As we’re celebrating together on this Resurrection Sunday I’d like to share three perspectives of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The first perspective is of the two thieves - the two robbers who were crucified with Jesus.

After Jesus was arrested and tried and sentenced - the crowd preferring Barabbas demanding that Jesus be crucified - after Jesus is beaten - spat on - scourged - mocked - humiliated - rejected - a crown of twisted thorns shoved down on His head - there begins this procession out of Jerusalem towards the place called Golgotha - “The Place of a Skull.”

Joining that procession are the two thieves.  Each carrying his own cross.  Each sentenced to death by crucifixion.  With Jesus they endured that torturous journey out of the city.  As they stumbled along together they saw His weakened -  bloody - disfigured body.  They witnessed His abuse.

As nails were driven into Jesus’ hands and feet - they felt the searing pain of nails being driven into their own.  They were lifted up with Him - one on His left - one on His right.  As He was lifted up they heard the words, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20)  These thieves physically were crucified with Christ.  Like no others who have lived they alone know what it was like to hang there with Jesus. 

The thieves shared with Jesus His unique view of the crowd.  They looked into the eyes of those standing next to His cross - His beloved disciple John - the Marys - Mary His mother.  What would it be like to helplessly watch your son crucified?  With Jesus, they saw that pain in her eyes.

They saw the soldiers gambling for Jesus’ clothes.  They read the sign Pilate had put on the cross:  “Jesus the Nazarene - The King of the Jews.”

With Jesus they looked down on the staring crowds - the crowds mocking Him.  They heard the hate filled words of abuse from the rulers.  “He saved others.  Let Him save Himself - if this is the Christ of God - His Chosen One.  Let Him come down from the cross and we’ll believe in Him.”

And they mocked Him too.  These thieves - they were hurling the same words of abuse at Jesus.

But, some place in that experience something changed.  One of the thieves shouted at Jesus.  “You’re the Messiah.  Prove it.  Save Yourself.  And while you’re at it save us too!”

But the thief on the other side rebukes him.  “Don’t you fear God?  We’re guilty.  We’re getting what we deserve.  But this man didn’t do anything wrong.  He really is who He says He is - God in the flesh - the Messiah.  Jesus - remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

This thief - hanging there - realizing his great need - on the verge of death - condemned - this thief comes to understand who Jesus is and he trusts Him with His life and for eternity.

Do you remember Jesus’ words?  “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43)

From midday till 3:00 there was darkness.  At around 3:00 Jesus speaks the words, “Its finished.  Father into Your hands I commit My spirit.”  And breathes His last breath.

We don’t know when the thieves died.  Its probable that they watched Jesus take His last breath.  Perhaps they heard the words of the Roman centurion praising God.  Saw the crowds beating their chests.  Saw the looks of despair and fear on the disciples faces.

We do know that at least one of those thieves - in death closing his eyes on the scene of the crucifixion - opened them to see His Savior - the one he had trusted with his life.  (Matthew 27:15-56; Mark 15:6-39; Luke 23:13-49; John 18:28-19:30)

The second perspective is of the resurrection.

We know that the Romans and Jews took tremendous security precautions to protect against potential fraud and lies by the disciples of Jesus - to make sure that Jesus stayed dead and in the tomb.  Apparently He didn’t.

Early in the morning of the first day of the week the women arrive at the tomb.  They’ve come with spices and perfumes - ready to complete the preparation of Jesus’ body for burial.  When they arrive they find the stone rolled away from the tomb and the body of Jesus missing.

Two angels are there to state the obvious.  “He’s not here.  He has risen.  Why do you seek the living One among the dead?  Don’t you remember what He said to you in Galilee about His crucifixion and resurrection?”  The Bible tells us that at that point the women understood the reality of what Jesus had been trying to tell them about His death and resurrection.

A series of events unfold.  Jesus walking with disciples on the road to Emmaus - a village about 7 miles outside of Jerusalem - revealing Himself to them.  Jesus coming to the disciples where they’re hiding - cowering - mourning - hopeless.  Showing them that He’s alive.  Thomas having his doubts removed.  Encounters with the living God.

We know that thousands witnessed the resurrected Jesus.  The lives of the disciples were changed forever.  Closer to home - the reality of so many in this room - myself included - who will testify that we personally know Jesus Christ who is very much alive today. (Matthew 27:57-28:15; Mark 15:42-16:18; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-21:25; Acts 2:14-47)

It is important for us to understand that none of the proofs for the resurrection - the failed precautions of the Romans and Jews and the empty tomb being just one - none of the proofs or the encounters with Jesus - none of these are essential for the resurrection.  It didn’t take the overpowering of the Roman guard to allow Jesus to be resurrected.  At the moment God appointed - Jesus’ body wrapped in burial clothes - Jesus left those clothes behind to be found by the women.  He passed out of that tomb without ever needing the stone to be rolled away.  It was rolled away to let the disciples in.

As Jesus moves from encounter to encounter - its not about establishing evidence for what is an incontrovertible fact of history - its about application.  Bringing the reality of His resurrection into the lives of His disciples. 

The resurrection isn’t about crosses and tombs and flowers and pilgrimages and processions.  The resurrection is about the power of the living Jesus entering into the deepest need of our lives.  Our need to believe that He is alive is because we are people who are in great need of what Jesus offers to us.

The third perspective is of us.

Please turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15 - starting at verse 12.

Several years ago there was a banner that someone had hung on the side of highway 1 just at the exit from 280 heading into San Francisco.  You couldn’t miss it - going into the city.  It said, “Jesus to Speak in San Francisco.”

Seeing that banner I got to thinking.  What if Jesus really did physically come to San Francisco - and started speaking.  He and twelve other guys - dressed in average everyday clothes - hanging around with the people - sharing about the Kingdom of God.  Maybe doing a few miracles.  Would anyone notice?

When they filmed Star Trek IV - in San Francisco - the cast members were dressed up in their “Star Fleet Uniforms.”  Mr. Spock was made up with his Vulcan pointed ears.  No matter how strangely they were dressed - as they walked around San Francisco - no one noticed.  They blended right in.

Paul is writing to Christians in the city of Corinth - living in a city of great diversity - many cultures - different philosophies - religions.  They’d believed in the resurrection - what they’d heard about Jesus.  But - separated from the events in Jerusalem - like we are - separated by time and distance - they were struggling to understand how what they had believed related to their lives.

Some were saying that the dead really don’t physically come back from the grave.  Jesus was just another pointy eared guy - another interesting character - who taught some religious idea of spiritual resurrection - some kind of spiritual purification process.  As they were looking at the facts - looking at their lives - listening to the philosophies and ideas of those around them - they were beginning to wonder if maybe somehow they’d missed something.

In his letter to the Corinthians church - earlier here in chapter 15 - Paul has been restating many of the proofs for the resurrection.  In verse 12 he shifts emphasis to application.

1 Corinthians 15 - starting at verse 12:  Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Do you like pizza?  The resurrection is like pizza. Without the cheese and sausage and anchovies and stuff all it is is dough.  Both parts - dough and stuff - are essential.  If we say we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ then we have to believe in the implications of His resurrection for our lives.    

Verse 13:  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised - if resurrection is impossible then Jesus is dead - and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain - if Jesus is dead then we have no message.  There is no Good News

Verse 15:  Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise - we’re saying that God did something that God didn’t do - saying that Jesus is someone that He isn’t - God.  That’s blasphemy - if in fact the dead are not raised; for if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

Verse 17:  and if Christ has not be raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins - If there is no such thing as resurrection and Jesus is dead then all those doubts you have are pretty right on.  There is no forgiveness of sins.  Christianity is just another a religious system - a spiritual teaching - like all the others.

Verse 18 - if Christ is not raised - then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished - They’re dead.  Get over it.  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied - There is no eternal life.  All this is just wishful thinking - comforting religious happy thoughts - for the feeble minded.  Jesus was just another pointy eared guy. 

Verse 20:  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

Let’s repeat that together:  “But now Christ has been raised from the dead.”

That’s Paul’s application.  Do the dead live?  Is Jesus really alive?  What can Jesus offer me?  “But now Christ has been raised from the dead.” 

Look back with me at these verses - and read what Paul writes without all the questions.  His application is really clear that way.

Since Jesus Christ is resurrected from the dead everything that we’ve told you about God and life with God and His power to transform and heal our lives is true.  We really are speaking for God - testifying of what God has done.  Our faith isn’t some vain worthless collection of spiritual happy thoughts.

When you put your trust in Jesus as the Savior your sins really are forgiven.  Your relationship with God really is restored.  Those who have died trusting in Jesus are not dead.  People really do come back from the grave.  He lives.  They live.  You’ll live.  We have hope.  There is eternal life.  Don’t pity us - join us!

We like noise.  Have you ever been stopped at a stop light and your car is vibrating because of the stereo in the guys car next to you?  We have appliances that beep at us.  Cell phones that play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony - loudly - to get our attention.

When we turn the computer on what happens?  There’s a little light that comes on and a comforting hum to let us know it started.  Wouldn’t you get nervous if you didn’t see that light and hear the hum?

If things don’t make noise or have lights - or vibrate or hum or explode - we wonder if they’re working properly.  Is the power on?  Is something broken?

God demonstrates the power of Jesus’ resurrection through the empty tomb - through the rolled away stone - through the facts of the resurrection.  Jesus demonstrated it to His disciples with each encounter.  We need those images.  We relate to them.  They connect with our lives.

But His power is there even without all the bells and whistles.

What we need to believe and trust God for is not the facts and the evidence - but the reality that they represent.  The thief on the cross didn’t believe because he saw an empty tomb.  He believed in Jesus as the Messiah because the Man being crucified next to him was the answer to the deepest needs of his now short life.  He grabbed on to the power - the resurrection power - that God desires to apply to the deepest needs of our lives.

It would be so easy for us to come and get caught up in another Resurrection Sunday celebration and miss out on the life transforming power that Jesus is offering to us.

God and you know what your deepest needs are.  Where you struggle - fear - uncertainty - despair - anger - acceptance.  Maybe this morning your deepest need is forgiveness of sin.  Restoring your relationship with God.

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.  He is the means by which our sins are forgiven.  He has the power to transform and heal our lives.  Like the thief on the cross put your life in His hands.  Trust Him.

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