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Apr 5, 2015

“No Idle Tale”

Luke 24:1-12

 This is No Idle Tale  . . .

 

·         The empty tomb.

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus . . . But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”  (Luke 24:1-3, 12)

o   The remains of Mohammad are in a tomb enshrined.

o   The remains of Buddha, although he was cremated, are in a tomb enshrined.

o   But the tomb of Jesus is empty.

§  An empty tomb is the greatest evidence of a risen Savior.

 

·         The eyewitnesses.  (1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Acts 1:1-5)

o   Most laid down their life for the gospel.

·         Peter—crucified on a cross upside down.

·         James, son of Zebedee—beheaded.

·         John—boiled in a cauldron of oil; survived and then exiled.

·         Andrew—crucified on a cross.

·         Philip—was scourged, thrown into prison, and crucified.

·         Bartholomew—cruelly beaten then crucified.

·         Matthew—killed with a weapon called a halberd.

·         Thomas—killed by being impaled by a spear.

·         James, son of Alphaeus—beaten and then stoned.

·         Thaddeus (Jude)—crucified.

·         Simon (the Zealot)—crucified.

·         Matthias—stoned in Jerusalem then beheaded.

·         Paul—beheaded.

 

·         The written account.

o   Four gospel writers with consistent accounts.

 

·         The resonant longing in your soul.

“Did our hearts not burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”  Luke 24:32

 

 

A True Story With Great News . . .

 

1.       Because this is no idle tale, the penalty for our sin has been paid.

Implication:  This affects me because I am a sinner in need of forgiveness.  (Romans 3:23)

 

2.      Because this is no idle tale, death has been conquered.

·         Death is a harsh reality but it does not have the final say.

·         The empty tomb proclaims that Jesus has the final say, not death.

 

Implication:  This affects me because death is a reality I cannot escape. (Romans 6:23)

               

3.       Because this is no idle tale, life is made possible by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Implication:  This affects me because what I need most is life now and forever.  (John 3:16)

 

Do I Believe? . . .

Is His story written on my heart and evidenced by my life?