I read a story last week, true story I think, of an old woman who was a believer, but age had begun to tell on her, especially on her mind and her memory. At one time, this elderly saint had much of the Bible committed to memory and she could recite it by heart. But as she got older, there was just one little portion of scripture that stayed with her. I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

But soon that part slipped from her mind too. She would be found sitting by herself quietly, repeating just a little portion of it over and over again. Folks would pass by, friends and family, and they'd hear her just sitting in her chair quietly saying, that which I have committed unto him, that which I have committed unto him. And then just before the Lord called her home, Her children saw her lips moving but couldn't hear what she was saying. And so one of them leaned over close to hear what her mother was saying. And this is what she was saying. Him. Him. Him. She had forgotten everything but him. And in remembering him, she remembered everything written in this book. Everything. Oh, I want you to know him.

I'm not the least bit interested in just getting you to be religious or to behave morally. I leave that to law and legislators to take care of. I'm not interested in trying to govern your life and get you to live different. That's not my purpose. I want you to know him. Oh, Lindsay. If folks know Him, that takes care of everything. That'll govern your life. That'll govern your life. Sometimes folks ask me, you know, don't you think you ought to do this, do that, upbraid folks, scold folks, do this or the other to get folks to do what they ought to. No, no, no, no, no. If ever you fall in love with Him, that'll take care of the other problems.

The problem with the religious world around us, the reason folks live like hell who profess to know Christ is because they don't know him. That's all. They just don't know him. I want you to know him, trust him, love him. Oh, may God enable us today to worship him.

The title of my message this morning is When Jesus Was Risen. And I'm going to talk to you about the resurrection, but Again, my purpose is not just to convince you of the doctrine of the resurrection. I don't know that'd do you any good at all. I don't know that'd be of any benefit to you. I want you to know Him who is the resurrection and the life. Now, that'll do you some good. That'll benefit your soul. I'm not interested just in convincing you of the historic fact of the resurrection, though certainly you must be convinced of that. I want you to know Him who is the resurrection. And I want you to know Him in the power of His resurrection. I want you to experience it, being yourselves raised from the dead by His grace unto eternal life in His heavenly kingdom. Now with that in mind, let's read our text in Mark chapter 14. Mark chapter 14, or chapter 16 rather, verses 9 through 14. Mark chapter 16 in verse 9.

Now, when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. She went and told them that had been with him as they mourned and wept. And they, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen of her, believed not. After that, he appeared in another form unto two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and toted unto the residue. Neither believed they them. Afterward, he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and abraded them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him, after he was risen.

Now, there are many, many things in these verses of scripture, but I want to call your attention today to three things that I believe stand out as the most glaring, evident truths set before us here. First, we have before us an undeniable fact, and then an unqualified forgiveness, and finally, an unparalleled freedom. The first thing that strikes me in this paragraph is the fact that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is an undeniable fact. That which is, in many respects, the most important, the most crucial, the most significant fact revealed in Holy Scripture has been, by God's good providence, set down as a fact of history which cannot be denied upon any grounds of credibility or honesty. This is important for this reason. If the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead could ever be denied, could ever be refuted, could ever be disproved, then everything else in the Bible, everything else with regard to our hope, everything else with regard to redemption and grace must crumble to absolute insignificance.

If there is no resurrection, then there is no redemption for sin, no atonement made. If there is no resurrection, then there is no forgiveness and no possibility of forgiveness. If there is no resurrection, then there is no salvation, no gospel, no hope for sinners. More than that, If there is no resurrection, then all who preach the free grace of God, salvation, eternal life, atonement and forgiveness in Jesus Christ are false witnesses of God. They are not men who are good servants of men, but rather they are deceivers of men and deceivers of men, souls and blasphemers of God. Moreover, if there is no resurrection, then we're yet in our sins. and we are of all men most miserable.

So this matter is a matter of great importance. Consequently, the Lord God arranged in his providence for the resurrection of Christ to be established as an undeniable fact of history. Believing facts will never save anyone, and yet having the facts set down in such a manner that they cannot be denied only serves to give buttress to our faith.

In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit tells us that on three occasions, our Lord Jesus appeared to his disciples. Now remember, Mark deals only with the things Mark deals with. He doesn't deal with things Matthew, Luke, and John deal with, so don't try to fit it all together as we read this one passage. Understand that Mark leaves out details included by others, others leave out details included by Mark. Fitting them all together, we have what's called the synoptic Gospels, that is, the Gospels that give us the same story of the redeeming work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mark tells us that the Lord Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, and then he speaks of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and then of his appearing to the apostles.

But actually, our Lord Jesus, during his 40 days between his resurrection and his ascension, appeared 12 times in human flesh. 12 times. 12 times in a most remarkable manner. I took the time this morning waiting on you folks to gather to look these up.

First, he appeared to Mary Magdalene, and then to the other women mentioned in Matthew 28. Then to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and then to the 11, and then to Peter. Then he appeared to the 11 again, Thomas being absent. And then he appeared to the 11 once more, Thomas being present. He appeared to them again at the Sea of Galilee. And then he appeared to 500 brethren at one time. 500 at one time. Now, somebody said, well, this is like a UFO sighting. Not at all. Those fellows are nuts. And not one of them tells the same story without comparing notes.

Here are men who saw the Lord Jesus, first a woman, then several women. Then he appears to his disciples. Then he appears to Peter. Then he appears to the disciples without Thomas. He appears to the disciples again with Thomas. He appears by the Sea of Galilee. He appears to 500 brethren at one time. Then he appeared to James. Then he appeared to his brethren in his ascension as he went up to heaven. Then he appeared to the Apostle Paul after he was risen and ascended again into heaven.

And they all told the same story without collusion. They all told the same thing without comparing notes. The Lord Jesus clearly was risen from the dead in a most remarkable, undeniable manner. Now, this is a great mercy to us. Our Lord Jesus made his resurrection from the dead to be a thoroughly established, undeniable fact of history. And this is a great mercy because, as I said before, everything we believe Everything revealed in the gospel stands or falls with the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection was the crowning proof of our Lord's having put away our sins by the sacrifice of himself. The resurrection was the seal of our redemption, the receipt given by God of our justification. And the resurrection is God's public declaration of his son's exaltation and glory. Listen to the importance given in the scriptures to this matter of the resurrection. We'll look at a few.

Turn to Romans chapter 1. Romans the first chapter. Now remember the Apostle Paul here in Romans is writing to Gentile believers primarily, Gentile believers in the citadel of Roman paganism, Roman superstition, heathen idolatry. He's writing to these Gentile believers concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he's writing to men and women he's never seen. Now, listen to what he says. Romans chapter one and verse one.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ. I love that. Who are you, Paul? Well, my name is Reverend Dr. Most Holy So-and-so. No, my name is Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ. That's all. Just like you. called to be an apostle. I didn't appoint myself to this work. I didn't place myself here. I didn't put myself here. God called me to be his messenger, separated unto the gospel.

I could spend a while talking about that. I wish I could cause every one of my brethren who preach, who call themselves preachers, who are in the work of the ministry but not in it, who dabble in it, who play at it. And I hope my brethren will hear me.

Separate yourselves to the gospel. Separate yourselves to the gospel. Put aside other work. Put aside other business. Put aside other cares. Let your whole mind and heart and life be consumed with this business of preaching Christ to be crucified. Nothing else. Father, there's no room for anything else. Everything else is a distraction. Everything.

Every now and then I have somebody come along and want me to get involved in business. You know, well, this'll be good for your family. This'll be good to take care of your wife. This'll be good. Merle Hart, if I'm God's servant, he'll take care of me and feed my family. And whatever fashion he's pleased to do it will be all right with me. You understand that? God's servants must be separated to the gospel. Nothing else.

The gospel which he promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures Concerning his son. This is what it's all about Jesus Christ our Lord This one who is God the Son made of the seed of the woman our seed of David according to the flesh he who is God the eternal God as a man was made in human flesh of the seed of David and Declared to be now. How do we know he's the Son of God? How do you know this?

Declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, look at it now, by the resurrection from the dead. There have been many who've been raised from the dead, yeah, but he's the only one who raised himself. He's declared to be the Son of God by the Spirit of holiness in that he raised himself from the dead.

Look in chapter four, verse 25. The Apostle Paul is declaring the glorious gospel doctrine of justification. He tells us how that Abraham and David believed God and were justified believing God. That righteousness was imputed to them because they believed God. Now in verse 25, he tells us the basis of that justification.

Who the Lord Jesus Christ was delivered for our sins. Delivered into the hands of divine vengeance and justice. Delivered to death and was raised again for our justification. Now, that doesn't mean, James, that his justification or his resurrection accomplished justification. No, no, no, no. That was done when he paid the debt. But when he was raised from the dead, God said, look here, boys, justification is done. God said, here's the receipt. The empty tomb declares that Christ has put away our sin. Look in Romans chapter 8 now, verse 34.

Who is he that condemns? Who's going to condemn one of God's people? Who's going to condemn one of God's elect? Who's going to condemn any sinner who believes on the Son of God? Why, here's the impossibility of that. It is Christ that died. There's no condemnation for my soul because Christ died. Yea, rather, that's risen again. I know there's no condemnation because he's risen again.

More than that, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Oh, now the scriptures place tremendous weight upon the resurrection. The multiplied witnesses of our Lord's resurrection are simply irrefutable. Our Lord Jesus lived for us, but he didn't just live for us. He died for us, but he didn't just die for us. He arose for us. He took His place at the right hand of the majesty on high and set yonder on the throne of the universe as the king of the universe in sovereign monarchy reigning over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him.

Down in Mexico and in other third world countries where Romanism dominates. In this country, you know, it puts on the facade of civility and tries to hide its idolatry. They still wear silly-looking costumes, but down there, in these third-world countries, it takes off its mask, and the idolatry, just the sheer idolatry of it is rampant. I go to some of the old, old shrines, and not because there's anything holy about them. They're just old.

That's all. Remarkable pieces of architecture. Go in there and you'll see these statues of Mary. You know, these big statues of Mary. They have to hide her. She's got some gold on her. Somebody's gonna steal their god. But they've got these big statues of Mary and crucifixes and crosses all over, you know. And they roll her out, these big statues of Mary. Well, then they got their ideas, pictures and statues of Christ as well. Almost always, he's laying over here in a casket. Almost always. Because they do not in any way recognize the validity of his finished work. And he's still in the castle as far as they're concerned.

Now let me tell you something. The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. And he sits yonder on the throne of glory with power to give eternal life to as many as God's given him. And that is an Deniable facts. You might say, well, nobody believes that but a Christian. I know that. Well, lots of folks believe it who think they're Christians, all right. But nobody believes that except someone who claims to believe this book. I know that. I understand that.

That's because men will willingly leap over facts and jump out of light into darkness rather than bow to the revelation of God in Scripture. It's a plain nose on your face, Merle. Christ rose from the dead. He rose from the dead. All right, now here's the second thing.

Our Lord's forgiveness of sin is an unqualified forgiveness. Certainly this is evident in the heart of every sinner who's experienced it. It is evident in many of his gracious displays of grace and forgiveness while he walked on this earth. One of my favorite stories in the Gospels is the story of that woman taken in adultery, taken in the very act.

The Pharisee said, now, we got the goods on her. We got the goods on her, and we know what the law says. We know what? Kill her. Kill her. Don't have any mercy on her. Kill her. And they thought they had the Lord Jesus trapped. They thought, well, if he says kill her, then we're going to declare he's not merciful as folks say he is. And if he says let her go, then we'll declare he's against the law. He's an antinomian. I've been there a few times. What you gonna do? What you gonna do?

The Lord Jesus first silenced her accusers. He dealt with the law first. He always does. That's the first thing he did for us, Bobby. He silenced our accuser. He dealt with the law first. And then he turns in mercy to that poor woman And he says, woman, where are your accusers? Who doth now condemn thee? She looked around her. She said, well, Lord, there's nobody here to condemn me now. He said, neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. That's forgiveness. That's forgiveness. Free forgiveness. What do I have to do? Nothing. How do I get this? I gave it to you. Just pray. Just pray forgiveness.

I recall once, several years ago, someone gave me a sermon. A fellow had preached on this text in John chapter 8, dealing with the adulterous woman. And I listened to it twice, because I couldn't believe it. I just, I thought, man, if ever a fellow's going to preach the gospel, he's going to get to it here. He was scared to death. Somebody was going to take that and run into licentiousness with it.

He said, now, the Lord's not here teaching. It's all right to commit adultery or fornication. and spent 20, 30 minutes talking about that, and I thought, well, I wonder what Nut thought he was. He talked about how the Lord was not here teaching, that the law had been abrogated, didn't mean anything, and knew he never once dealt with the issue of grace, never once talked about forgiveness.

I'm telling you, our Lord's forgiveness has manifest that, and it's manifest here as well. The Lord Jesus did not first appear to his mother, though she was still alive. He did not first appear to John the beloved, though he had recently spoken to him. Our Lord Jesus, the scripture tells us, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Isn't that interesting? Well, it's just like him. It's just like him. Here the Holy Spirit shows us by example what we're taught throughout the Scriptures.

Salvation is a matter of absolute, free, unconditional grace. Because salvation is in its entirety a matter of free grace, in absolutely no way conditioned or dependent upon or determined by us. then all who are saved by grace stand before God upon equal footing, and the footing upon which we stand is the righteousness of Jesus Christ the Lord, everybody.

There is, listen now, there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Would you be free of condemnation? I mean, free of condemnation, so that God doesn't condemn you, so that there is no word in Holy Scripture to give you any concern about condemnation, so that your own conscience, when you lay in bed at night and you anticipate drawing your last breath and you anticipate standing before God in judgment, your own conscience doesn't cause you any trouble. Would you like to be free from condemnation? believe on the Son of God. And right now, oh my soul, right now, there's no condemnation. Not now, not tomorrow, not forever.

No condemnation to them that believe on the Son of God. You see, in Christ, by the wondrous arrangement of God's grace, there's absolutely no difference between a saved virgin and a saved harlot. There's absolutely no difference between saved scholars and saved sots, saved Pharisees and saved pimps and pushers. In Christ, there's absolutely no difference between saved princes and saved paupers. You mean, preacher, if God saves a sinner, It doesn't matter whether he snatches him out of one of the dark cells over in North Point Training Center, or snatches him out of the gutter, or snatches her out of the brothel, or snatches her out of the convent. It doesn't matter.

You mean their stand before God in absolute righteousness? You got what I say. That's exactly right. That's what the scripture means when it says, God is no respecter of persons. That's exactly what it means. Folks quote that passage in Acts chapter 10 and try to say it talks about God denying God's election. Why? Nonsense. It means when God saves you, he doesn't save you because of something in you.

He saves you because of something in himself called grace. In Christ, all believers are equal. The last is first and the first is last. All our sins are all forgiven. We all possess perfect righteousness. We all have all the grace of God. Christ is all in all who believe. He's all. in all who believe.

All right, here's the third, fourth thing, I'm sorry, third thing. Our Lord Jesus is an unparalleled friend to sinners. Truly, he who is the friend to publicans and sinners is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. How manifestly evident this is in our Lord's dealing with his unbelieving disciples. Three times, three times in these few verses, six of them, Mark tells us how these disciples believed not.

The Lord appeared to Mary and she said, fellas, I've seen the Lord. They said, no, you haven't. He appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and they said, Lord, we've seen the Lord. He talked to us, by the way, and our hearts burned within us as he did. And they said, you're deluded. No, you didn't see him.

And Mark was included. At last, he appeared to the 11 apostles in person and upbraided them for their own village. He said, fellas, give me some wine here. Give me a piece of fish." He said, you're not looking at a ghost, you're looking at a man in human flesh.

You see, God's salvation is an irreversible act of grace. Our Lord comes to these disciples and he rebukes them and he chastens them. And I warn you, the chastening hand of God You fathers who take a paddle to your child, take that little girl and you love her, you know, because you love her, you're determined to make something out of her. You want her to grow up, be respectful and honorable. And she misbehaves and you take her back to the bedroom, you lay her across your lap and you say, now, honey, I love you. And then you start to blister that behind. And she thinks to herself, this is a strange way of showing me you love me. This is a strange way of showing me. And she doesn't know it. She has no idea. But it breaks your heart far more than it hurts her behind.

You have to do it. But you do it because you love her. Because you love her. Our God, because he loves his people, will one way or another drive us from the sin that we naturally love. He will chasten us. He does chasten us because of our unbelief. But listen. Listen. He never forsakes us. Never, never.

The Lord Jesus comes here to these unbelieving disciples and abrades them sharply. But he comes to abrade them because he loves them. Whom the Lord loveth, he chastens and scourgeth every soul in whom he receiveth. Something else here. Understand this. God's saints in this world are sinners still. The Holy Spirit shows us this so often. And he shows it to us with the surest proof of all by leading us to experience the bitterness of it in our souls. And the greatest believer there is horrible unbelief.

Merle, I'm guilty of so many things. And that which is the most obnoxious is the one thing I can tell you about publicly, and you won't think hardly of me for Isn't that amazing? Isn't that amazing? The most obnoxious thing in this world is my unbelief. Oh, God forgive me.

But he's left it that way for the time being so that we may understand salvation is God's doing, not ours. It's not even accomplished, Gary, by our faith. Our faith is the result of it. You understand that? It's the gift of God. He's left it that way, to teach us to look to Christ alone for everything. He's left it that way, to teach us to be gracious to each other. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. And this I know, that grace which saved me, is the grace that keeps me, and the grace that will present me, thoughtless before the presence of His glory, because Christ is the unparalleled pray it to this man's soul. Amen.