As we move through the New Testament, several stories illuminate the weightiness of Jesus’ resurrection and how that impacts our relationship with Him. Join us as Jonathan Pokluda teaches these stories and highlights the hope that follows resurrection.
Key Takeaway
The resurrection matters because it happened, because it confirms Jesus as our savior, and because it gives us hope.
How did a carpenter reset time? Because He died and came back to life.
When you do something like that, people talk about it. His death and resurrection have impacted the faith of those thousands of years later
(1 Corinthians 15:17-19 & 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
1. The resurrection matters because it happened.
People would be more apt to tell others how to fly than to tell them how to live forever.
Matthew 16. Billions gather in His name today, and it started with 12 people on the side of a hill who gave their lives for that cause because they saw the resurrected Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:4—over 500 people saw with their own eyes that Jesus was buried and raised on the third day. That's why this message exploded.
How do we know He died? Romans were professional executors. They would do it on the side of the road to show you their capabilities and to put fear in you.
2. The Resurrection matters because it confirms Jesus as our Savior.
The Old Testament prophesied of the resurrection (Isaiah 53).
Psalm 16:10 is the first sermon ever preached in the church, preached by Peter. Paul then preaches from this same Psalm years later (Acts 2:29-32).
Jesus defeated death. He saves us from our sins and consequences and reconciles us to God. If someone were to save us from death, they would have to go through death themselves. That's why God is such a good savior. He can reach in that miry pit and set you on solid ground.
We don't have His body. According to Matthew 28:12-15, some believed that His body was stolen.
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.” - Flavius Josephus (93 AD)
1 Corinthians 15:17. If there's no resurrection, we're still in our sins.
3. The resurrection matters because it gives us hope.
You are not stuck in your sins.
John 21 marks the adventure of a lifetime for Peter, calling him to fish for people instead of fish. He gets the opportunity to witness miracle after miracle, leading up to the last supper, where Jesus tells Peter that Peter will deny Him three times. And then he does.
So, Peter returns to fishing out of shame for his actions (denying Jesus), and after a night of catching nothing, Jesus calls to Him. Jesus creates the same environment where Peter denies him and asks him if he loves Him three times. After Peter says yes, He tells him to feed His sheep. Peter wasn't meant to wallow in shame following Jesus' death and resurrection; he was meant to lead people to Christ.
Jesus' brother, James, was taken up to the top of the temple and asked to deny the resurrection twice, and he said no, leading him to be thrown off the temple. Once he hits the ground, they ask him again to deny the resurrection. And when he can't, they beat him to death.
When Peter is taken to be crucified, he asks to be crucified upside down because he is unable to be sacrificed in the same way that His Lord was.
These cowards turned courageous. Why? Because they saw the resurrected Lord.
What matters most? Many think it's their school, achievements, career, marriage, or kids. But what should matter most to you is the resurrection of Jesus.
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"One day, much sooner than you realize, you're going to know what matters most: the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
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Jonathan Pokluda
Discussion Questions
Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus reset time when He died on the cross and was resurrected? How has that changed things for you?
Is it hard for you to tell others about Jesus? Why or why not?
Read Isaiah 53. Did you know that the Old Testament predicted the coming of Jesus? If yes, where else have you read the prophecy of Jesus in the Old Testament?
What about Jesus did Jonathan Pokluda share that was different than any other prophet or religious leader?
What sins would you still be a slave to if you had not been freed from them in Christ?
What did Jesus mean when He told Peter to fish for people rather than fish?
How has God given you courage?
What mattered most to you before you gave your life to Christ?
What matters most to you now that you gave your life to Christ? Answer honestly.
How can you realign your priorities to make God your first priority if He isn't already?
Scripture References
3.For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance15:3 Or you at the first: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4.that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5.and that he appeared to Cephas,15:5 That is, Peter and then to the Twelve. 6.After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7.Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8.and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish1.Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.21:1 Greek Tiberias It happened this way: 2.Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus21:2 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3.“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4.Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5.He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered.6.He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.7.Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8.The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.21:8 Or about 90 meters9.When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.10.Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”11.So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12.Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13.Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14.This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.Jesus Reinstates Peter15.When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16.Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”17.The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.18.Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”19.Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”20.Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21.When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”22.Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”23.Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”24.This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.25.Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
12.When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13.telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14.If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15.So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
29.“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30.But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31.Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32.God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
17.And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18.Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19.If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1.Who has believed our messageand to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?2.He grew up before him like a tender shoot,and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.3.He was despised and rejected by mankind,a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.Like one from whom people hide their faceshe was despised, and we held him in low esteem.4.Surely he took up our painand bore our suffering,yet we considered him punished by God,stricken by him, and afflicted.5.But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was on him,and by his wounds we are healed.6.We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to our own way;and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.7.He was oppressed and afflicted,yet he did not open his mouth;he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,so he did not open his mouth.8.By oppression53:8 Or From arrest and judgment he was taken away.Yet who of his generation protested?For he was cut off from the land of the living;for the transgression of my people he was punished.53:8 Or generation considered / that he was cut off from the land of the living,/ that he was punished for the transgression of my people?9.He was assigned a grave with the wicked,and with the rich in his death,though he had done no violence,nor was any deceit in his mouth.10.Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the Lord makes53:10 Hebrew though you make his life an offering for sin,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.11.After he has suffered,he will see the light of life53:11 Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text does not have the light of life. and be satisfied53:11 Or (with Masoretic Text) 11 He will see the fruit of his suffering / and will be satisfied;by his knowledge53:11 Or by knowledge of him my righteous servant will justify many,and he will bear their iniquities.12.Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,53:12 Or manyand he will divide the spoils with the strong,53:12 Or numerousbecause he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.
17.And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
