The Victory
The Passion • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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This is the morning when the Christian church celebrates what we have come to know as Easter. It is the day when we commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Some also call it Resurrection Sunday! It’s the day that we recognize and celebrate Jesus’ victory over death— he was raised back to life after the crucifixion on Friday.
It is about celebrating the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the first Resurrection Sunday.
With that in our minds this morning, let's journey back to that first Resurrection Sunday morning. Let's look in on the events at the tomb of Jesus that day and see what happened and what it means for you and me!
Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion. The concept of the resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.
John Stott
The resurrection is God’s “Amen!” to Christ’s statement, “It is finished.”
—S. Lewis Johnson
S. Lewis Johnson
Everyone that we interact with is acting from a mindset— they are living and speaking from a story. The resurrection is not just a fact to be known or believed— it’s a story to be lived. I speak to you today from that story— I want to live and breath and act from that story— Jesus’ story. Today we get to unpack the last portion of the Book of Matthew. We’ve been making our way through the passion story--
There are three main points or ideas that we want to highlight today:
The Approach of the Believers
The Actions of the Angel
The Appearance of Jesus
We all approach Jesus — — we all approach Jesus’ tomb.
We will read that an angel performed some powerful acts on God’s behalf, and I believe we too can join God in removing obstacles and communicating the Good news to people.
We also live looking for Jesus to show up! And when Jesus shows up— everything changes, and powerful assignments are given.
Matthew records Jesus’ victory over death in chapter 27:1-10. Lets turn there now. It’s actually page 681 in that yellow colored pew bible. If you’re here today and you don’t have a bible— or you just like the feel of that one— and you’d like to have it— you can keep it! Take it!
The approach of the believers. (v.1)
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.
Matthew records that two women came that morning. It’s most likely at Sunday morning. The Jewish sabbath time was from sundown on Friday to Sundown on Saturday--- This would be very early on Sunday Morning. The other Gospel writers reveal the fact that others came also. There is no contradiction, they probably arrived as part of different groups. However they came, they were sad, defeated and discouraged. Some had witnessed and others had heard of the death of Jesus on the cross and they were coming to pay their last respects to the body of the Lord. As we consider their motives for coming, we can see what they were doing early that Sunday morning.
People came by the tomb for various reasons, much like we might visit a graveside.
Some came to look. (Mt. 28:1)
Maybe they were coming to pray or to meditate near the place where His body had been buried. Maybe they were coming to make sure that everything was in order at the tomb. Whatever the reason, we are told in some translations of the bible that they "came to see the sepulchre". (or the tomb).
You might be here today— and you wouldn’t necessarily call yourself a Jesus follower— you’re maybe not a Christian. That’s ok— come and look—We are thrilled that you are here— I want you to come and just look it over— take a look and see. Come and just look. Take a good long look— Because I think you’re going to be changed by what you see. This story is an eternal story— we approach Jesus everyday knowing that it’s His story— not just about today, or today’s trouble— it’s much bigger than that.
Some came to serve. (Mk. 16:1)
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
These verses teach is that some of the women came to perform one last labor of love for the Lord Jesus. They came to finished anointing His body for burial. They wanted to serve Him one last time. What a powerful thought. That these faithful ladies would approach the tomb of a dead man— with the materials and resources to anoint him— You see Mary Magdalene has done this before. She took the most valuable resource she had— remember that expensive perfume she dumped it all on Jesus that night and mixed with her own tears she worshipped and anointed Jesus.
For many of us, we eagerly look for ways to serve Jesus. This is sometimes a happy and joyful service— other times, like what these ladies believe this will be, it’s sorrowful, sad, and hard. None-the-less, I praise God for you who come to Jesus and you are willing to do something. It’s in your nature, and you help Jesus is wonderful ways. But remember that worship is a form of service. To genuinely approach him, and anoint Him with our tears— to authentically come and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength— that’s the worship and service that He deserves, and he will never turn you away.
Some came to linger. (John 20:11)
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
These verses tell us that Mary Magdalene lingered at the tomb after the others had already gone away. Here was a woman that owed much to Jesus. There had been a time in her life when she had been possessed by seven demons, Mark 16:9. Her life had been radically changed by Jesus and she loved Him more than life itself. If you will remember, she was one of the last at the cross, Matt. 27:61, and she was the first to see Him after He had risen from the dead, Mark. 16:9. She loved Him so much for what He had done for her. Surely her heart was broken that morning, but still she came to love Him and worship Him!
Can you identify with Mary? I Thank God for those who just want to love Him and worship Him and be close to Him. Let’s all encourage each other to be like this!
It is these people to whom Jesus reveals Himself.
The approach of the Believers— is followed by the Actions of the Angel!
The actions of the angel. (v. 2-8)
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.
Humans were not the only ones to visit the tomb early that morning.
Heaven also sent an emissary to proclaim the good news that Jesus was not dead. Let's look in on the activities of the angel:
He rolled away the stone. (Mk 16:3-4)
3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
Mark tells that while the women made their way to the tomb to finish anointing the body of Jesus, one of their concerns was how to remove the stone. That stone represented the finality of death. For them, that stone was an exclamation point at the end of the sentence of death. That stone said, "He is gone forever!" Separated.
Thank God, the Lord took care of that stone!
One of the greatest moments of my fatherhood journey included the little set of “Resurrection Eggs” that we owned and used with our girls each year around this time. When they were little, we would allow each of them to open up a little colored egg— each day for maybe the 12 or so days before Resurrection Sunday. Each egg contained a little item that described an aspect of the Holy Week story. You can probably still get these little sets of eggs if you search for them.
The items inside all set up great opportunities to talk about the different aspects of this Easter season— the elements of the story that were powerful— A little donkey that started the whole thing on Palm Sunday— the thorns, a whip, a little rooster, and a cross— but it was That last egg that was most special for me---—
Our youngest daughter Leah when she was finally old enough to participate, was honored one year to open that last egg. She was so excited, she just couldn’t contain her excitement each day— and then she was about to burst on that Sunday morning.
(Open the egg---) There was nothing… She seemed disappointed at first— I can see her little surprised face— But we all burst into laughter and joy when she realized the truth of the resurrection. He’s Not HERE.
That stone was rolled away so that we— mankind for all time-- could look into the tomb and see that it was forever empty! One of the obstacles to faith, the stone, was removed— and the victory is revealed!
I want us to be like that angel— I want us as a church to remove any barriers, any hurdles for anyone we know so that they can look into that empty tomb. We don’t need to explain it all to them— just move the stone!
He removed the guards. (Mt 28:4)
4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Matt. 27:62-67 tells us that the chief priests and the Pharisees were concerned that some sort of funny business would happen at the grave, and they wanted a guard to be posted at the tomb. So they sealed it with Pilate's seal and they posted a company of guards at the door. That detachment of soldiers stood as an obstacle between the saints and their entrance into the tomb of Jesus. I don’t believe that they thought Jesus would come back to life— I believe they thought someone might try to come and steal the body and claim that He did rise— but they were going to make sure that this never happened.
We don’t struggle here in our nation like many do around the world. We are living in a free society where we can free assemble and approach worship however we choose. That’s one of the things our founding fathers definitely got correct. Many in our world are either restricted in matters of faith, or they are told what they will believe and how they will worship. Some are told that they will not worship at all. The faith is guarded by government, priesthood, a religious hierarchy or even worse— by their families or cultural traditions. Jesus, and the story He is writing in your life— that should never be guarded or prohibited by anyone or anything else in the world.
Another obstacle to faith, the guard at the tomb, has been forever removed! We can free approach our Lord!
He reminded the believers. (Mt 28:5-8)
As this angel began to speak to the women that morning, the greatest obstacle of all was removed - unbelief! His message inspired them to belief in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead! Notice what he reminded them of.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He reminded them of the past pain. (v.5)
They were reminded of the crucifixion. Of course, these ladies didn’t need the reminder. Still, the fact of His death is emphasized. This reminds us of the importance of the death of Jesus on the cross. His death provided the sacrifice that was needed to cleanse sinners from their sins and to make them right with God.
22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
He reminded them of the present proof. (v.6)
The angel tells them, "You are here at this tomb, but Jesus isn't! He is risen!"
I particularly love the angel's invitation for them to look into the tomb and see for themselves that Jesus is gone! Later, when the Peter and John arrive there, John records the fact that the linen cloths that had been wrapped around Christ's body were lying there like and empty cocoon, while the napkin that had been about His face was folded in a place by itself. This sight caused John to believe in the resurrection.
5 Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying. Yet he did not enter. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went inside the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the cloth that was around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped in a place by itself.
There are two reasons why the appearance and arrangement of the grave clothes are of such importance. First, there was no sign of human intervention. If someone had taken the body, they could not have removed it through the graveclothes, and it is likely that they wouldn't have removed them anyway. They would have taken the body with them still wrapped in the cloths that bound it. Neither would they have taken the time to fold the linen for Jesus’ head— called the “napkin”, but it too would have been taken with the body, or at least it would have been discarded in a haphazard manner. In short, the empty tomb was a scene of perfect order. This suggested a resurrection had taken place.
Second, was the ancient oriental custom of the napkin. When a man with servants was eating a meal, he would often use his napkin to signal them during the course of the meal. If he left the table and wadded his napkin up, it meant that he was finished and would not be back. If, however, he neatly folded the napkin, it told his servants that he was stepping away for a moment, but he would be back!
What a sight for John and Peter to see---Jesus was telling His disciples, "I may be out of your sight right now, but I'll be back— I’m not finished!"
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.”
He reminded them of the prepared plan. (v.7)
They were to go and share the good news that Jesus was risen from the dead.
What a glorious message those women were given that day! It was a message of hope. A message of life. A message of victory. It was a message that every one needed to hear. And it still is today! May we do as they did and carry the message with joyful hearts to a world that needs desperately to hear about a risen Lord!
We see the approach of the believers— and now the actions of the angel—
9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
The appearance of Jesus! (Mt. 28:9)
It is a wonderful thing to hear from others what Jesus can do. But, there is nothing like meeting Him for yourself! Oh glorious day when Jesus Himself comes to that one trapped in sin and reveals Himself as the living Lord! There is nothing like meeting the living Jesus for yourself! Have you met Jesus? Because if you have— it causes something to happen!
His appearance caused adoration. (v.9)
When they meet Him, they are so overcome with love and joy that they fall at His feet in worship! That is the natural reaction of those who love Him! They cannot help but come into His presence with worship and praise. It is a fact, those who know the risen Savior have a desire to worship Him!
May I just remind you that He is worthy to be worshiped? He is worthy of all the praise we can heap upon Him! There is no need to hold back in your love and expressions of love for Jesus. That’s what we intend to do here each time we meet. To fall at his feet and cling to him in heart-felt genuine worship. To shout at times— to cry at times, to sing with all our guts at times.
It’s how we respond.
His appearance contained an assignment. (v.18)
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.
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.”
Did you note where they met him? Take a look at verse 16 again. A mountain in Galilee? Maybe on the seashore? Some believe He meets them at the very same location where His teaching began— the Sermon on the Mount. A grassy hill next to the Sea of Galilee.
What a powerful return— no huge crowd now— No confusion about who this Rabbi from Nazareth really is now?
We are instructed by Jesus to Go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. That’s why we have this very set of verses written above the door as we exit the building.
On the one hand, the resurrection of Christ is a fact to be believed. On the other hand, it is an experience to connect with, not just that we believe in, but that we experience.
Timothy Keller
And that as we go— Jesus is with us always— even until the end of time.
We want to encapsulate this great thought with a song: (cue worship team to come up)
Let’s press into Jesus and enjoy the victory He has won by obeying him and living as citizens of His kingdom.
“Go tell the world about me. I was dead but now I live.
I’ve gotta go now for a little while, but goodbye is not the end.” Cain, Commission