Chapter 16: HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

It is finished!  

The battle of the ages for the souls of men is over!  

The war has been won! Who is the victor? 

This is the third day. 

Have Satan and the forces of darkness and evil succeeded 

or will Yeshua conquer death and Satan’s Hell 

by being resurrected on the third day?

Herein lies the answer. The greatest darkness gives way 
to the brightest light!!

Resurrection Scene

from

The Passion of the Christ, 2004

"How Beautiful"
performed by Twila Paris

2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of ADONAI came down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. 4 The guards were so terrified at him that they trembled and became like dead men. (Matthew 28)

1 When Shabbat was over, Miryam of Magdala, Miryam the mother of Ya`akov, and Shlomit bought spices in order to go and anoint Yeshua. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb. 3 They were asking each other, "Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?" 4 Then they looked up and saw that the stone, even though it was huge, had been rolled back already. (Mark 16)

The angel rolled the stone back from the tomb for the benefit of the people looking in, not for letting Yeshua out! Yeshua has no boundaries.

5 The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know you are looking for Yeshua, who was executed on the stake. 6 He is not here; because He is risen! -- just as He said! Come and look at the place where He lay.

(Matthew 28)

4 The women standing there, not knowing what to think about it, when suddenly two men in dazzlingly bright clothing stood next to them. 5 Terror-stricken, they bowed down with their faces to the ground. The two men said to them, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He is risen!  Remember how He told you while He was still in the Galil, 7 `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be executed on a stake as a criminal, but on the third day be raised again'?

8 Then they remembered His words.  (Luke 24)

5 On entering the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right; and they were dumbfounded. 6 But he said, "Don't be so surprised! You're looking for Yeshua from Natzeret, who was executed on the stake. He is risen! He is not here! Look at the place where they laid him.

7 But go and tell his talmidim, especially Kefa, that He is going to the Galil ahead of you. You will see him there, just as he told you." 8 Trembling but ecstatic they went out and fled from the tomb, and they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.  
(Mark 16)

9 and, returning from the tomb, they told everything to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 The women who told the emissaries these things were Miryam of Magdala, Yochanah, Miryam the mother of Ya`akov, and the others in their circle. 11 But the emissaries didn't believe them; in fact, they thought that what they said was utter nonsense!  (Luke 24)

    

   

The greatest denial resulted in the greatest truth!

"Glorious Day"

performed by Casting Crowns

                                    

3 Then Kefa and the other talmid started for the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other talmid outran Kefa and reached the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen burial-sheets lying there but did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Shim`on Kefa arrived, entered the tomb and saw the burial-sheets lying there, 7 also the cloth that had been around his head, lying not with the sheets but in a separate place and still folded up. 8 Then the other talmid, who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in; he saw, and he trusted. 9 (They had not yet come to understand that the Tanakh teaches that the Messiah has to rise from the dead.)  (John 20)

10 So the talmidim returned home, 11 but Miryam stood outside crying. As she cried, she bent down, peered into the tomb, 12 and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Yeshua had been, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 "Why are you crying?" they asked her. "They took my Lord," she said to them, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 As she said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, but she didn't know it was he. 15 Yeshua said to her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you're the one who carried him away, just tell me where you put him; and I'll go and get him myself." 16 Yeshua said to her, "Miryam!" Turning, she cried out to him in Hebrew, "Rabbani!" (that is, "Teacher!") 17 "Do not hold on to me," Yeshua said to her, "because I haven't yet gone back to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am going back to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." 18 Miryam of Magdala went to the talmidim with the news that she had seen the Lord and that He had told her this. (John 20)

The greatest sorrow resulted in the greatest joy!

"Because He Lives!"

performed by The Gaither Vocal Band

13 That same day, two men were going toward a village about seven miles from Yerushalayim called Amma'us, 14 and they were talking with each other about all the things that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed, Yeshua himself came up and walked along with them, 16 but something kept them from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, "What are you talking about with each other as you walk along?" They stopped short, their faces downcast; 18 and one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only person staying in Yerushalayim that doesn't know the things that have been going on there the last few days?" 19 "What things?" he asked them. They said to him, "The things about Yeshua from Natzeret. He was a prophet and proved it by the things he did and said before God and all the people. 20 Our head cohanim and our leaders handed him over, so that he could be sentenced to death and executed on a stake as a criminal. 21 And we had hoped that he would be the one to liberate Isra'el! Besides all that, today is the third day since these things happened; 22 and this morning, some of the women astounded us. They were at the tomb early 23 and couldn't find his body, so they came back; but they also reported that they had seen a vision of angels who say he's alive! 24 Some of our friends went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they didn't see him." 25 He said to them, "Foolish people! So unwilling to put your trust in everything the prophets spoke! 26 Didn't the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory?" 27 Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself. 28 They approached the village where they were going. He made as if he were going on farther; 29 but they held him back, saying, "Stay with us, for it's almost evening, and it's getting dark." So he went in to stay with them. 30 As he was reclining with them at the table, he took the matzah, made the b'rakhah, broke it and handed it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he became invisible to them. 32 They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn inside us as he spoke to us on the road, opening up the Tanakh to us?" 33 They got up at once, returned to Yerushalayim and found the Eleven gathered together with their friends, 34 saying, "It's true! The Lord has risen! Shim`on saw him!" 35 Then the two told what had happened on the road and how he had become known to them in the breaking of the matzah.  (Luke 24)

Yeshua took the matzah (bread), broke it, then their eyes were opened spiritually and their hearts burned within them, then they knew and believed in Yeshua, for He is the true Passover Lamb!  As often as you eat the bread and drink the wine; Do in Remembrance of Me.

19 In the evening that same day, the first day of the week, when the talmidim were gathered together behind locked doors out of fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came, stood in the middle and said, "Shalom aleikhem!" 20 Having greeted them, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim were overjoyed to see the Lord. 21 "Shalom aleikhem!" Yeshua repeated. "Just as the Father sent me, I myself am also sending you." 22 Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Ruach HaKodesh! 23 If you forgive someone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you hold them, they are held."  (John 20)

24 Now T'oma (the name means "twin"), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. 25 When the other talmidim told him, "We have seen the Lord," he replied, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe it." 26 A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T'oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, "Shalom aleikhem!" 27 Then he said to T'oma, "Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don't be lacking in trust, but have trust!" 28 T'oma answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Yeshua said to him, "Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!"  (John 20)

The world says, “Seeing is believing.” 

Yeshua says, “Believing is seeing!”

Yeshua lived 2000 years ago on planet earth for 33 years, with only 3 years in public ministry.  It all comes down to faith believing through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, which removes the veil of blindness and replaces it with God’s light of truth.

“Better to be (physically) blind and see with the heart than to have two good eyes and (spiritually) see nothing.” Helen Keller

"Worthy is the Lamb"

performed by Hillsong

1 After this, Yeshua appeared again to the talmidim at Lake Tiberias. Here is how it happened: 2 Shim`on Kefa and T'oma (his name means "twin") were together with Natan'el from Kanah in the Galil, the sons of Zavdai, and two other talmidim. 3 Shim`on Kefa said, "I'm going fishing." They said to him, "We're coming with you." They went and got into the boat, but that night they didn't catch anything. 4 However, just as day was breaking, Yeshua stood on shore, but the talmidim didn't know it was he. 5 He said to them,

"You don't have any fish, do you?" "No," they answered him. 6 He said to them, "Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some." So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn't haul it aboard. 7 The talmid Yeshua loved said to Kefa, "It's the Lord!" On hearing it was the Lord, Shim`on Kefa threw on his coat, because he was stripped for work, and plunged into the lake; 8 but the other talmidim followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; for they weren't far from shore, only about a hundred yards. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread. 10 Yeshua said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11 Shim`on Kefa went up and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153 of them; but even with so many, the net wasn't torn. 12 Yeshua said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the talmidim dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Yeshua came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Yeshua had appeared to the talmidim after being raised from the dead. 


The apostles were led by the Holy Spirit to go fishing; because of their obedience to Yeshua, they cast the net on the right side and had breakfast with the King! 


15 After breakfast, Yeshua said to Shim`on Kefa, "Shim`on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me more than these?" He replied, "Yes, Lord, you know I'm your friend." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Shim`on BarYochanan, do you love me?" He replied, "Yes, Lord, you know I'm your friend." He said to him, "Shepherd my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Shim`on BarYochanan, are you my friend?" Shim`on was hurt that he questioned him a third time: "Are you my friend?" So he replied, "Lord, you know everything! You know I'm your friend!" Yeshua said to him, "Feed my sheep! 18 Yes, indeed! I tell you, when you were younger, you put on your clothes and went where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Kefa would bring glory to God. Then Yeshua said to him, "Follow me!" 20 Kefa turned and saw the talmid Yeshua especially loved following behind, the one who had leaned against him at the supper and had asked, "Who is the one who is betraying you?" 21 On seeing him, Kefa said to Yeshua, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Yeshua said to him, "If I want him to stay on until I come, what is it to you? You, follow me!" 23 Therefore the word spread among the brothers that that talmid would not die. However, Yeshua didn't say he wouldn't die, but simply, "If I want him to stay on until I come, what is it to you?" 24 This one is the talmid who is testifying about these things and who has recorded them. And we know that his testimony is true. 25 But there are also many other things Yeshua did; and if they were all to be recorded, I don't think the whole world could contain the books that would have to be written!  (John 21)

The Hebrew meaning for the word love is: “I give.”  No one has or will ever give more than Yeshua.  His message of giving to the world was one of freedom from sin and redemption for eternity.  Yeshua’s message of truth and salvation is now the responsibility of His apostles to spread the good news of the gospel message to the entire world.  They cannot accomplish this mission themselves, but only with the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit will it be accomplished!

The #1 question is:  Do you love Me?  Do you love Me more than these (whomever or whatever is more important to you than your mission, the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:19-20.)  With God all things are possible! Amen and Amen!

3 For among the first things I passed on to you was what I also received, namely this: the Messiah died for our sins, in accordance with what the Tanakh says; 4 and He was buried; and He was raised on the third day, in accordance with what the Tanakh says; 5 and He was seen by Kefa, then by the Twelve; 6 and afterwards He was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Later He was seen by Ya'akov, then by all the emissaries; (1 Corinthians 15)

1 Dear Theophilos: In the first book, I (Luke) wrote about everything Yeshua set out to do and teach, 2 until the day when, after giving instructions through the Ruach HaKodesh to the emissaries whom he had chosen, he was taken up into heaven. 3 After his death he showed himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. During a period of forty days they saw him, and he spoke with them about the Kingdom of God. 4 At one of these gatherings, he instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to wait for

"what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. 5 For Yochanan used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh!" 6 When they were together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra'el?" 7 He answered, "You don't need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority.  (Acts 1)

16 So the eleven talmidim went to the hill in the Galil where Yeshua had told them to go. 17 When they saw Him, they prostrated themselves before Him; but some hesitated. 18 Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age." (Matthew 28)

The apostles were to baptize in the name of the Trinity: the Father God, the Son Yeshua Messiah Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They were to go make disciples, baptize and teach God’s Holy Word.  This mission has continued down through the centuries and it is now our responsibility to tell those who do not know Yeshua as personal Savior and Lord.  Yeshua paid the price for you and I.  The least we can do is witness of His love and forgiveness to others.

9 After saying this, He was taken up before their eyes; and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As they were staring into the sky after him, suddenly they saw two men dressed in white standing next to them. 11 The men said, "You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven."(Acts 1)

The greatest tragedy resulted in the greatest hope!

Hallelujah Chorus

by George Frederick Handel

30 In the presence of the talmidim Yeshua performed many other miracles that have not been recorded in this book. 31 But these, which have been recorded, are here so that you may trust that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust you may have life because of who He is.

(John 20)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him might be saved.  (John 3:16-17)

50 Let me say this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot share in the Kingdom of God, nor can something that decays share in what does not decay. 51 Look, I will tell you a secret - not all of us will die! But we will all be changed! 52 It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed. 53 For this material, which can decay, must be clothed with imperishability, this, which is mortal, must be clothed with immortality. 54 When what decays puts on imperishability and what is mortal puts on immortality, then this passage in the Tanakh will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 "Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! (1 Corinthians 15)

The greatest resurrection resulted in the greatest Victory!!
The war has been won! The Victor is Yeshua Messiah!!

"Alpha and Omega"

Performed by The Gaither Vocal Band