The Greatest Day in History

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>The Greatest Day in History</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id635.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Discovering and Pursuing the Will of God"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id607.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Here Is Our King"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"The Greatest Day in History" (Luke 22-24) </B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, April 16, 2006 (Resurrection Sunday)</B></div> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.stanbaker.org/audio/Sermon-2006-04-16-Stan_Baker.mp3" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.stanbaker.org/audio/Sermon-20"><U><B>audio</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>      Easter is about hope. None of us have perfect lives. We don't gather for worship because we have all our hopes already realized, we gather to worship because our hope is found in Jesus Christ. He who suffered first, then experienced resurrection morning, offers hope to us when we suffer.</div> <div>      To appreciate the good news of Resurrection morning, we have to reflect on the bad news – the tension, the conflict, the pain that Jesus experienced for us. As it was unfolding, it looked like it was going to be a total disaster. The followers of Jesus had put their hopes in Jesus, only for him to end up on a Roman cross. So let's back up in the story and see what happened that led to the cross and what happened from there, and what difference it can make in our lives in the generation and for generations to come.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. The charge: </B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Luke 22:66-23:2&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U><B>Luke 22:66-23:2</B></U></A></div> <div>      For the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities, what was Jesus guilty of that they put him on a cross? He claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah, the coming leader and ruler of Israel. If he was <I>not</I> and he said he was, he was guilty of blasphemy. If he <I>was</I>, he was worthy of their worship and submission.</div> <div>      He was accused by the Jews of be a “competing king” to Caesar, therefore the Romans were eventually willing to execute him on a cross.</div> <div>      Ironically, for him to be “seated at the right hand of God,” meant that Jesus would be <I>their</I> judge, even as they sat in judgment on him. “When the army of Julian the Apostate (A.D. 332-363) was marching to Persia, some of his soldiers were tormenting and torturing a Christian believer. Tiring of their brutal games, they looked down on their victim and asked him with unconcealed scorn, 'Where now is your Carpenter-God?' The man looked up at them through bloodied eyes and answered, 'He is making a coffin for your emperor.'” [David J. MacLeod, “The First 'Last Thing'” Bibliotheca Sacra, Apr-Jun 1999, p. 218]. There is coming a day when Jesus will be their judge, but on that day, he would willingly go the cross to be able to offer them forgiveness.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. The crucifixion: </B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Luke 23:26-49&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U><B>Luke 23:26-49</B></U></A></div> <div>      Jesus died because he was true to his identity as God, even though he was rejected by people who should have believed.</div> <bR> <div>      But if that is where the story ended, we would have no reason to meet here this morning.</div> <div> <B>III. The resurrection: </B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Luke 24:1-12&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U><B>Luke 24:1-12</B></U></A></div> <div>      To Jesus' followers, who had believed him and followed him, after the devastation they must have felt at the crucifixion, and after many of them had scattered in fear for their lives, to them this must have been the greatest day of their lives (after they came to grips with the reality).</div> <div>      But it was more than the greatest day of their lives, it was the greatest in history. The fact of the resurrection proves that this Jesus, who was killed because he claimed to be God, actually <I>was</I> God. Everything he said about himself and his Father in heaven was proven to be true by the resurrection. Everything that he promises to us has his resurrection guarantee. He destroyed death and sin, and he can destroy any obstacles that would get in the way of the things he has promised to us. All of our hopes in Christ depend on the fact that he is <I>alive</I>. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!</div> <bR> <div> <B>IV. The result: </B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Luke 24:36-53&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U><B>Luke 24:36-53</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <div>      What difference does this historical event make, to our generation and beyond. What offer is there for us and our children and our children's children?</div> <div> A. Vss. 45-49, Jesus invites us to turn from our evil and our self-reliance and our lack of faith in him; he invites us to receive forgiveness of sins and a loving relationship with the God who created us to be with him. Jesus as God will stand as judge over the sins of the world, but he first stood as Savior, so that those who believe in him could have forgiveness of sins.</div> <div> B. Vs. 48, Jesus invites us to share this good news with others.</div> <div> C. Vs. 49, Jesus invites us to live and serve in his power and his presence.</div> <div> D. Vss. 50-53, Jesus invites us to worship him and praise him as we await his return. </div> <bR> <div>      “Imagine the mystery and delight of not just hearing, but seeing the story of Jesus for the first time, almost as an eyewitness.</div> <div>      That's what happened to a primitive tribe in the jungles of East Asia, when missionaries showed them the <I>Jesus</I> film. Not only had these people never heard of Jesus, they had never seen a motion picture. Then, all at once, on one unforgettable evening, they saw it all—the gospel in their own language, visible and real.</div> <div>      Imagine again how it felt to see this good man Jesus, who healed the sick and was adored by children, held without trial and beaten by jeering soldiers. As they watched this, the people came unglued. They stood up and began to shout at the cruel men on the screen, demanding that this outrage stop.</div> <div>      When nothing happened, they attacked the missionary running the projector. Perhaps he was responsible for this injustice! He was forced to stop the film and explain that the story wasn't over yet, that there was more. So they settled back onto the ground, holding their emotions in tenuous check.</div> <div>      Then came the crucifixion. Again, the people could not hold back. They began to weep and wail with such loud grief that once again the film had to be stopped. The missionary again tried to calm them, explaining that the story still wasn't over, that there was more. So they composed themselves and sat down to see what happened next.</div> <div>      Then came the resurrection. Pandemonium broke out this time, but for a different reason. The gathering had spontaneously erupted into a party. The noise now was of jubilation, and it was deafening. The people were dancing and slapping each other on the back. Christ is risen, indeed!</div> <div>      Again the missionary had to shut off the projector. But this time he didn't tell them to calm down and wait for what was next. All that was supposed to happen—in the story and in their lives—was happening.” (Leadership Journal email, 4-13-04; “Resurrection and Pandemonium” by Ben Patterson.) </div> <div>      The resurrection of Jesus deserves that kind of celebration. That is what worship is all about. That's why we celebrate today.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2006, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>