Sunrise Experiences

TEXT:                                      MATTHEW 28:1-10

PRAYER

TITLE:                                     SUNRISE EXPERIENCES

INTRODUCTION

Ø     At sunrise that fateful day so long ago certain things were experienced by those that were privileged to have lived during that time.

Ø     FIRST, there were the SUPPOSED victories of the cross.

à    Just a scant three days earlier Jesus had been crucified. And there were those who saw that event as a victory. For instance:

à    The priest’s had a supposed victory.

à    They thought they had finally rid the earth of the one who spoke with authority.

à    They thought they had finally rid the earth of their competition.

à    The Pharisees also had a supposed victory.

à    They thought they had finally rid the one who had exposed their hypocrisy.

à    They didn't like the idea that they could not get away with murder with Him around.

à    Even the politician's thought they had a victory.

à    They thought they had finally rid the earth of the one who had caused political turmoil.

à    They too had been exposed for who they were and quite frankly they didn't like it.

Ø     SECOND, besides the SUPPOSED victories of the cross were the CERTAIN victories of the resurrection.

à    The promise of Jesus found in John 2:19 was fulfilled.

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

à    This was the promise of the resurrection.

à    It happened exactly as He said it would!

à    But besides the promise being fulfilled you also had the deity of the Lord Jesus guaranteed at the tomb.

à    Listen to Romans 1:4.

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

à    But the greatest miracle of all time was the empty tomb.

Ø     What was experienced there?

BODY

 1.  FIRST, THEY SAW THE ANGEL AT THE EMPTY TOMB

a.    Listen to verses 1-3 again.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

b.    The women were coming to do the work of undertakers.

 i). They were obviously sincere but doubted the promise of Jesus.

 ii). They expected to find Jesus. They expected a body!

c.    Instead they were greeted with earth shaking!

 i). There was a great earthquake.

 ii). The angel of the Lord descended.

 iii). The angel rolled back the stone from the door of the tomb.

 iv). Then the angel had the audacity to sit on the stone.

d.    These events bear striking similarity to the coming rapture.

 i). Listen to 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 ii). The voice of the archangel is heard.

 iii). The trump of God resounds.

 iv). Graves open and believers are caught up.

 v). Isn't it interesting that the Lord knows the location of every grave.

e.    The angel sitting on the throne shows us very clearly that Christ has literally conquered death! PTL!

 2.  SECOND, IN ADDTION TO THE ANGELTHERE WAS ALSO ANXIETY AT THE TOMB.

a.    Listen to verses 4 and 5 of Matthrew 28.

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

b.    Here we find cruel, barbaric Roman soldiers guarding the tomb.

 i). Their charge made by the government can be seen in Matthew 27:62-66.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

 ii). The priests and the Pharisees feared Christ might arise or a hoax would be perpetrated so they requested Rome secure the tomb.

 iii). And so Pilate assigned a squad of soldiers to carry out the task.

c.    But the soldiers had an encounter of a different sort.

 i). You see, they had an encounter with some of God's angels.

 ii). This encounter had them literally shaking in their boots.

 iii). As soon as the shaking of the earth stopped so did they stop shaking as they fell to the ground as though dead.

d.    These guys had good reason to be shaking.

 i). They would be held accountable if anything happened.

 ii). In spite of what they heard from the priests and the Pharisees and in spite of everything the government may have said, THESE MEN NOW KNOW JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD!

 iii). They now knew they had been wrong in their rejection of Him.

 3.  THERE WAS AN ANGEL AT THE TOMB, THERE WAS ANXIETY AT THE TOMB BUT THERE WAS ALSO ASSURANCE AT THE TOMB

a.    Finally, listen to verses 5-10 of Matthew 28.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

b.    Please note that there were NO words of assurance given to the soldiers.

c.    But there were some definite “faith-builders” for the women that were there. Listen to these words of faith spoken in the place of the dead:

 i). “Fear not”-great words in times of great trembling!

 ii). “For I know”-words of comfort that Jesus knows all about us.

 iii). “He is not here”-words of triumph!

 iv). “He is risen”-also words of triumph!

 v). “As He said”-words of a kept promise.

 vi). “Go quickly and tell”-words of a mission.

 vii). “He goeth before you” -listen to John 10:4.

 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

CONCLUSION

Ø     What should the empty tomb mean to us?

à    It should mean absolutely everything.

à    It means all we chase after in this life is secondary.

à    It means we reconsider priorities.

à    It means we should be more concerned with the things of the Spirit than the things of the flesh.

à    It means we have a message that no living person or no other religious system has.

à    It means we can and must speak with great confidence and great authority.

à    The real question this Easter is, will we?