waiting for that day’s arrival, a day that is surely going to be exciting and moving. Jesus’ resurrection, tells us in advance, that bodily resurrection is not some kind of empty dream. This is real. Because the significance of the “resurrection” is that whatever was lost and left behind, you will obtain anew. On that day, you will not leave anything behind. This is the news of Jesus’s resurrection.

◎Jesus, god has already raised him to life

Today’s scripture passage from Act 2:32-36 tells us that the apostles waited in Jerusalem according to Jesus’ instruction (Luke 24:49). Ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, which was also the 50th day after Jesus’s resurrection, according to Jesus’s instruction, the Holy Spirit arrived. We see that Peter and other apostles stood amongst a gathering of 3,000 people, loudly proclaiming a testimony of Jesus’ resurrection. After Jesus resurrects, in the world middle 40 days, appears to very many people, now these people all gather in Jerusalem, testimony Jesus appear to them. Peter is by fills the excited tone to say that, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:32-36)

No only in Jesus’ time, but today in the 21st century, would you dare to stand up and give a testimony that we all knew a person who has truly already died and after several days stand up in front a gathering of several thousand people and say that everybody knew the person has already resurrected. Let us think what factor can cause a person to stand up and testify about the resurrection of someone who has already died; only if that person has seen it with his own eyes. Perhaps you can say that it is possible that apostles missed Jesus very much, and because of their daily remembrances, in the evening they dreamed that Jesus lived in their sleep. On this May 30th, my mother has passed away full three years. I frequently have dreams of her calling my name. But I cannot from those frequently dream of my mother, tells my wife that “Mother has resurrected.”

Why was Peter so sure that Jesus had resurrected? There is only one reason, which is Peter has seen the resurrection of Christ with his own eyes. After Jesus resurrected, he and other disciples have met with Jesus severa l times (John chapters 21), and concerning this matter the Lord had already told them: He would suffer death and resurrect after three days. Brothers and sisters, if Jesus’s resurrection was only witnessed by one person (i. e. Peter), that may not be sufficient to win people’s trust. The Holy Bible tells us that those who saw Jesus’s resurrection with their own eyes surpassed 500 people (I Cor. 15:1-8). It is marvelous that when Jesus was alive, Peter went all out to deny his relationship with Jesus (Luke 22:54-62), but after Jesus died and resurrected, Peter went all out to testify that Jesus is alive (Acts 1-11). This is the power of the resurrection.

◎The Name on the Cross

Today is Easter, I want to remind you not to continue to live in sin and cause our Lord to be nailed once again to the cross or become accomplice to those who crucified Jesus. Act only after careful consideration. What you do may have no bad intention and may not have a big influence on yourself, but may cause others great pain. There is a story that says on the day of Jesus’s crucifixion, something very touching happened.

A carpenter’s wife said to the carpenter “The Roman government is inviting people to bid for making the crosses for criminals to be crucified. The opportunity is rare. We must seize this opportunity.” But the carpenter decided not to make anymore of that cruel murdering tool.

His wife said again “This is a once in a thousand years opportunity. The chance that we will win the bidding is very big. If we win the bid, we may live a wealthy life.” The carpenter replied, “I do not want to be involved in that murdering affair.” His wife continued to urge him by saying that, “You only make the crosses, and do not really nail anyone to them. It doesn¡¦t matter.” The carpenter said that, “I still think it is not appropriate. As soon as I think of the cross, my heart gets very restless.” His wife angrily said, “You are really laughably stupid. Even if you do not do it, others are doing it. Even if you do not profit, others are still profiting.”

As the two people are in dispute, their little son cried and ran back from outside. They asked with one voice: “Why are you crying? What is the matter?” The son replied: “On the street I saw a group of people going toward hill. So I ran to a take look and saw Jesus with them.” The father anxiously said, “Was he our respected Jesus?”

“Yes, that was Jesus,” that boy continued to say: “Jesus carried a very big, very heavy cross. Daddy, do you know? That cross is a cross that was made in our shop. Jesus carries the cross which we made; they are going to crucify Jesus on the cross which we made.”

The father said “Little child, do not talk nonsense. Because there are many wood shops that make crosses, the cross used to crucify Jesus is not made in our shop.” That boy anxiously explained, “Daddy, that really is a cross that we made. Do you still remember, several days ago there was a person who came to buy a cabinet?” The carpenter nodded. The boy added “While you were conversing, I played in our shop entrance, saw that you have made a thick big cross. I have written my name on that cross. Daddy, when I saw Jesus on the street, he had just tumbled in front of me. That very heavy cross-pressed down on his body. I saw my name on that cross. It is the name, which I signed several days ago. Daddy, that cross has my name on it.”

A 20th century outstanding theologians (Reinhold Niebuhr) tells us, so long as you are the citizen of some country, or a member of some society, you will unable to get away from criminal behavior. Because, who can guarantee that the tax money you paid was not misused to make or purchase murder weapon? Also who can guarantee that you are not encroaching on others’ wishes and benefits? Although we can try not to commit any crime on our own, we are actually unceasingly committing the common crime. This is also what Niebuhr calls the difficult position humanity faces.

Perhaps your name is certainly not on cross, but our crimes are all on cross. In order to take away our crimes, Jesus was crucified, after three days, he rose again.

◎Conclusion: Jesus, God has already made him as Lord and Christ

Verse 36 of today’s scripture lesson says that “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” In the phrase “God has made him Lord”, the “Lord” refers to his status; But in the phrase “God has made him Christ”, “Christ” emphasizes in the authority of his work. In this world there are many matters we may not be need to know, but there is one matter that we must not be ignorant, that is “Jesus is the Lord, Christ is the Lord”. Christ is not only our “savior”, but he is also our “Lord”. “The savior” said that he has redeemed us, separated us from evil; “The Lord” said that he would bear the responsibility for all our faults. Thanks to the Lord, he was born into this world for you and me, suffered death for you and me, resurrected for you and me, and for you and me he will come again, thanks to the Lord!