Easter: What's Next?
- Skip Heitzig
- Mar 30, 2023
- 7 min read
When Jesus was crucified, the disciples wondered what was next. The Man they had followed for over three years, the Man they believed would save Israel and the world, had died a horrible death. They scattered and hid, grief-stricken and frightened, wondering if they too would be targeted. But then, three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave!
MESSAGE SUMMARY
SERIES:
Easter Messages
MESSAGE:
Easter Sunrise Service 2016 -
What's Next?
Skip Heitzig
SPEAKER:
SCRIPTURE:
John 16:16-33
When Jesus was crucified, the disciples wondered what was next. The Man they had followed for over
three years, the Man they believed would save Israel and the world, had died a horrible death. They
scattered and hid, grief-stricken and frightened, wondering if they too would be targeted. But then,
three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave—He was alive! In this special Easter
message, we see what's next for us as we examine three benefits the resurrection gives believers
today.
STUDY GUIDE
Connect Group Recap: March 27, 2016
Speaker: Skip Heitzig
Teaching: "What's Next?"
Text: John 16:16-33
Path
With the terrorist attacks in Paris, San Bernardino, and most recently, Brussels, many people want to
know what's next for the world. In this Easter message, Pastor Skip taught what came next after the
crucifixion and burial of Christ: the resurrection---Jesus is alive! Jesus always knew what would come
next, and we look at three benefits for those who receive Him as Lord and Savior:
I.
II.
III.
Living Hope (vv. 16-20)
Lasting Joy (vv. 21-23)
Lingering Peace (vv. 31-33)
Points
Living Hope (vv. 16-20)
• The disciples were confused when Jesus said, "You will not see Me" (v. 16). Their
confusion turned to comfort when Jesus pointed out that their sorrow would turn into
joy (see v. 20).
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• Jesus changed Peter's life, transforming him from a fisherman to a fisher of men. When
Jesus was crucified, Peter's hopes were crushed. But when Jesus showed Himself alive,
hope made its debut, causing Peter to write, "[God] has given us new birth into a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3, NIV).
• Probe: Discuss your conversion to Christ. How did Christ take you from spiritual death
and doubt to a living hope?
Lasting Joy (vv. 21-23)
• In John 16:21, Jesus used the example of a baby being born as metaphor for the
resurrection: from pain to proclamation, as grief gives way to gladness.
• Two thousand years ago, the followers of Jesus asked, "What's next?" after Jesus was
crucified and buried. The disciples were concerned and afraid. Yet something crucial
happened: Jesus rose from the dead, bringing great joy. Joy is a byproduct of our
relationship with God.
• Probe: Take a moment to compare a physical birth to a spiritual birth. What are their
similarities and differences? Why do you think Jesus used the metaphor of birth to
convey the truth of salvation both in this text (resurrection) and in John 3:7 (spiritual
birth)?
Lingering Peace (vv. 31-33)
• Jesus told the disciples to "be of good cheer" (v. 33), because He was in control; He
knew the resurrection would come from the debris of death.
• Jesus prepared His disciples for what was next: pain, sorrow, and confusion---but also
hope, joy, and peace. His crucifixion resulted in the first three, but His resurrection
provided the latter.
• How do we know Jesus really rose from the dead?
o Evidence for the resurrection:
§ Fulfilled prophecy: Jesus predicted His death on several occasions (see
Mark 8:31; John 2:19).
§ Eyewitness accounts: these historical accounts include Roman (Tacitus),
Jewish (Josephus), and Christian testimonies (the Gospels).
§ Personal testimony: the changed lives of Jesus' followers
• Probe: Why is evidence important to demonstrate the reality of the resurrection? As in
any legal trial, evidence is needed to support a claim. Discuss a few of the claims, and if
needed, take a look at the evidence provided by Josh McDowell:
Practice
Connect Up: Paul stated, "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is
also empty" (1 Corinthians 15:14). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heartbeat of the body
of Christ; it is the reason we are Christians. Discuss the importance of the resurrection in your
relationship with God. How does the reality of the resurrection affect your daily walk with
Christ?
Connect In: Paul further encouraged us as believers, saying that we "may know [Jesus] and
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the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10). How
does Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection bring fellowship with other believers?
Connect Out: Because there is power in Jesus' resurrection, what is the believer's role in
proclaiming that power? Think about this: because of the resurrection, the gospel has changed
the world by the Holy Spirit through His body---you and me. Discuss ways you can share the
gospel with your family, friends, and neighbors. Take a moment to pray for the nonbelievers
you know.
DETAILED NOTES
I.
II.
Introduction
A.
People are asking, "What's next?" now more than ever before
1.
People ask this question every time there is a catastrophic event
2.
3.
B.
2,000 years ago, there was a catastrophic event outside the city walls of
Jerusalem
a.
b.
Jesus Christ was executed
The disciples hid behind locked doors because they feared they
would be arrested next
Even Jesus' enemies wondered what was next
a.
They asked for a special guard to be placed outside Jesus' tomb
b.
They did not want anyone to steal the body (see Matthew 27:64)
Today, we can answer the question they asked 2,000 years ago
1.
Thousands of people who claimed to know Jesus Christ flooded
Jerusalem
2.
3.
4.
5.
C.
Saul of Tarsus was converted
a.
He spread the gospel to the north and east
b.
By the end of the first century, Christianity spread through the
entire Roman Empire
By the fourth century, Christianity became the official religion of the
Roman Empire
2,000 years after Christ's death, two billion people claim to be adherents
of Jesus Christ
Massive expansion
During the Last Supper, Jesus sat with His disciples, and He knew what was going
to happen next
1.
2.
3.
Jesus would be arrested
a.
He would go through a mock trial
b.
c.
He would be sentenced to death
He would die
Jesus always knew what was next
a.
He knew Judas would betray Him
b.
c.
He knew Peter would deny Him
He knew the disciples would run away and be confused
He also knew what the future held for them
Living Hope (vv. 16-20)
A.
The disciples did not understand what Jesus told them
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1.
Even the closest, most intimate followers of Jesus Christ did not know
what He was talking about
2.
B.
John 14:1-5
Jesus was talking about His upcoming death and resurrection
1.
Their hopes died when their Savior died
2.
3.
C.
Their hopes were raised back to life when Jesus their Savior was
resurrected
1 Peter 1:3
Before they met Jesus, the disciples' days were very routine
1.
Anything can become boring if you do it every day
2.
D.
One day, Jesus stepped into their lives and changed everything
Some of His disciples met Him on the road to Emmaus (see Luke 24:13-21)
1.
He asked why they were so sad
2.
3.
E.
They did not realize who they were talking to and said they had hoped
Jesus was the one to redeem Israel
Past-tense hope
When Jesus showed Himself alive, their hope was reignited and became a living
hope
1.
2.
F.
All Jesus' promises were true
Anything was possible if the one who said He would die and rise again,
died and rose again
Some of Jesus' promises did not make any sense until He was raised from the
dead
1.
2.
III.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he
may die, he shall live" (John 11:25)
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me" (John 14:6)
Lasting Joy (vv. 21-23)
A.
When Jesus died on the cross, it was the disciples' worst nightmare
1.
It was the saddest day of their lives
2.
3.
B.
They thought they would never be happy again
There was no joy when Jesus was laying in the tomb
Those who loved Jesus were overjoyed when they discovered He was risen
1.
When He appeared to the disciples in the upper room, they rejoiced (see
John 20:20)
2.
C.
The women left the empty tomb with fear and great joy (see Matthew
28:8)
Jesus illustrated this by comparing it to having a baby
1.
Painful, sorrowful, distressing, all-consuming
2.
D.
Once you hear the first cry of the baby, your agony is eclipsed by ecstasy
God turns darkness into joy
1.
There is a risen, living Christ alive today who loves you
2.
3.
E.
Joy is an inward condition of a soul that's fixed on God
A by-product of a relationship with God
"If you have no joy in your religion, there's a leak in your Christianity
somewhere" —Billy Sunday
1.
If you have no joy in your life, it says something about your view of God
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2.
It is an admission that you don't believe God takes care of you
3.
IV.
Paul instructed the Philippians to "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Philippians
4:4)
a.
b.
He wrote this while he was sitting in prison
He thought he would be executed for his faith
Lingering Peace (vv. 31-33)
A.
Jesus told the disciples that they would be hopeless and full of sorrow and that
they would run away
B.
C.
D.
V.
How could they have peace?
1.
It showed them He was in control
2.
3.
He knew what was next, even though they didn't
Nothing catches God off guard
What's next for the followers of Christ?
1.
Pain, sorrow, and confusion
2.
Hope, joy, and peace because of the life, death, and resurrection of
Christ
How did they know He had risen from the dead?
1.
Jesus predicted His death and resurrection
2.
3.
Closing
A.
There were eyewitness accounts who saw Him after the resurrection
The lives of Jesus' followers were changed
a.
They changed from cowards to people with confidence
b.
They were willing to die for their faith
What's next for you?
B.
C.
Death does not end the existence of anyone
1.
Everyone will live forever, either in hell or in heaven
2.
Physical form
Beyond living hope, lasting joy, and lingering peace, you can have heaven
Figures referenced: Billy Sunday
Cross references: Matthew 27:64; 28:8; Luke 24:13-21; John 11:25; 14:1-6; 20:20; Philippians
4:4; 1 Peter 1:3
Topic: Easter
Keywords: catastrophe, disciples, Last Supper, hope, joy, peace, future, resurrection, living
hope, promises, rejoice, sorrow, the cross, tomb, faith, hell, heaven
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