The Resurrection

Today we conclude this series on Matthew. I hope that I have given you a view of Jesus from Matthew’s perspective. I have tried to cover as much of the book that I could in these 14 weeks. I hope that you have taken just a piece of what Matthew wrote and begin applying it to your life.

Today is no different. We want to look at a very important piece of the Jesus story. If you remember last week, I told you that the crucifixion had to happen in order for us to have the resurrection. The resurrection is what gives us the hope that we have. The resurrection is what our faith is based on. If the resurrection didn’t happen, then Christianity is just like any other religion.

With that begin said, let’s conclude this series today by going to Matthew chapter 28. This is the last chapter of Matthew.

The last event we read about in Matthew chapter 27 is they have taken a borrowed tomb from Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph was a rich man and by this happening it fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah.

Isaiah 53:9 NIV

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

The chief priests and the pharisees were worried because Jesus made the prediction that He will rise again after three days so they had a large stone place over the entry of the tomb and guards were placed outside the tomb.

So, if you have your Bibles, lets go to the text in Matthew chapter 28.

Matthew 28:1–4 NIV

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

Think about everything that happens here.

Two Marys go to the tomb. All of a sudden there is this violent earthquake. Then an angel appears from heaven, goes to the tomb and rolls the stone back and then sits on the stone. This scene is so amazing that the guards were so afraid that they shake.

The word shook in verse 4 is the same word that is used for earthquake. So, the earthquake shook violently and the men shook violently. What caused this.

You probably have heard about adrenalin. Our adrenal glands produce the adrenalin that moves throughout our body. This adrenalin enables a fight or flight mechanism. During this glucose is released throughout our body which causes the shake. The shake is basically our muscles warming up. They are getting ready to either fight or take flight-get out of there.

Verse 4 says there men shook and became like dead men. They just fell to the ground, like they were dead.

Why were the Mary’s there. Going back to the grave is the last contact with that person. They were going to prepare His body. Jews believed that the spirit of the dead hovered over the tomb. And then on the fourth day, when the decomposition begins, they believe the spirit departs. Jews will hang around the grave until the fourth day because they believe those are the last times with that person that has died. This might have been also why the Mary’s were there. We don’t know this, but that is what the Jews believed.

Mary Magdalen probably had many things going through her mind. These ladies probably didn’t sleep all night they were worrying about what they needed to do that day. They couldn’t do it the day before because it was the Sabbath, so they had to wait until the third day.

Isn’t that like many of us. We worry for nothing. We get ourself all worked up about a situation and then we get to that situation we realized that God has gone before us and has already solved the problem.

The two Mary’s had probably been worrying about taking care of Jesus and when they get to the tomb that day God has already taken care of their problem. Look at verse 5.

Matthew 28:5–7 NIV

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Four words I want you to take with you today.

Come and See Go and Tell

The angel is sitting there on the rock and he invites the ladies to come and see.

Jesus invites people all throughout the gospels to come.

He said, “Let the little children come unto me.”

When Jesus was walking on the water Peter said if it is you Lord then tell me to come. And Jesus said come.

Jesus tells us that all who are weary and needing rest to come.

The angel told the ladies to come and see. What did He want them to see? He wanted to show then that Jesus was no longer there.

Come and see the humility of Christ. Everything that went through, how He humbled Himself and became sin for us so that we could be joined with the father.

Come and see the reality of sin. Sin is what separates us from God. And it was the resurrection that assured us that we no longer will be separated from a God that loves us and cares for us. When we confess those sins and ask Jesus to take our sins away.

Come and see the victory of life. Death could not keep Him down. He has victory over death. Come and see.

Today, He is offering that same message to any of you that do not believe yet. Come and see for yourselves what Jesus has done for you.

The next word the angel told the ladies was Go. Turn your fascination into proclamation. What are you waiting for. The angel said.

Matthew 28:7 NIV

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

With the word God comes the word Tell. That is your Jesus story. What was your story like? Where did Jesus meet you? What was the place where Jesus changed your life?

If your a believer Go and Tell. If your an unbeliever, then you need to come and see and then after you see the truth go and tell.

So, what does the resurrection mean to me?

What Does the Resurrection Mean?

1. It Proves He is the Son of God.

Come and see and you will know that He is the Son of God. Listen to the Jesus story.

Romans 1:4 NIV

4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

What does the resurrection mean to me?

2. It Provides a Bridge for Us Back to God.

Come and see that you not longer have to be a part from God. Jesus made the bridge for you to walk over.

Romans 6:4 NIV

4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

What does the resurrection mean to me?

3. It Verifies the Truth of God’s Word.

So many people have tried to disprove God’s Word. It is the truth that will set you free. Come and see for yourself.

Acts 2:31 NIV

31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.

What does the resurrection mean to me?

4. It is Proof of Future Judgement on the Wicked.

Acts 17:30–31 NIV

30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

What does the resurrection mean to me?

5. It is the Beginning of the Holy Spirit’s Ministry on Earth.

Jesus said it is better that He goes away. Because when He goes away, the Holy Spirit will come and be our helper.

While Jesus was here. He was physically a man and could only be in one place. But now that Christ has gone to heaven to be with the Father. We have the Holy Spirit that is here with us now.

Which brings me to number 6.

6. The Resurrection is the Beginning of Christ’s Ministry in Heaven as the Intercessor for Anyone that Believes.

Hebrews 7:23–28 NIV

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Come and See. The tomb is empty, Jesus is not here. He is at the right hand of the Father interceding for you and me. He is talking about us to the Father. He is making preparation to come back.

What does the resurrection mean to me?

7. It Assures Believers of Our Future Inheritance in Heaven.

1 Peter 1:3–4 NIV

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, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king. That is something to shout about. That is something to rejoice in. No more death. No more tears. No more pain. No more hurts. No more disappointments. That’s what the resurrection means to me.

8. It Assures Believers of Their Resurrection When He Returns.

Some day Jesus will come back just like He said He would.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV

14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

I believe that it’s closer than we think. He’s coming soon. You better get ready. Today is the day for you to come and see. Come and see what the resurrection means to me.

9. It Makes Christ’s Presence and Power Over Sin Available in Our Everyday Lives.

Galatians 2:20 NIV

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

That is what the resurrection means to me.

If you do not know who Jesus is I encourage you to Come and See for yourselves.

Then once you have seen you are to go and tell.

What is your Jesus story? Tell it. Where were you? Could today we your day that your Jesus story begins? Look at the end of chapter 28.

Matthew 28:16–17 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

There are some of you that have come here this morning and you have doubts. And that’s okay. We may not understand it all right now. All I am asking you to do is open up your heart and mind and see who Jesus really is.

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Even though Jesus was leaving the earth that day, He was assuring them that He would be with them till the very end. Jesus has never left us. The Holy Spirit is here, comforting us, leading us, guiding us. I invite you today to come and see. Come begin your Jesus story.

And then when you leave from here. Go and tell your Jesus Story.

Let me end with this.

Margaret Sangster Phippen wrote that in the mid 1950s her father, British minister W. E. Sangster, began to notice some uneasiness in his throat and a dragging in his leg. When he went to the doctor, he found that he had an incurable disease that caused progressive muscular atrophy. His muscles would gradually waste away, his voice would fail, his throat would soon become unable to swallow.

Sangster threw himself into his work in British home missions, figuring he could still write and he would have even more time for prayer. "Let me stay in the struggle, Lord," he pleaded. "I don’t mind if I can no longer be a general, but give me just a regiment to lead." He wrote articles and books, and helped organize prayer cells throughout England. "I’m only in the kindergarten of suffering," he told people who pitied him.

Gradually Sangster’s legs became useless. His voice went completely. But he could still hold a pen, shakily. On Easter morning, just a few weeks before he died, he wrote a letter to his daughter. In it, he said this. "It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice to shout, ’He is risen!’-but it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout."

Don’t leave this Easter without shouting He is risen. The resurrection is why we have hope. The resurrection is why we believe that Jesus is coming back. The resurrection is why I believe in healing. The resurrection is why I can tell my Jesus story.