Today is another great day to be able to post the Weekend Sermon. Thank you for taking the time to read this week's sermon. I hope that all of you are having a wonderful day.
My week has been crazy to say the least. We had a really bad windstorm, and I had a little bit of roof damage. I think I have it fixed, so I am thankful for that. Things could have been much worse. I would ask that you please pray for me regarding my health. I had to go to the doctor on Wednesday because I was extremely sick. I had to have a breathing treatment and I am now on five prescriptions to help with my lungs and joint pain. Please pray that I will feel better soon. Thank you.
Let us all pray for an end to the violence that is all around us in this world. I heard a report on the radio this week that the homicide rate in some of the cities in my country is on the rise. Let us pray that people will be able to get along and not harm one another. Let us also continue to pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
As we pray for missions this week, pray for the nations of Sierra Leone, Gambia, Iran and Tajikistan. Pray that the message of the Gospel will reach these nations.
For the last several weeks, we have been in a series of messages on how the Gospel of John demonstrates the divine nature of Jesus Christ. This is presented in the "I Am" statements in the Gospel and through seven sign miracles recorded by John.
Today, I want to talk about the ultimate sign of who Jesus is that John presents so eloquently. This sign is the resurrection of Jesus from the grave.
As we have seen from our studies in John, Jesus went about doing good and healing all manner of sick people and freeing those who were possessed by evil spirits. Jesus preached a message of love, acceptance and forgiveness. He said that He was sent from the Father so that whoever would believe in the Son might receive salvation.
All throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus was opposed by the religious leaders of His day. They did not agree with His message of love and forgiveness. They preached a message of exclusion. They were self-righteous, and they despised Jesus who was the Holy One sent from the Father. They constantly tried to trap Jesus and discredit Him.
Finally, the religious authorities seized upon their opportunity to attempt to do away with Jesus and His message. Jesus was arrested and tried before the High Priest, and Jesus was eventually brought before Pontius Pilate the Roman governor.
Pilate could find no fault with Jesus, and he wanted to release Jesus. However, the people who had cried "Hosanna" on Palm Sunday shouted "Crucify him. We have no king but Caesar," on Good Friday.
Jesus died an excruciating and painful death on the cross. While He was on the cross Jesus bore our sins in His body. He became the propitiation for our sins. He was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. After saying, "It is finished," Jesus died.
At this point, the authorities thought that they had won the victory over Jesus and His teachings. Jesus was dead, buried, and His body was under guard in a tomb sealed with Pilate's seal.
On the third day, early on Sunday morning, something miraculous took place. When the women came to the tomb they discovered that Jesus was no longer dead but He was alive again. He had been raised from the dead just as He said.
The resurrection was the ultimate sign of who Jesus is. When Jesus rose from the dead it was the vindication of all that Jesus taught. It was the sign showing us that the message of love and forgiveness and the Sermon on the Mount taught by Jesus was the right way and the right message. The resurrection was the sign that the Father was well pleased with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It was the sign that the work of redemption was complete. Jesus had died for our sins, and then He conquered the consequences of sin by rising again defeating death, hell and the grave.
No greater sign of who Jesus is and that His message is true can be given than the ultimate sign of the resurrection. It is a powerful sign of majesty and glory.
I have had a great time sharing these messages with you about who Jesus is over the past several weeks. However, what would give me true joy is to know that someone who has never placed their trust in Jesus has come to know Him through these message.
Maybe you have been struggling with who Jesus is. John has given us the words and miracles of Jesus to demonstrate that God has come to us in Jesus to show us His love and forgiveness. He has given the ultimate sign of the resurrection.
Now it is up to you. Will you place your faith and trust in the Risen Lord? Jesus said the whosoever will may come. Jesus invites you to come to Him today.
Next week, I would like to just finish up our study in John with a message I am calling "The Repeated Sign". I hope you will join me next week. I will post the verses on Monday, and there will be a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all.
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