Of all the books written about the life of Christ over the course of history—outside of the Bible itself—one of the most popular was authored by Fulton Oursler. It was called The Greatest Story Ever Told. His novel was first published in 1949 and became a best seller. Using a fictionalized narrative set against a rich and accurate historical background, Dr. Oursler took the events recorded in the Gospels and added imaginative dialogues and personalities to recreate the first century, while maintaining the integrity of biblical accounts.
The book was also made into a colossial movie in 1965 and included a cast of some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, mostly in cameo roles. Max von Sydow, the internationally renowned Swedish actor convincingly played Jesus. Others included Pat Boone, Charlton Heston, Sidney Poitier and John Wayne, who played the Roman centurion who proclaimed at the cross, “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). That was Wayne’s only line.
Fulton Oursler wrote at least two other best sellers with Christianity as his theme, The Greatest Faith Ever Known, a story about the early apostles as they spread the gospel message throughout the world; and The Greatest Book Ever Written; a beautiful narrative of the Old Testament. Many don’t know this but Fulton Oursler was also a prolific mystery writer, for those of you who love the esoteric. Don’t look for them under his real name, however, because he wrote over 75 of them under the pseudonym, Anthony Abbot. One of Dr. Oursler’s best quotations was motivated by his work about the life of Christ, “We crucify ourselves between two thieves: regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow.” That’s good.
This Passover week I want to present to you a story that Fulton Oursler didn’t get around to writing in his Greatest series. I call it, The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached. I can assure you that it wasn’t by me—but it wasn’t by Billy Graham or Chuck Swindoll either. It was preached by a simple fisherman named Peter, on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, just fifty days after the death of Jesus Christ on the cross—and 47 days after his resurrection from the dead. You’ll find The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached in Acts 2:14-40.
The text for this message begins in the middle of Peter’s famous Pentecost sermon. He had already explained to the crowd that gathered in the streets of Jerusalem, that the phenomenon they had just witnessed, of the “sound like the blowing of a violent wind,” the visible “tongues of fire,” and the speaking “in other tongues” by those gathered in an upper room was a fulfillment of prophecy (Acts 2:1-21). Now he explains why.
Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. — Acts 2:22-23
Jesus was the greatest miracle worker that the world has ever known. Matthew tells us twice that, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages . . . healing every disease and sickness” (Mt. 4:23; 9:35). Luke testifies that the crowd that gathered when our Lord entered Jerusalem during Passion Week, “began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen” (Lk. 19:37). Peter records the “miracles, wonders and signs” Jesus performed were the way God “accredited” his ministry. The word literally means, “to show, demonstrate or exhibit.” They were done by God, through Jesus to authenticate who he was. Healing the blind, raising the dead, turning water into wine, and feeding the 5000 were all of such magnitude that there could be no doubt that Jesus was the promised Messiah. He was God in the flesh.
Peter also makes it clear that the crucifixion of Jesus was God’s plan and they were agents in it because of their wickedness. But their acts of wickedness were not unlike Joseph’s message to his brothers who sold him into slavery to harm him, “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20).
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. — Acts 2:24
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead—is the greatest single event in human history. This is why we celebrate this day on the Christian calendar. The word for “raised” here is the compound verb anastasis. Ana means “up” and stasis means “to stand.” God stood Jesus up. He was on a stone slab in a cave — a lifeless corpse. There was no more breath coming from his lungs. His heart had stopped. His brain was dead. His life was gone. But God . . .
But God — raised him from the dead. It was an absolute impossibility that Jesus could stay dead. He had done nothing to deserve death — he was sinless. This, too, Peter boldly proclaims, was the fulfillment of a prophecy from Psalms 16 where David said about him:
I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’— Acts 2:25-28
Do you know, my friends, that this prophetic statement, written by the Jewish King David, over 1000 years before the event itself — not only was fulfilled in Jesus Christ but this very same promise also applies to you and to me?
The resurrection of the body from death—because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of Christianity to all who believe. “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” (1 Cor. 15:21-22).
Everyone of us has lost to death, someone we deeply love and miss. Let your hearts be glad — for all in Christ will be made alive again. They will stand up—and so will you. Oh, what a wonderful day that will be when we will see our loved ones once again and enjoy their companionship for all eternity. All because of our Lord’s victory over death in our behalf.
“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. — Acts 2:29-30
There is some dispute today of where that tomb of David is located but suffice it to say that in Peter’s day it was readily identifiable. The point he was making was that the prophecy could not have been all about David because David’s body was still in that tomb. However, when Jesus’ followers went to his tomb after his death — it was empty! God had raised him up. Anastasis. God had stood him up!
In contrast, Islam’s so-called prophet Mohammed, died in Medina (Saudi Arabia) in the year 632. He was buried in the mosque which contains his tomb. Millions go each year to see his gravesite and say their prayers because the bones of his dead body are still there. Who would want to follow a powerless man like that? Confucius died in China in 479 B.C. His tomb is still there. So are his remains. Who would want to follow a powerless man like that? Buddha died in 483 B.C. at the age of 80. His disciples gave him an elaborate funeral, burned his body, and distributed his bones as sacred relics. Wouldn’t you rather have the whole man—alive again—than some of his bones?
Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. — Acts 2:31-32
David was one of the first to speak of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which was witnessed by over 500 of his followers (1 Corinthians 15:6), including all of the apostles (John 20:26) and the women who went to his tomb (Matthew 28:8-9) and the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6). Seeing is believing. When they looked at him, it was Jesus—just as they knew him before his death. There was no mistaking who he was—and there will be no mistaking who you are when you and your loved ones are raised from the dead. I’ll know you and you’ll know me—but with some great differences:
There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more strain.
His radiance reflected in us at the resurrection of the just.
I’ll be there and so will you. What a day when we’ll all be brand new.