The Greatest Story Ever Told: "His Resurrection"

Greeting:

Good morning everyone

Its a beautiful but snowy morning still.

I am glad we all are here but be safe and stay warm!

I hope you can come back tonight and Wednesday night to worship with us.

Not only does scripture tell us to, but we want you to!

Lesson Text:

Matthew 27:51-28:20

Opening:

This morning we have reached our third and final sermon in our series.

We have been looking at the idea of “The Greatest Story Ever Told”

We have examined the story of Jesus through his life, his death, and now this morning his Resurrection.

Last week we looked at the crucifixion and all that it entailed.

We may still wonder how that story, so brutal and gruesome, fits in this idea of “The Greatest Story Ever Told”

We noted last week it was because of his great love for you and me.

This morning I believe we will add another layer of appreciation to everything Christ went through.

This morning we are going to see how everything we have looked at so far finally comes together..

We will look this morning and see why all that he endured was worth it...

This morning we are going to look at the conclusion of our story, The Greatest Story Ever Told "His Resurrection”

Lesson:

Last week we left off in Matthew at his death.

This morning I want to pick up there in Matthew 27:51 where we left off.

Jesus has just died and gave up the spirit.

We read immediately after this the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

This veil in the temple is what essentially separated God from man

So when Jesus died he tore that veil back. He ended that division for all of man kind.

The earth shook, the rocks split, the tombs opened, dead come to life...

Sounds like something from a movie doesn't it?

But rest assured this isn’t a fairy tale, this isn't a sci-fi story… this is real.

Jesus has just fulfilled even more of the prophecies and shown to the world, he is the Son of God.

He has proved to everyone he is who he said he was...

Matthew 27:54 ESV

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Can you imagine what must have been going through their minds?

After all they just done to this man...

This was Jesus!

What did we just do?

We can continue on and see down in verse 57 Jesus later that evening was buried.

Just as it was told he las lives, died, and now is buried, waiting to rise again.

Matthew 27:57–61 ESV

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

Jesus has been placed in the tomb by Joseph where he will lay.

Joseph takes him in and wraps up his body.

Then they roll a stone over the entrance to shut it up.

But little do they know this story isn't over.

We can continue on to read of Pilate and the chief priests and their response to the news.

Matthew 27:62–66 ESV

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

The priests remembered what Jesus said but they still didn't believe.

They sent for men to guard the tomb just in case his disciples came.

They thought they would come, steal his body, then tell everyone, “see he has risen like he said!”

And they couldn’t have that.

But again little do they know, they don’t have to worry about his resurrection being faked…

It’s going to be real.

So there was Jesus in the tomb, with a guard and a sealed stone separating him from the outside...

Jesus was about to do something that would solidify himself even more as the true Lord and Savior…

As we get ready to enter chapter 28 I want us to pause and take a moment.

Take a moment to really appreciate what we are about to read.

We truly are about to read the greatest finale to the greatest story ever told.

I want us to pause and just read the chapter and listen to what God’s word says...

Matthew 28:1–20 ESV

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And 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 of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the 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 has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 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 a 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. Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Can you even begin to imagine what this must have been like?

This earthquake and the angel appearing to roll away the stone…

Can you imagine what the guards felt like?

Can you imagine what Mary and Mary Magdalene and Joanna felt like?

Can you imagine what the disciples felt like?

Why?

I love this word. I love finding out why.

Have you ever thought about this word specifically related to his resurrection?

Why was his Resurrection so important?

Do we fully understand the significance of what we have just read?

Jesus has just done something that officially proves everything he ever told.

All of his teachings, all of his hope, all of his promises…

Everything Jesus stood for was just solidified and fulfilled by him raising from the dead.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

This is what we have because of what he did.

He is the founder and perfecter of our faith…

And just think if he didn’t raise?

What if he didn’t defeat death?

Yet he did, just as he said he would he defeated death and rose in 3 days for you and for me…

How happy does that make you?

This should make us as Christian's happier than any words or emotions could express.

We serve a Savior who has defeated death.

This is not only the Greatest Story Ever Told, but it is the most important story ever told.

This story of Jesus dying and raising from the dead is the story that provides salvation for mankind...

That is what makes it the greatest and most important story ever told...

This morning I want to conclude this story by looking at this same story being preached in scripture.

Scripture tells us on many occasions the story of Jesus being preached for salvation.

Particularly the story of his death, burial, and resurrection… the Gospel.

But one account in particular I want us to finish up this series in this morning...

In Acts 2 we find Peter preaching a sermon.

Standing in the same city where Jesus was condemned

Peter some 50 days after the crucifixion stands before a crowd in Acts 2 and tells this same story.

The story of Jesus and his life, his death, and his Resurrection for our salvation.

Acts 2:22–24 ESV

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Isn't this story told by Peter the same great story we have studied?

Peter told them Jesus came he lived, he died, and he arose!

He told them it was impossible for Jesus to be held by death.

That’s the Lord and Savior we have.

That’s the God we serve, the God who raised up Jesus from the dead.

But Peter doesn't stop there, he continues on in his sermon preaching Jesus to the crowd

Acts 2:25–36 ESV

For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter uses the influence of David, one that the crowd would of been very familiar with.

He tells them how David spoke of what would happen concerning Jesus.

He tells them “this Jesus”, this Jesus David spoke about, this Jesus I am telling you about, this Jesus the one true Jesus is who God raised up from the dead.

Peter told them The Greatest Story Ever Told….

And look at the effect it had on them…

Acts 2:37–38 ESV

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This story cut them to the heart.

This great story changed their entire lives.

They ask Peter what they need to do in order to be saved and Peter tells them.

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ.

Have you ever thought about that name?

And what that name meant for them and means to us?

We have spent a great deal of time the last few weeks looking at the story of Jesus...

And I think now we can see why.

Jesus offers something that cant be found anywhere else.

Salvation

Jesus Christ through his life, his death, and his Resurrection offers us the hope of heaven.

Through him, just as Peter preached to those on The Day of Pentecost, we have forgiveness of sins.

That cant be found anywhere else.

That is something that can only be found in the name of Jesus.

A question for us this morning...

What Will Our Story Be?

Will we do our best every day to live for Christ?

Will we make a decision to follow him?

He has laid the foundation for us and done all he can do.

The rest is up to us…what will we do?

Will we be like those in Acts 2 and have our hearts pricked and seek out an answer/

Will we make the decision to become a Christian?

Conclusion:

This morning as we bring to a close this series I hope we have a new appreciation for Jesus and his story.

I hope when we think about the story of Jesus that we truly realize what is should mean to us in our lives.

I hope we live our lives in a way that reflects that story to others.

This morning if you are not a Christian why not?

Jesus lived for you, he died for you, and he arose for you.

All so that we could have a hope of heaven.

The Bible tells us to hear believe repent confess and be baptized to have our sins forgiven.

Lets make that decision to follow him.

Just as we have looked at the greatest story ever told, that would be the greatest decision ever made.

This morning if we are already a Christian but we have wandered away lets come back home.

This same great story is here for you as well.

We still have the hope of heaven and God's love and grace to forgive us.

All we have to do is ask and repent.

And change our lives to point them back towards Christ.

We love you, and most importantly He loves you.

If you have a need come as we stand and sing.