Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Ministry

Luke 24:36-48

The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest event known to mankind.

His crucifixion was witnessed by his friends and enemies.

People saw him die hanging on a cross; they also saw Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus bury his body in a borrowed tomb.

I Cor. 15:6, saying that the resurrected Jesus was seen by more than five hundred people at the same time.

The resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith.

Paul said if there be no resurrection, then our faith is in vain.

Well, Jesus didn’t just die and was resurrected and went back to heaven, but he entered into his post-resurrection ministry

Jesus’ ministry is in three phases: earthly ministry, post-resurrection ministry, and his heavenly ministry.

To live the best life and be like Christ is to be ministry-minded.

While the enemies of Jesus and His disciples were trying to figure out what had happened to his dead body. Jesus is engaged in the ministry of proving He is the same one who died, but now he is alive forever.

Jesus told John on Patmos in Rev. 1:18, “I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen and have the keys of hell and death.”

All eleven of His disciples believed he died, but they didn’t believe he rose from the dead as he said he would. Therefore, his post-resurrection ministry ensues.
 
  1. Jesus shows Himself alive- vs. 36-37
  2. Jesus proves that he was dead and now lives- vs. 38-40
  3. Fellowship and discipleship with the risen Savior- vs. 41-45
  4. Post resurrection assignment- vs. 46-47

Resurrection Sunday is a day of celebrating the perfect life of Jesus.

Resurrection Sunday is a day of celebrating the perfect death of Jesus.

Resurrection Sunday is a day of celebrating the perfect resurrection of Jesus.  
 
  1. Jesus shows Himself alive- vs. 36-37

“And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and saith unto them peace be unto you.”

  1. They did not believe Mary when she told Peter and John she had seen the master.
  2. Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry of showing Himself alive.
  3. Jesus stood in the midst of them; He did not come through the door or a window. He just appeared.
  • The same lifeless body that was buried is now standing.
  • The same body that did not make a noise as they took him down from the cross is now talking.
Listen, John is with them, this crowd who still does not believe that Jesus is risen as he said he would.

Vs. 37, “But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit.”
  • They could not believe their lying eyes!
 
  1. Jesus proves that he was dead and now lives- vs. 38-40

“Behold my hands and my feet that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have."

  1. The proof is the holes in his hands and feet.
  2. The proof is in touching me, for I am flesh and bones.
  • He didn’t say flesh and blood; there is no blood in a glorified body.
  • Lev. 17:11, “the life of the flesh is in the blood.”
  • In the glorified body, he took off mortality and put on immortality. He took off corruption and put on incorruption.
  1. Jesus provided physical, tangible proof that he was dead, but now he is alive.
  • They are still not fully believing that this is the resurrected Christ
 
  1. Fellowship and discipleship with the Savior- vs. 41-45

“And while they yet believe not for joy and wondered he said unto them have ye here any meat?”

  1. The disciples stunned disbelief, mixed with immense joy.
  • A too good to be true feeling.
  1. Their hesitation to fully believe, despite the overwhelming evidence, underscores their human struggles to accept that a dead body could live again.
  2. Jesus moves to another level of proof, since they think he is a spirit, he says do you have any meat?
Vs. 42, “And they gave him a piece of broiled fish and of a honeycomb." Vs. 43, "And he took it and did eat before them."  Jesus taught the disciples again.

Vs. 44-45: He taught them again that they might understand the Scriptures.
 
  1. The post-resurrection assignment- vs. 46-47

  “And he said unto them, thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.”

  1. It was necessary for Christ to suffer to fulfill Isaiah 53
  • Thus, it is written.
  1. It was necessary for Christ to suffer, bleed, and die to pay for the sins of the world.
  2. It was necessary for Christ to die and stay dead for three days and rise early on the third day.
You got the lesson, now here is the assignment!

Vs. 47, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Vs. 48, "And ye are witnesses of these things.”
  • Tell what you saw me do.
  • Tell about the 2 fish.
  • Tell them about the storm on the sea.
  • Tell them about blind Bartimaeus.
  • Tell them about the man by the pool of Bethesda
  • Tell them about Calvary

Tell the old story of a savior who came from glory, he sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. 

The assignment is to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody.

The assignment is evangelism!!!