“The Power of the Resurrection”

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

Easter Sunday

April 17, 2022

Introductory Comments:

Well, it is Easter Sunday, also known as Resurrection Sunday. On Easter, we have all sorts of things to celebrate such as dyed eggs [show picture on screen], Peeps [show picture on screen], Cadbury Eggs [show picture on screen], Robin Eggs [show picture on screen], and eggs with prizes inside [show picture on screen]. However, as much as I love all of this, the thing about Easter that I love to celebrate most is the resurrection of Jesus [show picture on screen]!

Easter is about the power of the resurrection! Indeed, today’s sermon is entitled, “The Power of the Resurrection.” [on screen]

Today’s sermon is a little different. I just want to encourage you with some Scripture and some truths from God’s Word regarding the power of the resurrection. 

First, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us. 

(prayer)

So, let’s discover three aspects of the power of the resurrection. 

First, . . .

I. The power of the resurrected Jesus. [on screen]

The power of the resurrection starts with the power of the resurrected Jesus. 

Most of us know the story of Jesus’ resurrection. After His terrible crucifixion and being buried in the tomb on Friday, He sat in the tomb Friday, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning, and then His friends went to check on His body. 

We read in Mark 16:6 what happened when some friends of Jesus found an angel at His tomb instead of Jesus Himself. Mark says the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.” [on screen]

This event is the resurrection of Jesus. This event is where Jesus conquered death and demonstrated that He truly had the power of God. This event is the foundation of Easter Sunday. This event is the foundation of Christianity. This event is the foundation of why we gather as a church!

There is power in the resurrection of Jesus! A dead man came back to life and He changed history forever!

In case you don’t remember, life was not easy for the early followers of Jesus. After Jesus went back into heaven with the Father, the early Christians suffered harm, hardships, and heartache. Yet, they pressed on. Why? Because they believed that the resurrection of Jesus really happened and they believed that it brought power. 

We learn in Acts 4:33 about the effect the resurrection had on the early Christians. The passage says, “With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.” [on screen]

There was power in the ministry of the apostles because there was power in the resurrection of Jesus!

The apostle Paul carried on the ministry of the apostles as one of the most effective preachers, missionaries, and church planters of the early church. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul said, “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” [on screen

Paul said this was most important; this – the death, burial, and the powerful resurrection of Jesus!

First, remember there is power in the resurrected Jesus! Second, recognize . . . 

II. The power of the resurrected person. [on screen]

The resurrection of Jesus not only brought new life to Jesus but it made new life possible for every person who would call out to Jesus to be made new. 

The apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:9-10, “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought l