A survey was done in 2016 asking Americans the top 10 historic events in your lifetime. This could be one specific event or a series of related events that have had the greatest impact on the country. Respondents were grouped as follows: Millennial Generation 1981-1998, Generation X 1965-1980, Baby Boomer Generation 1946-1964, Silent Generation 1928-1945, Greatest Generation 1901-1927. One can imagine that each answer was age specific. However among all the age groups one event stood out as the number one event. Any thoughts? Of all the respondents, 76% agreed that September 11 attack was the number one event of their lifetime.
Just thinking here, what if I were to ask, ”what is the major biblical event (s) that changed, had the greatest impact in the world, in your lifetime?”
I sense we will find many answers to this question. Stay with me for today, as I share what I believe are the most important events in the bible that impacted, changed the world the most. Consider these series of events with me today.
Birth of Jesus
Death of Jesus
Resurrection of Jesus
Ascension of Jesus
Birth of Jesus
Matt 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”
Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Jn 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Death of Jesus
Matt 27:26 “So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.”
Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Jn 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. “
Resurrection of Jesus
Matt 28:5-6a “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”
1 Pet 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Cor 15:12-22 “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
Ascension of Jesus
Jn 16:7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate (Comforter, Helper) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
Luke 24:46-49 “And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.“ And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11 “After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
The Birth, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. Four events that changed the world forever, changed my life forever!
Pastor Jeff