He Is Risen! (Matthew 28)

Well, he is risen. Now write. Amen. Happy Resurrection Day to you. All we're going to be in the Book of Matthew today and we're looking at this chapter that Matthew gives us on the resurrection kids you are dismissed. All right.

So we'll be in Matthew chapter 28.

when we think of the word death It has quite a finality to it for us. From an Earthly perspective it brings sorrow it brings to spare. I can lead to depression and fear and sometimes even hopelessness. And in the lives of Jesus disciples as he was crucified on that first Good Friday. they Had experience circumstances that would have led their lives to be a train wreck. One of their own Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Peter had denied Jesus three times the lead disciple crumbling under the questioning of a little girl. all of the disciples fled in fear and none stood by Jesus not only that he was given an unfair trial. He was beaten. He was mocked. He was paraded through the streets. He was executed by crucifixion and he was buried in a borrowed tomb. The Roman authorities sealed the tomb and they posted a Roman guard. The disciples were demoralized. They were fearful. And they were hopeless they had no earthly reason to believe. You see nobody had risen from the grave. Date date. This was not a common experience. You might hear this thought that those in the day of Jesus were more prone to believe Supernatural things. Well, they understood like us the people don't rise from the grave. So the followers of Jesus after they had seen him killed. They had no hope or expectation that he would rise again. And that's the question I want to put before you this morning as we look at this text is simply did Jesus rise from the grave? And in history the last two thousand years. There's been a number of possible answers. Some would say he didn't even really die on the cross. That there was a it was a lookalike. It was someone else who went to the Cross. Some would say Jesus's tomb was not empty that the disciples the women in their in their grief went to the wrong tomb.

Some would say the disciples stole the body of Jesus. We're going to see that in Matthew 28 today. Some have argued that the disciples simply had a hallucination. They were delusional when they claim to see him. We're going to talk about that in a little bit. Or the answer is Jesus. In fact did die on the cross and he did rise from the grave. And this is the Hope see this is the most important question. We can answer this morning. It has life-changing consequences Pastor Tim Keller who went home to be with the Lord but he pastored in New York for many years. He said this one Sunday morning Easter morning. If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that. He said if he didn't rise from the dead then why worry about any of what he said the issue on which everything hangs. It's not whether you like his teaching or not. But whether or not he rose from the dead We're going to see it in our passage today. The resurrection can be the only evidence to the eyewitness accounts that we're going to read today that we're going to see and if Jesus has risen from the dead and he has and if he's been given all authority in heaven on Earth and he has then we have to obey what he says. Because he's king of all. Well, let's look at Matthew 28 begin with verses 1 to 10 the empty tomb now after the Sabbath toward the dawn of the first day of the week Mary Magdalene in the other Mary went to see the to behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow and for fear Pam the guards trembled and became like dead men. But you angel said to the women do not be afraid for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here for He Is Risen as he said come see the place where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead and behold he's going before you to Galilee there. You will see him. See I told you so they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell the disciples and behold Jesus met them and said greetings and they came up and took hold of his speed and worshipped him. And then Jesus said to them do not be afraid go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me. So we have this account from the Apostle Matthew speaking of the Resurrection on the first day of the week and when they mentioned the first day of the week, it's it's often called the Lord's Day. And the Lord's day is the day the Lord was raised from the dead. That's why we celebrate and gather on Sundays instead of Saturday. Saturday is the Sabbath but we gather on Sunday the Lord's Day. And the early church began worshiping on Sunday instead of Saturday the Sabbath because it's the day Jesus was raised from the dead. So these women are going on this? First day of the week Sunday, they were not able to go on the Sabbath because of Jewish custom and laws regarding dead bodies and all of those things and they're not expecting to find Jesus gone. In fact, we know from the other gospel accounts, they take all sorts of spices so that they could prepare his body properly, but they were uncertain about how they were going to move this Stone out of the way this heavy Stone. And they get there. And there was a great earthquake and there was an angel sitting on top of the stone that have been rolled back. And they find out that he's not there that he's risen and this this Stone this tomb was a imagine a cave like opening in the side of a hill and it had a large wheel like stone that was rolled over the entrance into place. This angel had rolled it away. And this Angels a little different picture than the Angels you see in the Hallmark store, you know those precious moments. Here, he's like lightning his clothing white as snow. He has the ability to roll away the stone by himself and they were scared frightened fear of the Angel caused the guards to tremble and become like dead men in verse 4 and cause the women to be afraid as well.

But vs. 526 the Angels say don't fear. I know that you're seeking Jesus who was crucified Jesus had promised before in the gospel of Matthew twice. In fact Matthew chapter 16 in Matthew chapter 17 that he had to go be crucified and die and rise again until the angel reminds the women. It's just as he said he's not here. He's risen. He promised this and they're giving instructions in verse 7 go quickly tell his disciples that he's risen from the dead and Bo he's going before you to Galilee there. You will see him. See I've told you so these women they go to the tomb They expect to find his body. They expect to have difficulties to get this Tombstone rolled out of the way so that they could at least treat him with some respect and dignity and end in their grief have you know, this this time of lamented morning and then they get there in the Tomb is empty. Can you imagine such a thing?

I've had two very dear people to me die on Easter Sunday. Mychal Thompson Jr. And Steve Fernandez 13 years ago and 11 years ago. and I Was that their funerals? I was there I kygo To see the memorial I would not expect to see an empty grave. Because this is the reality of death.

Life in this Fallen World, these women did not expect to see a resurrection. They expected to go to a grave and have a memorial instead. They go in their shocked. There's downed it. Why is the grave empty and the angel tells him he's risen. He's not here. He's risen from the dead just like he said what and encouragement they're giving instructions. He's going to meet you in Galilee. He's going to head you go to Galilee. You tell us disciples and you all go there and meet him. This was really good news. By the way. It's the same commitment. We have to tell the others that he's alive. This is the best news in the world. What an encouragement not only is he alive but his followers will see him again. Listen to what Augustine who was a pastor in the 300 said he died but he vanquished death in himself. He put it into what we feared. He took it upon himself and he vanquished it as a mighty Hunter he captured and slew the lion. Where is Death Stick It In Christ for it exists no longer but it did exist and now it's dead o life o death of death be of good heart in it will die in us. Also what is taking place in our head Christ will take place in his members death will die in us also, but when at the end of the world at the resurrection of the Dead in which we believe and concerning which we do not doubt. What a comfort Jesus killed death by his resurrection. The book of Hebrews says it this way. He destroyed him who had the power of death. That is the devil and release those who through all their lifetime were subject to bondage freed us from it the fear of death. And Augustine gives us helping we heard it in 1st Corinthians that that our Resurrection bodies are coming when Jesus returns the second time. We have a great hope you see the resurrection can be the only answer to the eyewitness evidence testimony before us today from this these women they had no reason to lie. In Jewish culture, they weren't even considered the best eye witnesses that their testimony couldn't necessarily be trusted. But here Jesus the angel and trust these women with this eyewitness testimony, and we know from the other gospels they go and tell the disciples and Peter and John ran to check it out and they saw the empty tomb and then they go and they go up to Galilee to to hear from Jesus to see him. Of course, we know from other gospels that Jesus appeared to the eleven. The disciples and Thomas wasn't there and they see him and they believe and then Thomas you remember in the Gospel of John. He says unless I see the scars in his hands and I put my hand in the side where he was pierced with a spear. I will not believe in Jesus appears to him to go ahead put your fingers in my hand. Put your hand in my side. Don't be unbelieving but be believing and how does Thomas respond my Lord and my God. This is the eyewitness testimony. Jesus surprises these women also along the way and meet them versus 8 to 10. They're excited. They have great joy, they're running from the tomb. It says with fear and great joy ran to tell the disciples and who shows up in verse 9 Jesus. He says greetings and they came up and took hold of his feet and worship him and he says the same thing the angel said don't be afraid go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me. Why did Jesus appear to them after all the angel had already told him the exact same message what an act of mercy and kindness the Jesus says, I know the angel gave you the good news, but I'm going to show up and give it to you as well. I'm going to come in person. I'm going to look forward to seeing all of you together in Galilee. I'm here to give you the hope of the resurrection and reasons to believe and part of the faith part of what it means to put Faith In. Jesus is believing not only that he died for our sins. But that he rose from the grave. He is no corpse. He is the Messiah the Lord whose whose Resurrection to feed sin and death into Claire's. He's bringing all life to all things and making All Things New in him and this is our great. Hope this is why we gather every Sunday, you know, every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection. We we celebrate this time of Easter every year on the calendar to remind us that Jesus is alive, but this is our celebration every week every day. We have a savior who is not dead, but he's risen and he's alive and he's coming back and he's making all things new which means he's making our lives new. Which means all those who have passed who have gone home to be with him who are in Christ. There's coming a day when he is going to raise their bodies and give them new perfect bodies and all of us who were waiting until that day. The same is true. This is our hope and it's not sort of wishful thinking it's an Earnest expectation that everything God is doing he's going to accomplish. And Jesus Christ is the proof of it.

Well In this passage before us. We see two responses to this message first. We see a response of refusal and unbelief by the soldiers in the religious leaders in verses 11 to 15. And then we see a response of worship and Faith from the disciples in verses 16 to 20 verse 11 while they were going. behold some of the Guard went into the City and told the chief priests all that had taken place and when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave us sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said tell people his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep. And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So they took the money and did as they were directed and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. So the soldiers we saw what happened to them back in verse for for fear of him the angel the guards trembled and became like dead men these soldiers. They knew the tomb was empty. They knew the angel appeared. They probably knew if we could speculate that Jesus had rose again presumably they were laying there is if dead but they heard the angel tell the women that he's not there that he's risen. And what did they do rather than believe the message they go to the religious leaders to get hush money.

First 12 when they are assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers now embedded in that little phrase sufficient sum of money was enough money to bribe the soldiers and bribe anybody above them. That would ask questions. It was Hush money. Let's not make a big deal of this that Jesus rose from the dead. So the soldiers knew the tomb was empty, but instead of believing they were satisfied with money. The religious leaders they heard Jesus claim in Matthew 16 and 17 that he would die and be buried and rise again after all he had stood before them and said destroy this Temple and in three days, I will raise it up again and he wasn't referring to the temple in Jerusalem. He was referring to his body.

And they did not believe. Instead what they do in refusing to believe is come up with an alternative plausible Theory. What can we say? The tomb is empty the stone is rolled away. These Roman soldiers saw this so we have to come up with an idea. How about the theory that his disciples came and stole the body away while the soldiers were asleep. And they began to circulate this lie. In fact This Lie from about 30 a d all the way into Justin Martyrs Day Justin Martyr live from 100 to 165 ad. He was a disciple of the Apostle John. And he had heard the Apostle John talk about the resurrection of Jesus. Think about that the Apostle John saw that Jesus was resurrected in his church. He's discipling Justin Martyr his last name isn't martyr. He was martyred for the faith, but not Justin the Martyr and Justin tells the story that even in his day pastoring people still believe this lie that the disciples stole Jesus body. Now, let's stop for a moment and think about how possible is that really these disciples? These 11 men who were scared to death in a room hiding do you think they overpowered Roman guards who had swords these Roman guards who were on watch at this tomb who they knew that if they fell asleep at the tomb they would be executed for dereliction of Duty. Do you think they really fell asleep at the Tim? I don't think so. Not only that no one in our day believes someone would rise from the grave. No one in there. They believe someone would rise from the grave the idea that the apostles would take it in their mind that I know what we'll do. We'll come up with this huge story that Jesus rose from the dead and we'll get everybody to believe it. And we'll just basically keep telling this over and over there is no possibility that these disciples would even come up with that idea. Not only that. They were willing to go to death. For this belief all of them all the disciples. Most of them were martyred and even the Apostle John who lived the longest had been. Had been put in prison. He had been tortured for the faith and he kept believing. We're going to see some more evidence in 1st Corinthians 15 in a little bit, but I would say this is a terrible story that is hard to believe. In fact, what's more likely is he rose from the dead and even the Jewish leaders admit implicitly that they they knew that was true because they're coming up with a story to deny that he rose from the dead. We don't want to say he rose from the dead why because then he has Authority and he has rights over us and everything. He said on Earth while he was here is true, which is Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. That all of the religious duties that the Jewish leaders had put upon the people all of the bad shepherding that they had done to the people. To basically take their money to take their goods the way they had abused the temple and set up a store on Marketplace in the temple buying and selling of of sacrifices. Remember Jesus drove those money changers out of the Temple. They would have to believe that everything. He says is true.

And I would venture to guess if you're here today and you've never really thought about this question or you thought well did Jesus really rise from the grave and maybe you've heard that? Oh, that's just a myth or story and it never really happened.

The eyewitnesses said it happened. Tacitus in his annals said that Jesus Christ was crucified other historical records have said that it happened. We were to put it in a courtroom. We would say this is the evidence. Jesus was buried in the Tomb and on the third day. He rose again.

The reason for not believing that we see here. Is they refuse to believe because the consequences of believing meant that their lives would have to be changed?

Maybe that's where you're at today if you're here. If I believe this gospel is true, then it would mean my life would have to change because Jesus is Lord. He's King. He's the boss and I don't want my life to change so I don't want to believe it's true. Back to what Pastor Tim Keller said if he is really risen from the dead then he has authority over everyone and we have to do what he says.

Well, how did the disciples respond in verses 16 to 20 now? The eleven disciples went to Galilee? To the mountain to which Jesus had directed them and when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubt it and Jesus came and said to them all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me go therefore and Make Disciples of all Nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you behold. I Am With You Always even to the End of the Age what an encouragement verses 16 and 17. They go to the mountain just as Jesus said and they see him and they worship Him. But some doubt it at the end of her 17. Now are you really surprised that some doubted you got to imagine that it's like the word in the Greek is more the idea. They hesitated not strict unbelief. Like they didn't believe it was true, but they were hesitating they were not sure.

but what an encouragement Have you ever been tempted to doubt as a Christian that all this is true I have. Even his closest disciples could doubt. Our face can be weak and wavering but here Jesus doesn't leave them in their doubt. He sees them he they worship him some doubted in verse 18. He comes to them. He draws near to them and he says to them all authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to me. And he's going to stay at the end. I'm with you always even to the end of the age. Jesus came and Drew near to them and it reminds me of what he had told them earlier in Matthew 12 verse 20 a bruised Reed. He will not break a smoldering Wick he will not put out. Jesus sees them he knows that their faith isn't strong. He knows that this is a crazy thing to believe in the resurrection and he doesn't reject them. He doesn't give up on his disciples because they doubted instead he draws near to them and speaks to them and even enlist them in his mission. He's like, I know you're doubting, but I'm going to use you to make disciples. The hope of the Resurrection gives us a great reason for Joy rather than grief. Why because Jesus has been given all authority and he's alive and his saving power and presence through his death resurrection and Ascension to the right hand of the father meets two things first. He's ruling and reigning as king of kings and Lord of lords at the right hand of the father. All authority has been given to him in heaven and on Earth. S he's interceding for us as our high priest. Matthew doesn't go into this Jesus surely when he was with them on the mountain said much more than these three versus this is what Matthew chose to record but we know from the rest of scripture that When Jesus ascended after his resurrection, he was exalted to the right hand of the father and there he has as the perfect King priest he is ruling and raining and he is interceding for us at our high priest. And what a priesthood it is. He's interceding forever. He's a perfect high priest. You know in the Jewish system in the temple the high priest there. They were Sinners just like the people and so it was that situation of your lawyer needs a lawyer like they're guilty. They're going to go there going to be a need someone to atone for their sins, even though they're offering sacrifices for the people. They need someone to offer sacrifices for them. I don't need that the blood of bulls and goats could never take away. Send book Hebrews tells us but Jesus being the high priest. He entered into not just Jerusalem in the temple there, but into the Heavenly Temple where God is any offer not the blood of bulls and goats, but his own blood so they wouldn't discover send for a year. It would take away sin forever. This is really good news. We have a savior who's alive who's seated at the right hand of the father and he's praying for us. He's interceding for us. Every time we send it says if he leans over to the father and says father I died for that sin forgive that sin. Christian this is your hope the Jesus is Alive and not just a live that he's ruling and reigning with the greatest Authority. He's on the throne. You know what this means our circumstances are not on the throne. It means that government systems are not on the throne so they can appear to be it means our finances and lack of is not on the throne. It means cancer in sickness and illness is not on the throne. Jesus is on the throne all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to him. Oh, this is great news. This is great comfort his disciples went from being a bunch of scared distraught hopeless followers to being empowered by the holy spirit in such a way that they changed the world and two thousand years later. We're talking about this same gospel on the other side of the planet. This is what Jesus told them. They would do Make Disciples of all the nations. the hope of the Resurrection means we have true and Lasting peace with God true and Lasting peace with God. Jesus says in verse 19 go therefore and Make Disciples of all the nations. The word disciple as follower make followers Learners of Jesus from all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. The hope of the Resurrection on this first Resurrection Day the Lourdes De Jesus transformed his followers fear with his forgiveness reminding them of the lasting peace with God. They have any commands them and us as well to participate by the power of the spirit in this mission that he received from his father. Any says here's what you're to do go tell people about this good news. And when you tell him about this good news haven't get baptized. And when you have him get baptized teach him to obey everything Jesus commanded now, why would they teach him to obey everything Jesus commanded? Cuz he has all authority. He's the king. He's the boss. And then look at verse 20. Behold I Am With You Always even to the End of the Age Matthew begins and ends his gospel with this idea Matthew 1:23, you know this from Christmas behold the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they shall call his name Immanuel which is translated God With Us and I would have Jesus say at the end of the book I'm with you always even to the end of the age. So Jesus resurrection not only means that he has all the authority but it means his presence is forever with us. He's with us now. He's with us here. He's with us always even to the End of the Age. He's with us in fulfilling our mission to tell people about Jesus. He's with us in the midst of all of our trials and troubles and sufferings. He's with us in all of our accomplishments and all of our things that we we do that we Rejoice over he is with us always even to the End of the Age not sometimes always some Skeptics have said that the disciples were delusional and just claim to see Jesus raised that maybe they all had a hallucination together. That old at that time in human history people were more prone to believe in Supernatural things and yet many saw him here in the Book of Matthew. We see the the women saw him and then the disciples saw him but we have other cases. In fact turn over to 1st Corinthians 15 where we heard read earlier.

And Paul gives us a list of how many different people saw him at different times.

We know that Mary Magdalene saw him the women returning from the tomb saw him Peter later in the day. Saw him in this is where it all begins and 1st Corinthians 15 verse 5. He appeared to let me start in verse 43 bride delivered to you as a first importance what I received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures that he was buried that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. And here it is that he appeared to cephas. That's Peter then to the 12th. That's the 12 disciples then he appeared to more than 500 Brothers at one time. So do 500 people have a hallucination at the same time now. Maybe you can say one or a couple. But they wouldn't keep having the hallucination and then he goes on to say I love her Paul here says is oh, yeah, most of those 500 or still alive today go talk to him. Depaul's riding at the time. When all these people who saw Jesus were still alive. Now if it was a hallucination would you say hey go talk to everybody who saw Jesus alive. They're still alive. They saw him you go ask him yourself know they wouldn't want to mention that fact though. Some have fallen asleep. They've died and then he appeared to James and then Paul says last of all verse 8 he appeared to me so we know he has appeared to the the the disciples on the road to Emmaus and Luke 24, for example, or he appeared to the disciples and Thomas wasn't there and then Thomas was there that he appeared in John 6:39 disciples on the the the lake of tiberias. He appeared to 500 at one time. He appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos in the 90s when he was in the 90s lady not like the 1990s. I know that sounded it is lately, you know in 90 sometime The Book of Revelation was written somewhere between 93 and 96 ad and he appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos. so many of them Testify to this many were alive at the time of the writing of the Book of Matthew the book of 1st Corinthians. And so we have reasonable expectations that their eyewitness testimony was true. Jesus is Alive.

The hope of the Resurrection gives you reason to believe and it gives you great joy because it brings you an offer of peace with God. You see what the resurrection implies and we're going to celebrate it. When we take the Lord's table is that the reason he died was not just to live as an example. He didn't just die as an example, but he was raised because he came to die for a purpose.

We heard it in 1st Corinthians 15. I delivered to you of first importance. Paul says Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures that he was buried according to the scriptures and that he rose on the third day according to the scriptures. Paul in five words, very brief explains. The reason for Christ coming to die. He died for our sins in place of us. We deserve to be punished and he took the punishment in our place so that we could be forgiven you see if he's risen and he has all the authority. It means a few things. I mentioned this already first. He's King. He's the boss over us. He tells us what to do and how to live and we follow him and believing upon Him means submitting to him. Think about the devil. It doesn't seem quite right to say think about the devil, but He believes things are true. If you asked him, do you believe Jesus rose from the dead he would say yeah. But he's not going to be in heaven. Cuz if you ask the devil, would you submit to Jesus as your king he would say no way? That's what he did was. He abandoned his proper place in the courtroom of God refuse to Bow the knee to God and said, I'm going to be like the most high God. That's what we do in our lives apart from Jesus. Isn't that what we do we could call it a bunch of different things, but we basically are saying I am the king of my life. I am the boss. I'm the God. I have my kingdom. I'm doing what I want and nobody can tell me what to do. And maybe you're here today. I would ask you. How's your kingdom going? How's your life going?

And I don't mean that as a joke. I know some of you were chuckling but what do we do? We make a mess of Our Lives.

We ruin it cuz we don't know what tomorrow has and even if we did we're powerless to do anything about it because we're human.

So the gospel offer is stop trying to be king in your life and by faith bow the knee to Jesus is King. Stop looking in the mirror and saying yes your majesty. How did Jesus and say yes your majesty? Second it means he loves us deeply. one thing that's in between the lines of this passage is how much he loves his disciples. We see it with the women. He appears to them. He could have let the angel tell the good news, but he appears to them personally. Why because he loves them. He appears to the disciples. Why because he loves them even when they doubted he draws near to them and he enlist them why because he loves them. Galatians 2:20 says the life. We now live we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself up for us. The fact that he's alive and he has all the authority demonstrates the greatness of his love. In fact Paul says to the Ephesians. Oh that you would know how high and deep and wide and long the love of Christ is so that you be filled with all the fullness of God. It's an incredible thought that the father so loved the world he gave his son. God the Father love this Fallen World in such a manner that he would give his son.

But whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. This is the love of God on display. Jesus in the cross are the perfect picture of the love of God, if you doubt that God loves you, you look to the cross and the burial in the resurrection of Jesus because they're you see the Father's Love on display. That's why Paul can't help it say in Romans 8 if he didn't spare his son for you. How will he not freely with you give you everything else.

Play Paul in Ephesians 1 says you've been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ. This is really good news. He came to die as a substitute for our sins in our place so that we could be forgiven and brought into the family of God adopted forever. We sang it. He will hold us fast though. I fear my faith May Fail. He will hold me fast. That's good news, isn't it? Because our faith isn't always strong. We're like these disciples who doubt even though we see him Resurrected.

In our minds, I by faith we know he's risen, but sometimes we doubt because the cares of this world in the the weight of life in and just all of the things that happen we wonder is it really true? What Jesus wants to do beloved as he draws near to you and he says a bruised Reed I won't break in a smoldering Wick I won't put out. He's gentle and lowly and he says come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I'll give you rest. They didn't mean you'll find rest for your soul. Isn't that what you've experienced Christian? Isn't that what he's done? He's giving you rest for your soul. He's giving you Joy in the midst of circumstances. He's giving you peace that passes all understanding and it guard your heart and it guard your mind.

To believe in Jesus then means to surrender to his Universal authority to Val Denis in submission to him as king. And if you're not yet a Christian here today a follower of Jesus, would you consider he's risen? Put your faith in him that he died for your sins father needed him and say you're the King Jesus not me. I've made a mess of my life. I've ruined it. All I have is Broken Dreams and dashed hopes.

Would you save me would you deliver me? By faith come to him believe that he died and rose again on the third day. The verse that brought me to Faith Romans 10:9. I love its Simplicity if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord that he's the king. He's the boss and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved. Come to Christ. If you don't know him come to him today doesn't matter. What a mess. You've made. He's the one who is the savior who cleans you up. He's the one who died and was buried and rose again so that you could have new life. He's the one who lived the perfect life, you could never live and he died in your place and he is offering life to you in the gospel. Come to him. Father thank you for this word in this time.

I thank you for just a reminder that our savior is risen and he's alive.

It gives us great hope. Great joy to celebrate. The Jesus is risen, and he's alive and he's seated at your right hand and he has all the authority which means he's in control. And everything that we experience in life is first pass through his hands. And he's interceding for us as our high priest. Continually cleansing us from the stain of our sin. And he's coming back to get us and that's what we celebrate. Now with this communion is we partake to remember his body broken in his blood shed until he comes again. To make all things new and we have this great. Hope because he's risen we too will be risen.

This mortality will be put off and we will receive immortality and life eternal. Hallelujah. What a savior amen.