Take Jesus Home by Archbishop Benson Idahosa: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Resurrection That Demands Belief

Every Easter period I personally ask God to speak to me about why God sent his Son. Christmas is the most celebrated event in mankind's history — sinners and saints celebrate Christmas. But Easter is one of the most historical events that has no substitute on earth. The Bible says without resurrection our faith is in vain.

Two scriptures govern this message. The first is Luke 24:1-12. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. They entered and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. Two men stood by them in shining garments and said, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen."

Those who know that Christ died and rose are too few. That is why the gospel must be proclaimed wherever we are.

The Evidence in the Empty Tomb

Then arose Peter and ran unto the sepulchre and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes lying by themselves and departed, wondering in himself at what had come to pass.

The second scripture is John 20:1-18. Mary Magdalene came early to the sepulchre and saw the stone taken away. She ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid him." Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple outran Peter and came first to the sepulchre. Stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying. Then came Simon Peter following him and went into the sepulchre. He saw the linen clothes lie and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple and he saw and believed.

The Mystery of the Folded Napkin

How could Jesus, who died buried with a napkin wrapped around his head, get up? First, we are told that when they beat him they stripped him naked. Yet when he rose from the grave, the Bible says he wore sparkling white robes. Who clothed him in the grave?

If God can clothe Christ in the grave, he can clothe you while you are alive.

He died naked. He rose dressed. Explain that. When he rose and the mystery of loosening his body from the burial wrappings happened, Jesus looked at the napkin that had been around his head. He did not throw it away. He folded it, wrapped it, and placed it by itself where his head had been.

He who wrapped the napkin can wrap your life. If Jesus was able to remember the good that the napkin did for his head, then no matter what is broken in your life — marriage, health, business, childbearing — he has time for you.

• He is not too busy to wrap your life together.
• He is not too busy to rebuke the devourer from your life.
• No power can deny you what God has destined to clothe you with.

What God is going to do for us, the next generation will see it and magnify our God.

Resurrection is the Time to Dump Unbelief

When we look at the empty grave, we should believe. When we see the linen clothes laid aside that were wrapped around him, it should make us believe. When we know that he folded the napkin for us, we should believe.

He was buried naked and came back clothed. Let us stop doubting. Let us start believing that God who is concerned about you and me is still alive.

1 Corinthians 15 says without resurrection our faith is in vain. He who died and now lives can keep him who is not dead, alive. Satan may touch your body with cancer but God is going to touch it with resurrection. The power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise your body from the affliction of the enemy.

Resurrection tells us that no matter how deep we are in the pit, one day God who raised Christ from the dead will raise our mortal bodies again. Whatever man has taken from you, God will give it back.

Resurrection is a time of remembrance that the Christ who was a story is not a stranger to our lives.

In the Moment of Your Tears

Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping. As she wept she stooped down and looked in and saw two angels in white — one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. They said, "Woman, why do you weep?" She said, "They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him." She turned and saw Jesus standing and did not know it was Jesus.

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In every moment of tears, know that Jesus is not far away. He stood just by her and said, "Why are you crying?"

Have you cried recently? Has anything baffled you? Clean your eyes and look afresh — Jesus is not far from where you are. When a breakthrough is coming, the nearest people in leadership will begin to receive persecution that will make them shame the gospel. But he who rose will stand by us.

Fish Do Not Jump to Land

Many Christians do not know how to endure hard times. When the wave in the water is mysterious, do you see fish jump to land? No — because on land there are fishermen with fire, waiting to roast them. If your business or marriage is passing through a tempest, do not jump out of the water. The harder it is, the stronger your wings become, so that next time you can say, Psalm 23:4 — "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil."

The fact that the wind is fierce shows that God is trying to make your wings stronger. Like the eagle that soars and reaches the altitude where it needs no more effort — that is where God wants to take you.

When everything about you is falling apart, that is because your resurrection is about to take place. There is a resurrection in your job, a resurrection to your health, a resurrection to your marriage. The grave is empty; no power can hold you down anymore.

His Father is Now Your Father

John 20:17 — Jesus said to Mary, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father."

Before he died he said, "I go to my Father." When he rose he said, "My Father is now my Father and your Father." We are no more orphans. He rose to adopt us, to make us heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. And if you find yourself in crisis, Christ is not far away — Jesus is the bridge over troubled water.

His Father is now your Father. You are now a child of your heavenly King.

Take Jesus Home

Mary came to the sepulchre to take Jesus away. She was not merely visiting — she wanted him home. That is the message of Easter: you have visited Jesus enough. Take him home.

Do not come to visit him every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday morning and leave him at the church door. Take him home, so that when you come next week you say, "Christ and I, we are on our way to the house of worship together."

Mary said he is more than a master to her — he is a friend. This is the same Mary out of whose life Jesus cast seven devils. Not only have the devils left — she wants to take Jesus to her house.

John 8:31-32 — Jesus said to those who believed on him, "If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Because he is alive, we are alive also.