The Resurrection is foundational for Christianity

The Resurrection of Jesus Vindicates His Identity as the Messiah (v. 6)

Explanation: Most of the onlookers were mocking Jesus while He was being crucified. They insulted Him and made fun of His claims to be the Son of God (Matthew 27:39-43). The sarcastic, “IF you are really the Son of God ...” reveals their unbelieving hearts. They were set in their belief that Jesus was a great deceiver and a lost hope for the Jewish people.

Argument: The empty tomb proves that Jesus IS indeed who He claimed to be. He went on record when He told the crowds, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). He made the claim and He fulfilled it. In our text we notice that when the women arrived at the tomb it was empty. The women were the first to receive the news from the angel that the Lord Christ was no longer dead, but that He was Resurrected! I like the way the angel questions the women in Luke’s account: “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5) The question is put forth almost as a mild rebuke to the ladies. What are you doing in the graveyard looking for Jesus? He told you He would suffer and die, but would be resurrected three days later (Matt 16:21) - didn’t you believe what He told you?

Application: The Resurrection of Jesus IS the foundational truth of Christianity. Without a literal resurrection Christianity is just another belief system among many that offers some very limited help in this present world. The Apostle Paul puts it like this, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 15:19).

The Empty Tomb, however, validates ALL of Jesus’ claims and proves that He is Savior and Lord. Jesus is THE ONLY ONE who has ever been Resurrected to live forever! There are no other contenders, no other options. The Resurrection of Jesus separates Christianity from the false religions and reveals that He ALONE is the Way to the Father (cf John 14:6)

The question for you is this: Do YOU believe that Jesus was Resurrected? The evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus is well-documented. Trusting in Christ as the Living Lord of all Creation and the Redeemer of Mankind is NOT a leap in the dark with your brain shut off. No one is ever reasoned into the kingdom, but reasons to believe surround you.

The Resurrection of Jesus fills the hearts of believers with hope (v. 5)

Explanation: The resurrection of Jesus has a profound impact for believers. An examination of this group of women in our passage attest to this reality. On that first Easter Sunday these women went to the tomb for the sad purpose of completing the anointing of a body for burial. They had been witnesses at the Crucifixion and they had watched as their beloved leader breathed his last breath. When they arrived at the tomb, however, they encountered an angel who informed them that Jesus had been raised to life and the tomb was empty!

Explanation: The change in attitudes must have been instantaneous! Funerals are serious situations and many who attend are burdened by the loss. These women loved Jesus and they were true believers. In spite of their belief, they were disappointed beyond words and saddened. In an instant, the Resurrection of Jesus changed their hearts. Those who had been hopeless were not filled with hope. Their sorrow was turned into Joy and they were overwhelmed with the prospects of what a Resurrected Christ would mean for their future.

Application: Even believers can be encouraged and sustained by reflecting on the Resurrection. The reality of Christ’s victory over death gives every single believer hope. We still live in a fallen world that is not kind to Christ-followers; we still live in a world where believers go through chronic pain and endure debilitating diseases and handicaps; we still live in a world in which those we love are taken from us in terrible ways. BUT, the Resurrection renews our hope. (Rom 8:17-18)

The Resurrection of Jesus is good news to share with others (v. 7)

Explanation: The women leave the tomb and go tell the disciples what they had experienced at the empty tomb. It is interesting that Matthew informs us that they had “fear and great joy” as they ran to the disciples.

Why did they have fear you might ask? It was most likely fear that they would not be believed. They experienced an event that was life-changing and it filled their hearts with joy and excitement. They had the desire to share this wonderful news with Jesus’ disciples, but they were anxious about the reception of the news - would the disciples believe them? Would their testimony of having seen and talked with the Resurrected Lord be accepted and acted upon?

Argument: The fear / anxiety of sharing the Gospel is still with us. We face that same possibility every time we share the Gospel. We ask our selves: “will this person think I am a lunatic for talking with them about Jesus? What if they do not believe me?”

The disciples did not believe the women when they came and told them of the Resurrection.

Luke 24:10–11 KJV 1900

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Application: Christ-followers have been given the role of ambassadors; our job is simply to tell the message as it has been given. The Holy Spirit is the One who does the convicting. It is NOT your responsibility to bring about repentance and belief in the life of the hearer - that is IMPOSSIBLE. We are called to share His Story and leave the results to God.

This understanding of just being a faithful messenger, regardless of results, is critical because:

The Resurrection of Jesus has been and continues to be denied by unbelievers (vv. 11-15)

Explanation: The religious leaders went to Pilate the day after Jesus died and asked for a guard to be placed at the tomb (Matt 27:62-66) so that Jesus’ disciples could not come and steal the body and “claim” he had been resurrected. Pilate allowed them to use their own Temple guards to set a watch and those guards were at the tomb on Resurrection morning. The earthquake and the presence of the Angel of the Lord knocked them out. When they woke up and realized Jesus was gone, they went back to the leaders and told their story. The leaders paid them off and started spreading the rumor that Jesus’ body HAD BEEN stolen by the disciples instead of being resurrected. (Matt 28:11-15)

Argument: The unbelieving world is HOSTILE to the message of the Cross and the Resurrection. The world system of unbelievers will lie, spread conspiracy theories, concoct alternative history, and generally refuse to believe the truth. Sinful man DOES NOT want to hear the news that he is sinful. Therefore, he will suppress what is self-evident (Rom 1:18) so that he can continue to live in denial.

Application: Individual belief or unbelief in something does not change the truth of reality. A person can choose to not believe in gravity. That person can step off a 10 story building and choose to disbelieve in gravity all the way down, and it won’t affect the reality of gravity at all.

Jesus DID die on the Cross and Jesus WAS Resurrected on that first Easter Sunday. The biblical account is historically accurate and its truthfulness has been attested and validated numerous times over the past 2,000 years. The World DOES have a Risen LORD who is currently in charge - is He your King?