AREN'T YOU GLAD... HE LIVES !                Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  4-12-98 A.M.         	 Mark 16:1-8     		A:\MK16-1 
	WOW !! Just think of it THE RESURRECTION.... HE LIVES !!  The most
      important teaching of the Christian Faith.  If it is not true... 
      then Christianity is simply an empty shell... and holds no hope at
      all.  But He did come out of that sealed tomb... Victorious over 
      death and hell. How can we know...and what does it mean for us today? 
I.  THE PROOFS of THE RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST... 
  A. Internal Evidence... What the Bible Says... 
    1. The Claims of Jesus.. Jn.2:18,19; Mt.20:17-19; Mk.8:31; Lu.18:32 
	- They are either True... or False.. He is either a liar.. or Who
        He claims to be... there is no middle ground... 
    2. The Precautions of the Officials.. Mt.27:62.. 
	- remembered His claims  63 
	- secured the tomb  64 
	- paid the soldiers to tell a different story.. 
    3. The Events at the Tomb... the earthquake, angels' announcement,
	 effect on the guards...(fear, shook, passed out...) Mt.28:2-4 
    4. The "Body" Is Gone... 
      - "He is not here, He is risen as He said..."  Mt.28:6; Mk.16:6 
	- "They found not the body of the Lord Jesus"  Lu.24:2 
	- The grave clothes were there... but not the body. 
    5. The Doubts of His Followers...
	- The ladies went to the tomb.. to finish the preparation Mk.16:1
	- They were wondering how to roll the stone away... Mk.16:3 
	- There was fear at the tomb.. Mt.28:5 (afraid, terrified, doubt,
        unbelief, troubled, etc)
	- They reported to the disciples...  Lu.24:9,10 
	  - "their words seemed as idle tales and they believed them not" 
	  - Peter ran to the tomb.. wondering in himself.. Lu.24:12 
	- Then Mary Magdalene.. Jn.20:2.. "they have taken the Lord out of
        the tomb" 
	- They "knew not the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead" 
        Jn.20:9 
	- The two on the Emmaus Road.. Lu.24:25-27.. "O fools and slow of 
        heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.." 
	- When they told the rest... they did not believe.. Mk.16:12,13 
	- The "unbelief" of Thomas.. Jn.20:25
**The Disciples' Belief in the Resurrection came SLOWLY!! 
    6. The Visible Appearances of The Risen Lord.. 
	- To Mary Magdalene.. Mk.16:9; Jn.20:11-18 
	- To Other Women.. Mt.28:9,10
      - To the Two on the Emmaus Road.. Lu.24:13-32; Mk.16:12,13
 	- To Cephas.. Peter..  1 Cor.15:5 
	- To The Eleven.. Mk.16:14.. and upbraided them with their unbelief
        and hardness of heart. 
	  - He offered tangible proof.. Lu.24:39-40 
	  - "behold my hands and my feet... " He was not just a "spirit" 
	  - He ate broiled fish and honey..
	- To Thomas, the next week.. Jn.20:26 
	- To The Disciples in Galilee... Mt.28:16-20
	- To The Crowd of More than 500 brethren at once.. 1Cor.15:6 
	- To James and then all of the apostles... 1Cor.15:7 
	- To the Seven on a "fishing trip"  Jn.21:1-14
	- To The Disciples Just before He ascended.. Mk.16:19,20; Lu.24:50;
        Acts 1:9-12 
  B. The External Evidence.. 
    1. The Change in the lives of those early believers 
    2. The Change in the lives of all who trust and obey 
II. THE PURPOSE of THE RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST.. 
  A. His Statements Were Verified... 
    1. The Old Testament Prophecies were fulfilled 
    2. The New Testament Promises Were Kept... 
  B. His Sacrifice Was Accepted by The Father.. Ro.1:2-4 
  C. His Salvation Was Complete...  Ro.4:25; 1Pet.1:3 

III.  THE PROMISE of THE RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST.. 
  A. Because He Lives.. there is Victory for Believers NOW  1Cor.15:57 
     - Over sin, Over self, Over death, Over the grave... etc. 
  B. Because He Lives.. there is Bright Hope for Believers THEN.. 
    1. Christ In You... the only Hope of Glory... Col.1:27; 3:4 
    2. Christ Glorified... We shall be like Him... 1Jn.3:2 
WILL YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LIVING LORD OF GLORY TODAY....!! 
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR NEED OF HIS SALVATION
BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART.. HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD
CONFESS HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR