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Nailprints of the Risen Lord He is Risen, Part 3 The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity. It proves that Jesus Christ is GOD manifest in the flesh, Romans 1:4. The resurrection promises that we too may live as we live IN HIM, and it promises that we may be justified through Jesus Christ, Rom.4:24 and that he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Finally, the resurrection proves that Jesus is the JUDGE who is Coming again. Yes, we can be assured that because Jesus is risen, JUDGMENT is coming. Because Jesus is risen you can be assured of this: you will face Him someday in the final judgment, Acts 17:31. When Jesus was risen on that first day, he made five separate appearances to his followers on that first day: 1. To Mary, John 20:11-18 2. To the other women, Matt.28:9,10 3. To the repentant Peter, Luke 24:34 4. To the Depressed Duo on the Emmaus Road, Luke 24:18-35 5. To the disciples at this first Sunday evening service, John 20:19-23 The other five appearances that the Scripture references are: 6. His appearance to Doubting Thomas 7. His appearance to the Disciples while fishing, John 21 8. His appearance to the 500, 1 Cor.15:6 9. His appearance to James, 10. His final appearance as He gives the Great Commission, Acts 1:8 In this appearance, Jesus shows his nailprints in his hands and side to Thomas. These are the perpetual and eternal ensigns that He is our Redeemer, Savior, and Lamb who takes away all of our sins. Mr. Spurgeon calls them the “perpetual ensigns of his finished work.” Some have noticed that a sand dollar can remind us of Jesus. It has five slits that remind us of the 5 wounds that Jesus received on Calvary. On the front is a picture of the Resurrection Day Lilly. When the shell is broken open, 5 doves of peace come out. On the back is an outline of the Poinsetta plant, which is a flower popular at the season of Christ’s birth! 1. The nail prints of the risen Lord exhibit: Thomas says, I will not believe! What happens when a believer says, I will not believe? Is this possible? Thomas had been willing to die for the testimony of Jesus Christ before the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:16). Thomas also asked the question that led to Jesus making one of his most famous statements. It was Thomas who asked, Lord we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus answered and saith unto him, I am the way the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:5,6) “WE are all of us apt to fall into a wrong state of heart, not because we are unconverted, nor yet because we are false to Christ, but simply because of our natural infirmity. So long as we are in this body, exposed to trial and temptation, we shall be prone to start aside like a broken bow. Thomas was a true-hearted follower of Jesus. He loved his Master.” (Spurgeon, p.714, A Memorable Interview) The nailprints demonstrate proof of His: A. Bodily Resurrection Yes, the nailprints show that Jesus really died and then really arose bodily from the grave. As I said last week, that Jesus did possess flesh in His resurrection body, but He also possessed material properties very different from His former condition. His body was of a physical nature, but it was also a spiritual body that was fit for heaven and eternity in glory. After His resurrection, he is said to have “appeared,” “to have showed himself,” as if visibility and the ordinary properties of a body were assumed by him at will. I quote from T.V. Moore in The Last Days of Jesus (p.69-70), “These facts seem to indicate that the resurrection-body of our Lord possessed material properties very different from its former condition, that it was naturally invisible and intangible, though material, and became visible and tangible as before, only be a positive volition.” I find that quote true, and also highly interesting, for we, too will have a glorified, resurrected body some day and it is fascinating to contemplate the kind of body that we too shall possess. Paul tells us it is a spiritual body for it will be made for eternity, but there will be a visible and tangible quality about it. B. Eternal Compassion The wounds that Jesus bears are His “love wounds.” I love the Fanny Crosby song, who was blind, that we sang this morning, Those wounds show that He loved us and gave His life for us. C. Public Conquest These nailprints are VICTORY MARKS. Jesus went head to head with Satan there on the cross, and made an open show of the wicked one, and triumphed over him. Col.2:15, And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. He was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8. It was a public display of conquering sin on the cross of calvary. Oh glorious victory, that Jesus died for me and then conquered the grave for me! He is risen again for our justification! The next time you are tempted to sin, turn to the Savior who bears the marks of suffering in his hands, feet, and side. A look at the wounded Savior can fill you with a desire to live holy as He is holy, and the road of happiness is the pathway of holiness. He won the victory on the cross, yes, he destroyed the works of the devil. D. Amazing Condescension Marks of HUMILITY! “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and becamse obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8 Because Jesus has died and risen again, He demonstrates that He can show His presence to those who believe in Him. Have you ever sensed the very real presence of Jesus Christ? 2. The nail prints of the risen Lord enable us to: Listen to Thomas’ response to the other disciples. We have seen the Lord! What a marvelous word. Should Thomas not trust these other men? What reason did they have to lie or fabricate truth? Yet Thomas said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25) Thomas trusted his ten fingers more than the testimony of the ten disciples! This demonstrates, however, that the disciples were very much INDIVIDUALS. They did not follow one another blindly. They did not say, “Oh that is what Peter says, or what John says, so I will follow him even if I am not so sure.” I will tell you that I like Thomas’ individualism. All of the Apostles were rugged individuals that had to come to the place of faith INDIVIDUALLY in the crucified and risen Lord. There is a little bit of Thomas in each of us. He was saved, and he had followed the Lord. He demands a sign of the Lord’s resurrection. He firmly states, I will not believe unless I shall see and touch for myself! A. What is Doubt? Confusion at a fork in the road: It carries the idea of uncertainty. Jesus said to Peter, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt.14:31) The Greek word (distazo) means to stand in two ways. Doubt leads to sinking in our circumstances. Doubt is to be up in the air: Luke 12:29, And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. The KJV translators put “live not in careful suspense” in the marginal note. You have heard the expression, UP IN THE AIR. Spiritually speaking, we are not to be UP IN THE AIR. We can be grounded in the truth because we are grounded in Jesus! Doubt is being tossed like a wave in the wind. Doubt also means to be perplexed. Doubt carries the idea of confusion, bewilderment, baffled, or stumped. James gives us a word picture of doubt when he says that he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1:6) What happens when the faith of a believer is so challenged? B. Why do believers doubt? We doubt when we forsake the fellowship of God’s people. John 20:24, But Thomas, one of the 12, was not with them when Jesus came. Look what Thomas missed! He missed seeing Jesus risen from the dead! He missed hearing the word of PEACE to his fearful heart. He missed the JOY that would have assured his doubting mind. He missed the COMMISSION that Jesus gave to the other disciples. He missed the receiving of the Holy Ghost to strengthen him in the midst of his doubt. When you do not assemble with the people of God when you are perfectly able to, you are opening yourself up to doubt. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb.10:22. We doubt when we seek first the “Kingdom of Men.” Luke 12:29, And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. People doubt because they FEED their doubts. Here is how to feed your doubts: remove yourself from God’s Word and God’s House. Break God’s Word and sin, trust in your own imaginations, indulge your flesh, and listen to the world around you. This world will feed your doubt and not your faith. This world system will seek to tear down what you believe: Hollywood is no friend of Bible believing Christians. TV, and pretty much the whole entertainment industry is not geared to strengthen and encourage your faith. The reason for these kinds of doubts then is the seeking of material things alone. Seeking material things alone lends itself to soul starvation. Many people put all their attention on what they will wear, eat, drive, and live in. There is more to life than the physical! We doubt when we TAKE OUR EYES off Jesus and Sink in the circumstances like Peter, Matt. 14:31, O ye of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Those are times we are tempted to doubt, when the waves of life seem like they will destroy us. Do your difficulties have no solution? Do your temptations have no end? Do your questions have no answer? B. How did Jesus deal with the doubt of Thomas? Jesus had great patience! John 20:26,27. Jesus deals with Thomas’ doubt with great patience. Jesus showed himself again SUDDENLY, MIRACULOUSLY, and CENTRALLY. Jesus stood again in the midst and said, Peace be unto you. Jesus dealt with Thomas’ doubt by SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THOMAS. He said TO THOMAS! Jesus will deal with your doubt as well to speak directly and lovingly to you. Jesus also SPOKE AUTHORITATIVELY to Thomas. Is Jesus not patient to deal with us in our doubts? Jesus knows our doubt and will meet our doubt head on. 1. Reach…2. behold…3. reach…4. thrust…5. be not…unbelieving, but believing! The nailprints of the risen Lord were a cure for Thomas’ doubt. What a tonic, what a medicine for our doubt! In our day, it seems there is a drug for everything, but there is no anti-biotic or pharmaceutical product to cure doubt. Jesus does not condemn or even criticize Thomas, he allows Thomas’ demands to be met. He meets Thomas’ demand and then commands Thomas to believe. What about us? Beloved, we have the Bible. Let us not seek signs or wonders. What about the shroud of Turin? Is it the clothe that Jesus was wrapped up in? I care not. That shroud of turin does not fortify my faith. My faith is strengthened by the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We have a more sure word of prophecy in the Bible than what we could ever see with our eyes or touch with our hands. We have the testimony of the Holy Spirit! We have the testimony of martyred apostles. This book was written by men who laid down their lives for what they believed about God! Read the Bible and obey its commands, that is the best cure for doubt! 3. The nail prints of the risen Lord energize us to: John 20:28, And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. What could make a man believe in Jesus? His wounds in his hands, feet, and side. A. What a WORSHIPFUL CONFESSION! Thomas was not making a doctrinal statement, although we can derive true doctrine from his statement. It is a statement of wonder and worship. Thomas was obviously not taking the Lord’s name in vain, for Jesus would not have accepted his words. Thomas was Jewish and he knew that there was one God. If Thomas was mistaken, Jesus being Jewish, would have corrected him if Jesus really loved Thomas. Thomas was not loosely using God’s name, as I hear many do: OH my God, My Lord…No, this was not an outburst of SURPRISE, but of true worship. It was not an outburst of IRREVERENCE, but of true worship. It was not an outburst of BLASPHEMY, but of true worship of the One True God! IT was not an outcry of CONFUSION, but of understanding Worship. Thomas now believes, and Jesus says so, in verse 29, Thomas because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed… What a WONDERFUL CONFESSION! My Lord and My God. Have you discovered that Jesus is Lord and God? B. What a PERSONAL CONFESSION! “MY… MY!” Is Jesus YOUR Lord and YOUR God? Salvation is a very personal decision. No one can save you but God, and the way you are saved is YOU must believe, and repent, and confess with YOUR mouth that Jesus is LORD. C. What a NECESSARY CONFESSION! Romans 10:9,10 That if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb as it had been slain…and all those around the throne said, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing! Yes, Jesus in his exaltation in the midst of the throne, still wears the trophies of his suffering, the emblems of his love, the nailprints in his hands and feet, and the spear print in his side. And all of heaven worships him that was slain! All of these things were written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. Look at the blessing of believing! Jesus said that “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) |