Truth From The Tomb

Text: Matthew 28:1-15

Introduction

Illustration: On a Sunday morning in 1815, the battle of Waterloo had been fought and won, but the people of England still anxiously awaited news of the battle. There was no electricity, of course, no radio, no telegraph. News was relayed by a semaphore. The battle had been fought and the signal was sent. But it was interrupted by fog. The message that can through was simply, “Wellington—Defeated.” It was the worst of news. The country went into mourning. Napoleon would again be master of Europe. It was a dark day! But, the next day, the skies cleared and the full message received. It said, “Wellington—Defeated Napoleon.”

Sadly, His disciples only heard half the message other were sent by Jesus to tell them; “Jesus defeated....”

It’s almost like they heard, “Jesus defeated...” When they should of heard, “Jesus defeated Satan!”

What we have today is the full recorded message of Jesus’ glorious victory of sin, death and Hell!!!

We gather together on this Eater Sunday to embrace that very particular truth; Jesus is ALIVE! With every glorious ending there is a remarkable story. What is such the big deal about an empty tomb? For starters, it’s a tomb! That right there tells you something extraordinary about Jesus.

What I want to do today in view of Jesus’ resurrection is simply to give a well rounded story surrounding it. Not just the fact he is alive today, but what is the full story of truth from the empty tomb.

What do we see when we see the empty tomb?

1) Death Is Real

Jesus truth died on the cross!!!

The tomb truly held a dead man!!!

Death is personal, physical and universal.

Every graveyard in the world testifies to the universal nature of death.

Our history is full of people who stood out above the rest, yet one thing they have in common with the rest is this epitaph, “He/She died.”

There is nothing unusual about the statement, “He died.”

Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Methuselah (969 yrs old), Pharaoh, Julius Caesar, filthy Tiberius....

Millions of people have died.

The truth of scripture rings in our ears daily when the obituaries are announced:

Romans 5:12 “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

Hebrews 9:27 “27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

James 1:15 “15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Death is inescapable!

One heartbeat away; begin to live/begin to die; one more breath is one less.

One day death will scream NOW!

Wealthy, famous, poor and common.

Because death is real, we were in need of HOPE!

2) Hope Was Needed

Turn to: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

A. Found in Jesus’ death

This is why Jesus’ death is so remarkable; “according to the scriptures.”

Psalm 41:9 “9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.”

Psalm 22:16 “16 For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet.”

Psalm 69:21 “21 They gave me also gall for my meat; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

Isa. 53:9 “9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth.”

There were many eye witnesses to His death.

Turn back to: Matthew 28:11-15

The false narratives and theories continue today.

Swoon Theory: Didn’t really die; revived in tomb; managed to escape; showed Himself three days later. (this would be impossible for the mere man they said he was to pull off).

Turn to: Romans 6:1-7 “1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

Jesus confronted Calvary for YOU!

Hebrews 2:14 “14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”

John 10:17-18 “17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Rev. 1:18 “18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

B. Found in His Resurrection

Look again: 1 Corinthians 15:4 “4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (THINK ABOUT THAT)

1 Peter 1:20 “20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

God had this date circled on His calendar in glory before the foundation of the world.

Jesus’ birth, baptism, death, burial and resurrection was prior agreed upon in eternity passed.

Question: How many of you believe Jesus knew the Jewish scriptures?

Jesus never took His eyes off that date.

Creation and Creator rose together on that Sunday Morning.

(vv.4-8) There were many who were eye witnesses

Jesus’ resurrection has promised us a future glory!

3) Glory Is Promised

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 KJV 1900

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

We will all share His triumph over the tomb.

His return to glory gives us the promise of glory.

Glorified body

Time and space have no rule over it.

Engineered for a journey to the third heaven and for eternity.

Sin no more.

No sickness, death or parting.

What we do see is equal to seeing through a glass darkly.

Queen of Sheba said, “Behold the half was never told me.”

Illustration: Like putting on your glasses.