He Is Risen

He Is Risen Matthew 28:5-6

Matthew 28:5–6 NKJV

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Prayer

Let’s have a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word today. Lord I ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive the message You have for us. In this moment, I don’t want to be selfish- but open my heart to think about others! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Confession of Faith

I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus' Name!

Intro:

For Christ Followers , Easter Sunday - Resurrection Sunday is the most important day of the year. It is the day that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ comes back to life! The tomb is not full! Death is no longer in charge! Jesus is alive, and we have hope, we have salvation, and we have he victory because of that!

One of the most powerful declarations in human history is:

"He is not here; He is risen!" Now Say That: He is not here; he is risen

Easter is the basis of our faith, not only a holy celebration!

1 Corinthians 15:17 NLT

17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.

Man, Our faith would be useless if Christ had not emerged from the grave But He lives; so, we have triumph over sin, death, and the grave!

But Here is the challenge:

Some of us are stuck between Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Here’s what I mean

Good Friday!

At first, the name "Good Friday" could seem perplexing—after all, it marks the day Jesus was crucified, suffered, and died a terrible death on the cross. Why then would a day this sad be labeled as "Good"?

For some of us Good Friday

Good Friday Represents:

A time of Pain A time of Loss A time of Confusion, A time of injustice, a time of death of our dreams and hopes, a time of Silence of God! The family of Jesus, the disciples of Jesus watched him suffer and die a terrible death on the Cross!

Some of us are stuck in Good Friday! Meaning we are stuck because we have lost a job, we are stuck, because someone we trusted betrayed us, we are stuck because we don’t know what to do with this health crisis were experiencing, we are stuck because of the loss of a loved one, we are stuck because of depression or anxiety, were stuck because we feel prayers have not been answered , we are stuck feeling like your purpose in life has died

On Good Friday, The Christ followers watched Jesus Him die. Their Messiah was gone. Everything they believed in looked like it had failed. Their hopes were buried in a borrowed tomb.

Now Lean in: I submit to you that Good Friday had nothing to do with the event, but everything to do with the outcome:

1. “Good” Refers to the Outcome—Not the Event

The suffering Jesus endured on that Friday was tragic and the suffering was unjust. The suffering was harsh and painful! But through the suffering He accomplished through that suffering was eternally good for us.

📖 Romans 5:8 (KJV): “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 📖 Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

It was a terrible day for Jesus… but a glorious day for you and me

Through His sacrifice: Our sins were paid for. Through His Sacrifice Our debt was cancelled Through his sacrifice Our relationship with God was restored.

GooThat’s why we call it “Good”—because it was good for us, even though it was painful for Him. Good Friday was Good because it Fulfilled God’s Plan

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 NLT

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

Even in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah saw that God’s plan was to use Jesus’ suffering to bring healing and forgiveness.

The crucifixion wasn't an accident—it was God's intentional plan of redemption.

🔹Good Friday was Good because It Wasn’t the End

Good Friday was the darkest day in our history as Christ Followers, —but it was not the final chapter. It set the stage for the greatest comeback the world has ever known:

John 19:30 NKJV

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

That wasn’t a cry of defeat. It was a declaration of victory—your sin was paid in full.

Luke 24:6 NLT

6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee,

Sunday was coming. And because He rose, we rise too.

Whatever you are going through, it isn’t finished! The tears you may she now are not tears of defeat, but declarations of victory!

Now Saturday Comes

🕊️ What Happened on Saturday?

🔹 1. Jesus' Body Was in the Tomb

Matthew 27:59–60 NKJV

59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

Luke 23:56 NLT

56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

Jesus’ lifeless body lay in the tomb, sealed by a large stone.

Everyone who followed Jesus was grieving, they were confused and they were afraid! Now it happened to be the Sabbath based on the Jewish law so everone had to be still, everyone had to rest even in their sorrow

Saturday was a day of silence, stillness, and sadness.

🔹 2. The other thing thatt was happening on Saturday was the Disciples Were in Hiding

John 20:19 NKJV

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Human nature kicked in. The disciples feared if they crucified Jesus then they would be next! The were hiding behind closed doors. The were wresting with doubt in the mind and heart! The were dealing with disappointment and sadness! Everything they belivef in seemed to die with Jesus

Let me tell us here right now , the silience of Saturday is preparing you for the miracle of Sunday!

What Does Saturday Represent for Us Today?

✅ Saturday may be your Season of Waiting

You're praying, but the answer hasn’t come. You're believing God , but the promise hasn’t manifested. Saturday is when: The dream hasn’t come true. The healing hasn’t manifested. The relationship hasn’t been restored.The door hasn’t opened. Saturday is the classroom of trust.

Saturday is when You’re Wrestling With Grief, Doubt, and Questions

We are asking

“God, why did this happen?” God, “Why didn’t You intervene?” God, “Where do I go from here?”

Saturday is when your belief meets your reality.

Saturday is when You Feel Like Quitting

Have you ever said: “I don’t want to go to church anymore.” “I don’t want to keep hoping.” “I’m tired of being disappointed.” When everything seems sealed and the promise feels broken.

That’s Saturday. Saturday is when people either walk away from God… or wait on God.

Saturday is the “in-between.”

✅ Saturday is When God Seems Silent in your life

It feels like there are No miracles , No signs Just silence.

But God is not inactive in the silence.

✅ We must Trust in the Dark

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

We cannot trust what you see or don’t see

We don’t walk by what we see—we walk by faith.

Silent Saturday teaches us to trust God’s heart, even when we can’t trace His hand.

Now lean in

🔹 During Silent Saturday behind the scenes Jesus Descended to the Realm of the Dead

1 Peter 3:18–19 NKJV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

Ephesians 4:8–9 NKJV

8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

As I study this, Many theologians believe Jesus descended to Sheol or Hades, the place of the dead.

It was there He declared victory over sin and death—even in death.

Jesus was confronting and conquering the powers of death.

Saturday wasn't just a time of silent waiting. Jesus was still working—breaking chains we couldn’t see.

Sometimes when God is silent he is working on your behalf and he’s working on my behalf and we can’t see anything

🔹 The Last thing I want to address is . The Enemy Thought It Was Over

Satan thought the cross was the final blow., The religious leaders thought they had silenced Jesus., The world thought the movement was finished.

But they didn’t realize—Saturday was only the setup. God was getting ready to raise His Son!

Saturday is a setup , If you are in a Saturday season in your life

It feels quiet. It feels like nothing is changing. It feels like the story is over.

You pray… but hear nothing. You cry… but feel alone. It seems like heaven is shut off.

Saturday is when Your Faith is Being Tested

You know what God promised, but you haven’t seen it happen. You’re stuck between the prophecy and the provision.

David said in

Psalm 13:1 NLT

1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?

Saturday is the season where God is working… but not speaking.

That’s what Silent Saturday does

But know God is still working and he is about to roll back the stone

but look at your neighbor and say Sunday is coming

Lamentations 3:26 NLT

26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

📖 Lamentations 3:26 (KJV): “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

But hold on. Because…

✝️ Saturday Is Not the End. It’s Just the Middle.

Jesus was buried, but He wasn’t defeated. God was silent, but He wasn’t absent. The promise was delayed, but not denied.

Saturday is where God is preparing what Sunday will reveal. He may be quiet… but He’s still moving.

Then There is Sunday

What Does Sunday Represent?

(The Day of Resurrection)

Sunday represents more than just the day Jesus rose from the dead—it’s the day that everything changed forever.

It is the foundation of our hope, the evidence of our victory, and the beginning of new life for all who believe.

🔥 1. Sunday Represents Victory Over Death and Sin

Matthew 28:6 NKJV

6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Romans 6:9 NLT

9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.

💬 Meaning:

The resurrection broke the curse of sin and the finality of death. Jesus didn’t just survive the grave—He defeated it. His rising on Sunday morning is proof that death is not the end.

✝️ Because He lives, we will live also (John 14:19).

Sunday Represents New Life and New Beginnings

📖 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV): “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

📖 Romans 8:11 (NLT): “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you... He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

💬 Meaning:

Resurrection power is not just about life after death—it’s about new life now. Sunday represents a fresh start, a divine do-over, and the transformation of who we are in Jesus Christ.

🌄 The old you was buried. The new you rises in victory!

🔒 3. Sunday Represents Hope for Eternity

1 Peter 1:3 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

John 11:25–26 NKJV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Here’s what that means :

The resurrection guarantees that this life is not all there is. We have an eternal home, an eternal purpose, and an eternal hope.

Death is not to be feared 1Cor 15:54

1 Corinthians 15:54 NKJV

54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

🌅 Sunday Is More Than a Day... It’s a Declaration

FridaySaturdaySunday

Friday was Pain, Death, The Cross Jesus said it is finished

Saturday was Silence, Waithing and the tomb

Sunday is Resurrection, Victory, The Empty Grave He Is Risen

Ok Let me close with this

🙌 What Sunday What Today Means for You and me:

Sunday means My Past and your past is forgiven.

Sunday means My Present and your present has purpose.

Sunday means My Future and Your future is secure.

Sunday means we have victory over death

Sunday means we are new creations in Christ Jesus

Sunday means we know where we are going and out eternity is secured

Sunday means I am no longer bound by sin or fear

Sunday means my future in Jesus Christ is unshakeable

because he has Risen