He is not here; He has risen! - Matthew 27:62-28:10

Matthew 27 beginning a 62 the next day the one after preparation day the chief priests in the Pharisees went to Pilot sure. They said we remember that while he was still alive. Deceiver said after 3 days, I will rise again to give the order for the tune to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he's been raised from the dead this last deception will be worse than the first take a guard pilot answered go make the tomb as secure as you know how so they went made it to insecure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard after the Sabbath at dawn on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb 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. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow the guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women do not be afraid for I know that you were looking for Jesus was crucified. He is not here he is. Injustice, he said come and see the place where we lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples he is risen from the dead and it's going ahead of you in the Galilee there. You will see him now. I've told you so the women hurried away from the tomb afraid yet filled with joy and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them greetings. He said they came to him clasped his feet and worship him. Then Jesus said to them do not be afraid go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee there. They will see me the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be unto God you may be seated.

I recently heard about a family who visited a new church for the first time it was on Easter Sunday. They were traveling so they went bought some churches nearby. So they visited a church on Easter Sunday and the pastor stood up and he welcomed everyone and he said I know it's Easter, but I'm not going to give a traditional Easter message today and Richard Davis sermon, but afterwards on the way home, the eight-year-old daughter said to her parents Easter at the pastor talk about Jesus rising from the dead. See that little girl knew something very insightful. That is that is this Easter Sunday Resurrection Sunday is not a time for us to reinvent the wheel. It's not a time for pastors preaching to be novel and clever and try to come up with something new and exciting and dazzling to say instead what you and I need to do is heat and hear the old words of a classic him. Tell me the old old story of unseen things above of Jesus in his glory of Jesus and his love tell me the story simply as to a child for I'm weak and weary and helpless in the file. Tell me the old old story tell me the old old story tell me the old old story of Jesus and his love. That's my simple a.m. Today to walk through the narrative to walk through the story of what happened so that we might learn what does that mean for you? And I today in 2024 as we look the gospel of Matthew his account of the resurrection and what happened right before that. We're asking to Big questions to God our time together. Number one what happened the first Resurrection Sunday and the number to what does that mean for you? And I today in 2024 number one what happened to the first Resurrection Sunday? Here's the answer from the text. He's not here. He is risen just as he said, what does that mean for you? And I today here's the answer from the text. They came to him clasped his feet and worship him and they ran to tell his disciples. Let's walk through the account Matthew to see what God has for us in his word. We're 60 to look at it with me if you will. Route 62 the next day the one after preparation day the chief priests in the Pharisees went the pilot. To be reminded yet. Again that the glory the beauty the all the light of the Resurrection is always seen against the backdrop of our sinfulness Good Friday just happened which is the crucifixion day the day Jesus suffered and even here over 62. We still see some of that hateful bitter animosity that that hateful sinful heart on full display vs. 6266 in the glory of the Resurrection is singing against the backdrop of this dark sinful attitude. It's over 60 to take the next day. The one after preparation day. This would have been Saturday for our intensive purposes the Sabbath day cuz Friday that prepare everything so they can rest on the Sabbath. So on Saturday the chief priests in the Pharisees, who are these guys you might be wondering just a quick see simple brief reminder these men are the ones who spearheaded the crucifixion. They're the ones Since you only speaking who are responsible for Jesus's death, so they're the ones who spearheaded that they go yet again to Pilot. Looking for 63. They said the pilot sir. We remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said after three days. I will rise again. I notice Jesus's enemies. They do not even utter his name. I don't even order his name is a sure we remember that while he was still alive. And what are they called him? How do they refer to Jesus the Christ? that Deceiver this is ironic because Jesus himself described them and John 8:44. He said you belong to your father the devil you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning not holding to the truth for there is no truth in him when he lies. He speaks his native language for he is a liar and the father of Lies. To hear that using reality for you. And I today either Jesus or the religious leaders are speaking the truth. Who are you going to believe? 1st John 2:22 and 23 tells us more explicitly who is the deceiver. Who is the lawyer? Who is it? The one that lies for Sean to 22 who is the lawyer it is to whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ such a person is the Antichrist denying the father in the sun. No one who denies the sun has the father whoever acknowledges the song as the father also. See friends this describes the religious leaders in a nutshell. If you're trying to figure out who are the chief priests who the Pharisees who are these dark players in the gospel narrative quite simply they denied that Jesus was the Christ. They did not believe in who Jesus said he was Southbridge list in today's world just for a moment. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God state is slightly differently sin has infected each and every one of us in our hearts our minds or hearts are bodies Our Eyes every our hands everything about us has been infected and affected by sin. I want to thin do what's a devastating effect of sin. One of them is that it blinds us to the truth scripture constantly talks about Sin as blinding us to the light or specifically send causes us to call evil good and good evil. You make sure that before this is from Isaiah 5:20 send when it is inside of us attempts us to call good evil and evil good. We certainly see that in the culture at large obviously, but you and I are tempted to do that. Very same thing to call good evil and evil good and that's what the chief priests and Pharisees are doing here. They're calling the ultimate good the ultimate bat calling the truth-teller The Deceiver. And our Temptation when it comes to Christ Resurrection Day is all about who Jesus Christ rising from the dead in Jesus rising from the dead. He reveals himself as the Eternal perfect benevolent loving King, but instead of you and Jesus that way with the clear perspective are temptation is to view him as a tyrant as a killjoy as somebody who doesn't care for me as somebody who's aloof and far off, but that is not at all who Jesus Christ is So this Resurrection Day it's not just about reflecting on Jesus rising from the dead this Resurrection Day. We must wrestle with the central question. Who is Jesus. Is he the way the truth the life or is he the Seaver those the only two options? He's either the way the truth the life. He's either God incarnate or he's a liar and he's a fraud and he's a deceiver. Who is he to you? How do you see the Messiah the Christ? 463 again survey said we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said after three days, I will rise again. the notice their warped Minds we're still able to remember some of what Jesus said. They remember Jesus's words here. They spoke the word of Christ here because Jesus himself predicted this several times in the gospels. And what does that mean for you? And I well one simple observation is this it is possible to hear the words of Jesus. It is possible to in church on Sunday morning on Resurrection Day. It is possible to hear sermons to read the Bible and completely missed the point. That is why it is so important that you and I have humble gentle quiet still hurts to hear what Christ is saying to us and to receive it as such anybody can hear the Bible but only the humble in heart will respond to the Bible will obey the Bible Will Follow The Words of Christ. May we have open eyes to see. 464 so give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third date. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he's been raised from the dead this last deception will be worse than the first these men are still hell-bent on squashing the Jesus movement that was their intention and crucifying Jesus and they are not yet satisfied with that. You see this sinful hard it is being exemplified here. I had a professor in college. He used to say this quite often here and there but I just stuck out with me then always gets gets and forgets. But love on the other hand always gives gives and forgives and you see that sin on full display here. They're not satisfied with murdering the Messiah. What's a 65 + 66 what is pilot would say in response take a guard go make the tomb as secure as you know how so they went made the tomb secure by putting a steel on the stone and posting of the Guard. Another words, what are they saying? We got to tie up some loose ends. This Jesus Movement. We have to crush it seal it once for all so that it can no longer spread and cause disturbance Among Us. But then the Glorious Day. 28:1 after the Sabbath at dawn on the first day of the week being Sunday Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

Those of you who have lost a loved one either recently or just in general. We all have you know that at the funeral day. There's a big 4 session. There's a lot of family there present is usually a lot of flowers a lot of wreaths. Sometimes they're thrown into the grave before on the top of the casket before the casket was lowered we get that we want to pay homage to our loved one. But even so after they've been buried its proper in good and natural for us as individuals or you as a couple or as a little family to go back to that grave site to bring another flower to give another Reef just so you can personally pay homage and to reflect upon your loved one. That is what Mary Magdalene the other Mary and as the other gospel say several other women were there. That's what they were doing. They were the ones who were first at the tomb and the last at the cross these women their fervor for the Lord is admirable and something that we should follow and pattern after. Divorce is 2 and verse 3. It 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 is appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow.

Jesus's death when Jesus cried out my God my God. Why have you forsaken me if you recall and he's in the crucifixion narrative there were Supernatural things that happen when Jesus was there Darkness covered the hole and there was an earthquake that happened there as well. And here the Resurrection Day when the supernatural breaks into the natural world when the Kingdom of Heaven breaks into the kingdom of the earth. There are Supernatural signs were on full display. There was a violent earthquake as the angel of the Lord came down from heaven the messenger of God. He went to the tomb he rolled back the stone and then you just sat on it, which I read that and I just think that communicates this Authority that God has over this right when you sit down you're resting you got it under control more or less at the end of God's got this the stone is nothing for him. Let me take a little breather here before everybody gets here and all the action starts. His appearance was like lightning his clothes were white as snow. But Denver's for the guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. There's a simulator in contrast here with the women as we'll see you in just a moment the guards and the women were both afraid. Christian verse 52 Angel said that the women do not be afraid. So the women were frayed what's the guards were as well? There's a similarity in that they were both afraid with there's also a contrast are both quite different. Why? Only the humble received help. Only the humble received Hope from the Savior. You see that the guards paralyzing fear. They were trembling and they fell like dead men that they most likely fainted is my best understanding of what happened there, but it's only those who are humble in heart who will have that fear driven out and you see in the first John 4:18, we read that part of the reason God came into the world as Christ. Did he sent his son was to drive out fear from a Hearts first John 4:18 tells us perfect love drives out fear. The perfect love of God friends is the only cure to the Restless Heart that you and I have. The perfect love of God is the only antidote. Look up first five or six the angel said to the women do not be afraid for I know that you were looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen just as he said come and see the place where he lay. He's not here. That in of itself is not good news. The empty tomb in and of itself is not good news because why somebody could have stolen the body or he's not here somebody stole the body. That's not good news. He's not here coupled with he is risen is good news. That is the hope of Easter. He's not here. He is risen just as he said this all happened because Christ said it beforehand. He said it at least three times explicitly. He said he alluded to it more than that in the gospels. And even if you rewind further in the Old Testament Jesus's death and Resurrection were prophesied just as he said in the Old Testament, When God speaks he sees it will be completed. Then where's the angel do? What is the end of sight?

Then go quickly and tell his disciples. This is a familiar motive with Jesus in The Gospel of John The Gospel according to John. The phrase come and see a quite often and that's true with how Jesus operates with you not come and see come and look come in and preserve come and listen to my words come and see my Miracles come and see what I'm about absorbed the glory enjoy the glory and then go until then go and share that's true here come and see the Tomb come and see what's going on here. But then go and spread the message to my disciples to the Lord's disciples. We're safe. So the women heard away from the tomb afraid you've filled with joy and ran to tell his disciples. Wait a second Pastor. I thought I thought you just said that Jesus drives out fear of the humble. I thought the humble in heart have their fear driven out by the perfect love and perfect help of God right here. It says in verse 8 the women heard away from the tomb afraid. They were still afraid. So, how do you make how do you reconcile that? How do you make sense of that? Here's the deal. When God speaks his word to us, we have no legitimate reason to be afraid. No legitimate reason to be afraid when God speaks his word to us. There is no legitimate reason to be anxious to be worried to be fearful. Now none the last our heart still are tempted to be fearful. We are tempted to doubt. We are tempted to be worried. But you and I as Christians and if you are not a Christian I encourage you to really consider these claims hear Jesus speaks a word. It dispels any legitimate reason for fear because Jesus is in control over this entire situation. Afraid yet filled with joy, they ran to tell his disciples. You see the fear of the world paralyzes you cause you to live in shame and paralysis. It keeps you from loving other people and loving God, but the fear of the Lord when is mixed with joy, it propels you to move forward. Is he here? The women did not sit there and stand there and they didn't say, you know, what Lord, please give us perfect. Peace before we go forward and obedience. We just need to feel that piece before we go. I didn't say that they were still afraid but they were filled with joy and see friends. For those of you who follow Christ. You don't always have to have perfect one hundred percent confident peace in every situation you face. I don't think there's a Biblical warrant for that. We have perfect peace with God as phillipians 4 talks about perfect. Peace with the Lord Almighty but to feel that piece. I don't see that in scripture. Sometimes we might still worry. Sometimes you might still doubt. Sometimes you might still be afraid of the future and what's to come but guess what you and I are still called to obey to follow the lord even in fear because that's what faith is following in the face of fear. Not just when it's easy not just when it feels good. To the women hurried away from the tomb that ran away ran to tell his disciples and then verse 9 suddenly. Jesus met them. greetings, he said They came to sweep class just they came to him clasp his feet and worship him. Falling at Jesus's feet happens quite often in the gospels every time that you may see that or come across that in the gospels everybody. Who does it. So for two big reasons, they knowledge. I'm broken. I messed up I'm sinful and they also acknowledge Jesus you are beautiful and you are powerful. SD does the entire reason why people fall at Jesus's feet I am broken. You are beautiful you are glorious. I am weak and they follow Jesus's feet. So that means you're not falling in Jesus's feet is an acknowledgement a personal acknowledgement that I'm sinful. I'm broken. I'm a sinner in need of Grace in Jesus. Wow, you are the only one who can satisfy you. The only one who can save you were the only one who can strengthen. So it's good for you and I to fall at the feet of Jesus continually.

So then what does Jesus say? Then Jesus said to them, what's the first word he speaks yet again? Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. You see how important this is to Christ God through the angel said do not be afraid God in Christ says do not be afraid. Jesus is come to drive out our fear with his perfect. Love.

Do not be afraid. I noticed why does Jesus say that right? We're wrapping it up right now. Why does Jesus say that do not be afraid? He doesn't dispel Their Fear and speak peace over them so that they can merely sit at home in a rocking chair and enjoy a peaceful quiet life. That's not at all with the intention is here. Jesus speaks a word of Peace over then he dispels Their Fear why so they will go and tell others of what they've just seen and heard go and tell others what you've just seen and heard these women were not pastors. They were not Seminary graduates. They were simple ladies who were called to share two simple things. What have you seen? What if you heard that they calling for you? And I today you don't have to be a past. You don't have to be a preacher. You don't have to have gone to Seminary. You don't even have to have been a Christian for decades if you're breathing and if you're following Christ, you were called you go and share with others what you have seen and heard in the word of God. What if we seen what if we heard? He is not here. He is risen just as he said. attitude Christ is that is what happened the first Easter Sunday the first Resurrection Sunday was that mean for you and I What it means for you and I came to him we go to Christ. Continually, they clasped his feet. They worshiped him beg knowledge there were sinfulness their broken, but he is Lord that he is creator that he is good. He is powerful they worshipped him and then they ran to tell his disciples. If you are Christian, if you have seen the resurrected Christ, if you've met him then that means you must go and tell. This is not at all some type of twisting and cajoling and guilt-tripping you all man. I means I have to go and tell my coworker. I have to go tell my family member. I have to go tell my neighbor about Jesus know if you've truly seen something good you will share with others we know about this and daily life. If you eat something good you share it with your neighbor. If you see a good movie your talk about it with your friend If You observe about the solar eclipse, that's about to happen. You're going to talk about it with others. If you've truly seen the resurrected Christ. Nobody's going to have to twist your arm the more that you see the beauty of who he is the more natural it will be for you to go in town.

Friends we end where we began.

Tell me the story slowly that I may take it in that wonderful Redemption God's remedy for sin. Tell me the story often for I forget so soon. The early do of mourning has passed away at noon. Tell me the same old story when you have cause to fear that this world is empty glory is costing me to deer and when the Lord's bright glory is Dawning on my soul. Tell me the old old story Christ. Jesus makes the whole

Chris if you don't mind coming and just plain just a little bit of instrumental music. I want to give us just a minute or two just Let this word soak into your soul reflect upon Christ meditate on what we just walk through the Gospel according to Matthew. Then after one or two minutes, I'll close in prayer and then we'll will finish everything with a final doxology. So, please take the next one to two minutes to to Simply reflect on the resurrected Christ.

father we thank you today for the privilege of giving us together What's really the Pinnacle of Christianity in that is Resurrection Sunday? We thank you that our faith is not in vain. Living a Christian life is not in vain. Because we know that you have risen from the dead Jesus met at the end of time for all of those who follow you you have promised that you will raise us all from the dead and glorious resurrected new bodies.

Help us to savor. And enjoy the truth of the Resurrection. May we share it with others be bold eager to share it. Play sustain us when we are weak and when we are fearful. Baby always go to you for comfort. for encouragement Elvis to embody your love Jesus