This Jesus God Has Raised Up

Jesus said it would happen. On several occasions, he told his disciples that he would suffer, that he would be killed, that he would be buried, and that he would rise again the third day. When the disciples heard these things, they were sorrowful, but they did not understand, and they were afraid to ask him. It says in Luke 18, "But they understood none of these things, and this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

" Jesus knew that it was important for them to hear these things, even though they did not yet understand. He knew that soon they would remember, they would understand, and they would believe. Jesus was speaking of things that led up to Passover and then extending into the feast of unleavened bread and from there beyond to their lives that would follow afterwards and ultimately to the kingdom of God and eternal life.

It's very powerful things. And as he kept the Passover with his disciples, he spoke of even more deeply spiritual truth about what was soon to happen to himself and to them. He taught them what his sacrifice was for, his body and his blood. He told them about the new covenant, a new way of relating with him and with God and with one another.

And he told them several more times that he would rise again. He said to them, "After I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." We've been hearing recently in messages about the journey that we're on about the journey of God's people about the history from the beginning to the end that God has planned for us and this is part of that journey and Christ was saying this journey is just beginning for you in this way for his disciples.

I will go before you to Galilee. He was rise again and lead them forward. He revealed to them more fully than before the father and the promise of the Holy Spirit. And he told them that they would be with him in his father's kingdom. That journey would continue to the kingdom. Their journey was just beginning. And brethren, what they heard, what Jesus told them, these truths are part of our journey, too.

That Passover was the most significant Passover ever observed. The things that Jesus said would happen did happen. Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. He was buried in a new tomb and a large stone was rolled against the door. It was sealed and guards were set. And then the feast of unleven bread began. It must have been a very difficult time for the disciples.

But what else had Jesus told them? the Son of Man would be killed, he said, "And the third day he will be raised up during the feast of unleavened bread." He said to them, "And now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass, you may believe." He knew that they would understand later what they did not yet understand.

And what happened and how it happened changed their lives and ours forever. The son of man was raised up. This was the work of God the father. The most powerful and spiritually significant event in history according to scripture inspired by God himself was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that is the central event that impacts our Christian journey.

And that is the focus of the sermon this morning on this last day of the feast of unleven bread. And again, I'm so grateful for the special music. Had no idea what would be offered. The resurrection of Jesus Christ occurred, as we said, during the feast of unleven bread. Christ was so very clear on that on the third day during the feast of unleven bread.

This last day of the feast, we think of this now. And it has been something that's had a direct impact on all the feast days. All the annual feast days that God has given us are impacted by this event, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just a little sidebar note here. God did not establish the time of Christ's resurrection as an an observance to be kept.

He did not make the day one of the annual holy days. There's no mention in scripture of memorializing the day of Christ's resurrection as an observance. And so we don't but we do remember it and it impacts us so very much. understanding the importance and the truth of the resurrection as described in the scriptures by the words of the prophets and apostles and by Jesus Christ himself by the words that he has given us.

These are the things that are front and center in our understanding of the gospel and as we move forward. It's a central key element. The gospel of the kingdom of God, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is what makes God's promise of eternal life and every promise of the new covenant possible. And the spiritual effect of Christ's resurrection impacts all of the annual feast days and every single Christian.

Before these things happened, the disciples could not understand how awesome and powerful the things were that Jesus was teaching them. But after he was raised, Christ opened their understandings to the scriptures and taught them plainly what these things mean. And we need to see and hear what he taught as well.

So let's follow this thread of inspiration that opens our understanding. Let's consider a little bit as we get started some of the details about the resurrection of Jesus Christ that are rec recorded in the gospels in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And I won't read all of them. There are many, but I want to refer to some of them so that you can study these and think about them as it progresses through the sermon message.

things that happened during the feast of unleavened bread and in the weeks that followed after his resurrection on the fourth day of the feast of unleven bread. You can read in the book of Luke in chapter 24. You see as we come to that section of scripture some of the words of Jesus Christ you see what happened in the and the account that is given there you see what angels said at that time as we've heard in the special music in Luke 24 you see as it begins there were some of the women who came to the tomb they had bought spices

and things to honor the body of Jesus Christ in his burial. And so they came for that purpose. And they came and it says in verse six, the angel said to them, "He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee saying the son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again.

That was the message they heard as they arrived at that tomb that morning before they saw Jesus Christ. The angels there conveying this message saying remember what he told you was so important. Mark 16 just simply says they the angel said he is risen. There was purpose in what Jesus had taught.

And even though they didn't understand at first, they would remember. The angels are saying that to them. Remember these things he told you. And that helped their faith to grow. Helped them to believe. the lesson would be more powerfully learned as they remember what he had already told them. What happened then marked a turning point in the way the feast of unleavened bread would be observed from that time forward.

This is clearly shown in the accounts that we'll consider today. Later that same day on the road to Emmas, there were two of the disciples who were walking together and they were talking about what had happened and Jesus joined them, but they didn't know it was him. In Luke 24, beginning in verse 22, it says, "Yes, and certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb early astonished us.

They're telling this stranger who' just joined them in their in their journey. And when they did not find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. They begin to talk of the resurrection. They begin to talk about these things and they didn't know yet. They hadn't seen him. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.

And then he said to them, these are Christ's words to them now. Oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. He begins to turn turn their attention back to the scriptures and things he told them and now to remind them of what the prophets had said. Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory.

It's not just the suffering, it's the entering into his glory. He's referring here to the time of his resurrection and afterwards. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Later that evening, that same day, or maybe the next day, as evening had come, and after the two had returned to Jerusalem and found the 11 and those who were also gathered with them, Jesus appeared then to that group of disciples.

And from Luke's account, what he taught next seems to be that same evening. We know that it was during the days of unleven bread. Very important to see this in the context of this feast in Luke 24 now in verse 44. And then he said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms.

" And we're going to see how that comes to to the the narrative here as well. And the Psalms concerning me. And he opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures. Verse 46 says, "Then he said to them, thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and necessary." Add that word. It's part of this phrase.

It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day. and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. We are recipients of those things that are preached now for nearly 2,000 years since then. And you are witnesses of these things.

They had seen him. They had been with him. They'd heard him. They'd traveled with him. They'd grown to love him. They knew that he loved them. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the promise of my father upon you. But Terry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.

He was still leading them on their journey. He was telling them that they would wait in that city until this power from on high was given to them. Brethren, this account and the words of Jesus Christ himself is very instructive because it helps us to focus our attention on what happened during the days of unleven bread in the year in which Jesus Christ was killed and then resurrected.

the things that Jesus taught about about his resurrection during the days of unleavened bread and the weeks before he ascended. The things which he taught them after he was raised from the dead are some of the most important subjects in all the scriptures. Keeping the concept of a spiritual journey in mind, Christ was leading them onward.

From the feast of unleavened bread, he said, "Tell my disciples to go to Galilee, and I will be with them there. From there, go to Jerusalem and wait, and then go to all the nations, go to the kingdom, and come to eternal life." It's a journey. As the feast of unleven bread concludes this year, let's follow the narrative of Christ's resurrection forward into the early years of the new covenant church.

I've really enjoyed and appreciated having the time to learn these things. I've spent many hours reading and learning. I was explaining to someone before church, my notes go like this as I prepare and then they come down like this as I bring the message. I hope you will notice that some of the areas that we'll speak of, there's a lot of context there.

And I'm just going to focus on a little bit of it, but you might enjoy, I think you will, going back and reading about these accounts and follow this journey along in the early years of the church. In Acts chapter 2, beginning in verse 22, Peter there was inspired to say some of the most significant things that impact the Christian journey, yours and mine and everyone else.

He said to them in Acts 2 verse 22, "Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did through him. I'm just going to pause and get your attention focused as I came to understand Peter's talking to them about God. What God did, wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know him being delivered by the determined purpose and fornowledge of God.

This was something planned by God and by the word who became his son from the time before this world was created. This was by the determined purpose and fornowledge of God. These things that happened. He says, "You have taken by lawless hands have crucified and put to death whom God raised up." He brings God into this picture. And brethren, we so very much need to see that during these days of unleven bread and all of our life.

It's so much more, brethren, than us coming out of sin. It's us coming to God. It's us coming to him through Jesus Christ. whom God raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be held by it was not possible because God has said these things and Peter goes on to express this notice that Peter was inspired again to emphasize about God the focus was on the greatness of God's work and attesting to us of Christ through the miracles that he did through Christ and Notice this because it's a

pattern we're going to see as the church advances and grows in the years that follow. This was done by the determined purpose and for knowledge of God. And God is still working out his purpose. Now, it's the same purpose. We're further along in the journey, closer now to the kingdom. And now as Christ had opened their understanding of the scriptures, Peter expounded things that David had said about Jesus Christ.

In verse 25, he says, "For David said concerning him, concerning Jesus, I foraw the Lord always before my face, for he is at my right hand, and I that I may not be shaken." Therefore, my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad. Moreover, my faith, my flesh will also rest in hope. For you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption.

Very powerful statement, an awesome prophecy that had come to pass. You, speaking of the father, will not leave my soul, Christ's soul, in Hades. In verse 28, you have made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of joy in your presence. And Peter continues, men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he's both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God has sworn by an oath to him that of the fruit of his body according to the flesh he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. He David foreseeing this spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ. This ties the Old Testament prophecies right into what happened during the days of unleven bread.

And then this message is carried forth the next holy day and we could carry it forth to every other holy day as well. He foreseeing this spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ that his soul was not left in Hades nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up of which we are all witnesses. Brethren, that phrase is so profound.

That truth is so awesome and so clearly stated that I chose it for the title of this message. This Jesus God has raised up. It was Peter who was inspired to preach that sermon from his point of view at that time in his journey. He's saying this Jesus, this Jesus who filled Peter's net with fish, who healed so many people, who fed multitudes with a few fish and loaves.

The works of God are mentioned in this context. And so, it's good to remember what God did through him. This Jesus who walked on water and who when Peter came to walk with him on water lifted him up to keep him from sinking. This Jesus who quieted storms. This Jesus who taught them to pray, who cast out demons, who taught them how to love God and love one another.

This is the Jesus Peter's referring to. This Jesus who gave the disciples power to perform miracles in his name, who raised Lazarus from the dead, who was transfigured on the mountain. This Jesus who predicted Peter's denials and who later forgave him. This is who Jes Peter is referring to. This Jesus who laid down his life for his friends.

This Jesus God has raised up. God has raised him up. God who promised eternal life before time began. God who said, "Let us make man in our image and after our likeness." God who predetermined these things and was working them out through his son Jesus Christ. God who loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten son.

The God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God who raised Jesus to glory. Our God and our father. Understanding this truth is so crucial, brethren, to our spiritual lives that God inspired the apostles to speak of it and write about it often. And I'll quickly read a few of the examples. And again, there's context here that I won't be able to cover today, but you can go and look it up and read it yourself.

In Acts chapter 3, when Peter and John went to the temple with faith in the power of Christ, they healed a man who was lame from birth. And in verse 15, Peter says to the crowd there, "You killed the prince of life whom God raised up from the dead of which we of which we are witnesses." As the church began and to grow, as this word was spread, this was the message who God raised up the Christ.

In Acts 4, that same event unfolded and continued. And now with some of the religious people there in Jerusalem, he says in verse 10, "Let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Naz Nazareth whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead." Do you see that is what he keeps coming back to? This is so important, brethren, to us to understand.

And this is something that happened during the feast of unleavened bread. By him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders which was which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. That's so important.

The Christ whom God raised up is the one through whom we are saved. In Acts chapter 10, when Peter was preaching to the first gentile converts to Cornelius and to his household and he goes through the same history of the the works of God through Jesus Christ. In verse 40, it says him God raised up the third day and showed him openly.

This message was so important in the the conversion of people of different nations now and Christ has sent them to go to all the nations of the world. And this is the gospel that was preached him God raised up on the third day and showed him openly not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before by God even to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

It was crucial that there be witnesses of these things and Christ has sent them out to be a witness and they were and they were doing this and are witnessing of his resurrection. It says in verse 42, "And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is he who was ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.

" It's very very critical to see these things. And Paul later when Paul was converted and he's beginning to preach to to other people in different cities as he arrived in Antioch, we see in Acts chapter 13, it says in verse 30, speaking again of Jesus Christ, but God raised him from the dead and he was seen.

And there were witnesses of these things. And he says that promise which was made to the fathers in verse 33, God has fulfilled this for us their children in that he has raised up Jesus. This stays the the central focus of the preaching of the gospel. We worship God and we worship the risen Christ.

We have a relationship based on the new covenant because of these things. And continue there in Acts chapter 13. Please turn and look at these next verses. In Acts chapter 13, Paul goes to exactly what Peter had referred to before. And we see the continuation of these things and the preaching of the gospel. Let's pick it up in verse 33. Acts 13 and verse 33.

God has fulfilled this for us their children in that he has raised up Jesus as it is written in the second psalm. You are my son today I have begotten you. and that he raised him from the dead no more to return to corruption. He has spoken thus, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Therefore, he says in another psalm and you know when Christ was speaking, he says in the Psalms and then he's going here back to th those that were so very clear and so very important for the gospel to be preached this way for us now to hear it

this way to read it in his words this way. You will not allow your holy one to see corruption. And it continues in verse 36, for David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with the fathers and saw corruption. But he whom God raised up saw no corruption. Everything that Christ said would happen, that David predicted, prophesied, it happened this way.

Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man, through the risen Christ, is preached to you the forgiveness of sins. And by him, everyone who believes is justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Now, in the law of Moses, they had the way to keep this feast of unleavened bread.

This was expanded and amplified and magnified by Jesus Christ and by the disciples and apostles by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit afterwards. We can have our sins forgiven because Christ has died and has been risen and we can live this way. The point in these scriptures is that the apostles understood clearly this truth, the truth of the resurrection, what it meant.

And they taught it to the church and preached it to others as they spread this gospel through many nations. They preached about it on the day of Pentecost and in the testimony and sermons wherever they went. Throughout the writings and the accounts of the apostles, the fact that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead was taught as a central point of the gospel of the kingdom of God.

So important to see. And this is truth that transforms our understanding of relationship with God and with Jesus Christ. So where do we go from here? We see these things in scripture. We hear them. We we believe them too like others before us who were converted and the Holy Spirit descended upon them when they heard and believed these things.

How does the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ connect to our spiritual journey? We all know this, but it's good to read it again. It takes some time to consider what God inspired Paul to write about. There's very clear chapter on this in Romans chapter 6. Very fitting for these this last day of the feast of unleven bread.

If you turn to Romans 6, we'll spend some time here. Beginning verse one. What shall we say then? What shall we say, brethren, today in 2026, the last day of unleven bread? What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Think of this as a lesson that we can apply to the feast of unleven bread. Certainly not.

He says in verse two, "How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" It's a message that we've been hearing about now for few weeks as we prepared and now come through these days of unleven bread. Verse three. Or do you not know that as many of of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Baptism comes in to the picture.

Most of us here are baptized and some are not yet but will be. And everyone will have the opportunity at their best and right time in their life to learn these things too. Jesus himself compared his suffering, his death and resurrection to baptism. He asked James and John one time. They wanted to know that his mother was there and said, "Let my son sit on your left and right hand in your kingdom.

" And he asked them, "Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" His suffering, death, and burial and resurrection was a baptism. We were baptized into Christ Jesus, into his death. It continues in Romans 6:4, "Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

" When we are baptized and we come up out of that water, it's like coming up out of a grave. It's like in a symbol symbolic way rising to walk in newness of life. Brethren, this passage expresses some of the most profound truths that enabled us to be transformed in our hearts and our minds.

Not just to put off sin, but to live with an unleavened heart and mind and attitude to walk in newness of life. Our journey is moving forward in a different way than we were before. It's moving forward now because we are resurrected with Christ in this sense. Not fully yet. The kingdom will come and we will be verse five.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, and Christ prayed for us to be one with him and with the father, if we are united together in the likeness of his death, we understand it. We know what it means. We understand that he died so that our sins can be forgiven. Says, "Certainly, we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection.

You know, it was not possible. Scripture says that Christ should stay in the grave. Look at this. Certainly, we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection. There's a great promise there, brethren. Promise of eternal life. Knowing this that our old man was crucified with him. We This is exactly what we've been observing and going through and learning and doing.

Knowing this that our old man was crucified with him that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. We can leave it behind. We can walk in newness of life now without the baggage of all of our old sins dragging us back down.

We're freed from that. Now, if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. What an encouraging thing this is. As we come to the end of this feast of unleven bread, we can take this encouragement forward. We can walk toward the kingdom. We can walk together toward the kingdom with him. We live with the risen Christ.

When we partake of the unleavened bread, it symbolizes eating of the bread of life. This Jesus whom God has raised up. Verse nine, knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all.

But the life that he lives, he lives to God. Christ is living to God. Likewise, he says in verse 11, "You also, me, you, all of us, every Christian, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." So, so very powerful and encouraging. and look around the room and think of many others who you know and have known who live this way alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In verse 12, therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in its lust. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead. We don't have to continue feeling unworthy because we sinned. He has forgiven us.

We can walk in newness of life. We can walk with joy in our hearts. We can present ourselves to God as being alive from the dead. We are raised in his likeness through baptism as though through a resurrection. And we come up out of that watery baptism grave. We died with Christ in faith as we accepted his sacrifice and now we are alive to God.

And brethren, every year when we keep this feast of unleavened bread, these things are reminded, given to us as reminders, encouraging us, spurring us onward in our walk so that we're growing, we're progressing like the disciples who went first to Galilee to hear his words and get the encouragement they needed and came back to Jerusalem, received his spirit.

3,000 were converted by what was preached that day. and word spread through many nations and has spread to us. This is what is happening because these things happen. In Colossians chapter 2, it says that we were buried with him in baptism which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead.

We were raised with him. That's how we should live. walking with him and he in us. It's not just that God has raised him from the dead, but that he is alive, that he lives in us by the power of God and through his Holy Spirit. In Galatians 2:20, I'll just read this one for you. In Galatians 2 verse 20, I have been crucified with Christ.

Paul said this. We all say this. It applies to each one of us. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That unleavened bread we've been eating now throughout this week, it's just symbolic of this that Christ lives in us. and that the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

At the very core of the meaning of the feast of unleven bread is is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ who was raised during this feast that he now lives in every individual Christian. It's by his life by Christ living in us that we have the power of the Holy Spirit there to overcome sin and to give us a hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life.

In 2 Corinthians 2, 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 14 says, "Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will present us with you." We know these things. We know that Jesus Christ was raised by God and he will also raise us up with Jesus. Not just in this life, not just from our baptism where we are raised with him to live and walk in newness of life, but ultimately to raise us up into spirit beings who are born in the family of God to become the spiritual sons and daughters of God.

This is what this is about. So what is the end that God has in mind? What is he working to accomplish with Jesus Christ? I can't end this sermon without reading in Ephesians chapter 1 what is described in the scriptures as the greatest miracle that ever happened. I expect it's the greatest miracle that ever will happen.

Let's read this together in Ephesians 1 beginning in verse 15. This is a prayer the Apostle Paul to those he served and he kind of ties all these things together in Ephesians 1:15. Therefore, I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayer.

see the connection of those who serve with those who they love so much that they they serve as ministers of Jesus Christ as Paul did, traveling to many different cities and nations and helping so many people and he loved them and prayed for them this way that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

that your eyes, the the the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling. What are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints? And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that

which is to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Brethren, the power that God used when he raised Jesus Christ, that awesome, that great and exceeding power, that is the power that he is using in your life.

in my life, the life of every Christian to bring us into his family. Let's conclude with something so very encouraging in Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews 13 verse 20 and 21. Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing.

Brethren, we worship a mighty God and an awesome and loving Savior.