Foundation scriptures:

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:1-12 KJV

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Matthew 28:1-15 KJV

1. It is no coincidence that this year is referred to as 2016 A.D.
2. Our calendar was changed to begin again, around the time of Jesus’ birth.
3. A.D. – anno Domini – means, “In the year of our Lord.”
4. B.C – Before Christ.
5. Not Mohamed, Confucius, or Buddha.
6. News media reports that today (Resurrection Sunday) is the day Christians “allege” that Christ rose from the dead.
7. It is a historical fact that Jesus rose from the dead.
8. Matthew 28:11-15
9. The soldiers felt the earthquake and saw the angel of the Lord rolling back the stone, but they were paid to lie and say that the disciples stole His body.
10. Jesus – the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. (Revelations 13:8)

2. He is the Christ of the Empty Cross, the Empty Tomb, and the Occupied Throne.
3. Philippians 2:5-11

3. Three supernatural things about Jesus that sets Him apart from all the rest.
4. His birth – born of a virgin.
5. Matthew 1:23 KJV – “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (see also Isaiah 7:14)
6. His death – He took upon Himself the sin of the whole world and also our sickness and disease.
7. His resurrection – The grave could not hold Him and death couldn’t keep Him.

4. What does this mean for us today?
5. We don’t have to die – the price has been paid.
6. We can have eternal life. John 10:10
7. Romans 8:11 KJV – “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
8. We are now the family of God.
9. His grace, mercy, and forgiveness, are offered and available to ALL (who believe).

5. We must tell the world.
6. He is risen.

b. He is alive.