Hey everyone good morning! I’m so glad you’re here. Whether you’re with us in the room, our online, thank you for joining us today. We’re really grateful you’ve found us, wether you are listen live or later you are truly part of our extended spiritual family.

Listen, If you’ve got kids with you this morning, now’s the time for them to head back to their class. We’ve got a great team ready to welcome them and share Jesus in a way they’ll really understand and enjoy.

For the rest of us, let’s get comfortable and hang out, open our Bibles, and open our hearts. I believe God has something for every single one of us today.

Now last week we looked at the triumphant entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday. We saw the spiritual blindness of the Jewish people in Jerusalem as they searched for a king of their own making, instead of the king that will make them new.

Now today we’re going to look at the end of the week there in Jerusalem. It’s a pretty big week there is Jerusalem, and we call it Holy Week. Actually I’ll tell you a bit about what happened every day between last Sunday and this Sunday. So…

Sunday: Jesus enters Jerusalem in the triumphant entry….he was the unexpected King

Monday: Jesus clears the Temple. That’s the big deal that happens, but it’s also on Monday that Jesus cursed a fig tree for not producing fruit, symbolizing the coming judgement on those that are spiritually empty.

Tuesday: Jesus teaches many. It’s on Tuesday that Jesus is debating the religious leaders and it’s Tuesday when Jesus tells the 2 great commandments are. This is also the day of what is called the Olivet Discourse, which is where Jesus talks about the end times judgement and Jesus’ return. Today is also the day that Judas began making arrangements to betray Jesus.

Wednesday: This is an interesting day because its often called the silent day. This is a day that was likely spent in preparation for the Passover.

Thursday: Thursday is a pretty packed day. The Passover, which is the last supper. This is the day where Jesus is praying in Gethsemane and is in distress knowing what is coming. It is here is Gethsemane that Jesus says, “not my will, but your’s be done” while talking to the Father. Finally, this is the day that Judas betray Jesus in the garden, and Jesus is arrested.

Friday: Throughout what we would call Thursday night and Friday morning Jesus has 6 different trials (3 Jewish, 3 Roman). Jesus is mocked and scourged. Just to be clear, a scourging in Roman times is a very particular form of torture that many people died from. This is where they take a wooded rod and attach leather strands to that rod and there are pieces of bone, and glass, and whatever other sharp pieces that can get. Then they will whip the person they are torturing. It’s been said that after scourging there are bones hanging out of the persons body and there is very little, if any skin left on the persons back and sides. Finally, on Friday. Jesus was crucified around 9am and gave up His spirit around 3pm. The temple curtain is torn and Joseph of Arimathea placed Jesus’ body into the tomb before sunset.

Saturday: The tomb is sealed and Jesus’ body rests in the tomb, it’s Sabbath and thats a day of rest.

Sunday: Well, that’s what we are going to talk about today. Last week we talked about the unexpected king…Today let’s talk about

The Victorious King

So far we’ve seen many things that Jesus has accomplished, and it’s important to think about those things and what he taught, and how he lived. However, none of those things matter without what happened on Sunday. I’d like to read what happened on Sunday morning and ask each of you to think about that morning and maybe about what you would have done that morning with these events.

Let’s open up to

Matthew 28:1–10 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.”

Can you even imagine if you were one of Jesus’ disciples, or one of the women that followed Jesus? I mean, the man that they had come to believe was the Messiah was killed, which had to be the worst day imaginable and likely led to much doubt…However, then to see the empty tomb, or hear about the empty tomb from a person you actually trust. I mean that had to be so encouraging.

I imagine a bunch of grown men jumping up and down and hugging and hi-fiving each other, with screams of joy and excitement. Can you imagine that with me for a moment…Now ask yourself if you came into church today on Easter Sunday with that same excitement…Now think about this…Every Sunday is the 1 week anniversary of the resurrection. Every Sunday we get to celebrate again about Jesus’ resurrection. How awesome is that!

Do you know why the resurrection is som important?

Jesus’ resurrection confirms His victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave — and proves His identity as the true and living King.

Let’s break it down a little bit this morning. See, the first thing we read there is that

The Earth was Shaken and Stone Rolled Away: (v. 1-4)

This is such a fascinating situation here. You see, we have eye witnesses of these events. However, these eye witnesses were women. No offense to women today, but 2000 years ago, women weren’t exactly seen as trustworthy. However we have this magnificent event take place early Sunday morning and God chooses to bless these women as the first witnesses of the greatest miracle in the history of man.

That’s actually one reason that we have for believing these accounts. You see, if Matthew were making this up, and he wanted to be taken seriously, he would have written that men were the witnesses of this miracle. This is how we can know that Matthew is simply writing the truth, because he included facts that would have discredited him in society. You see, Matthew was focused on Jesus’ glory, instead of his own.

So that’s the witnesses, but what did they actually witness on Sunday morning? This is a pretty fantastical situation I think. I mean, at 3pm on Friday afternoon the clouds rolled in and it was as dark as night when Jesus died. Now on Sunday there is a major earthquake and that led to seeing the stone rolled away by heavenly being who sat on top on the stone, and the guards were frozen solid in fear. This is what all took place when Jesus rose from the dead.

Now, Jesus’ resurrection proves 2 things that I want you to write down this morning.

Jesus’ resurrection proves that Jesus is God’s Son. The resurrection doesn’t make Jesus God’s Son — it declares Him to be who He already was. As Paul says in Romans 1:4, He was declared to be the Son of God in power…by His resurrection from the dead.

Jesus’ resurrection verifies the truth of Scripture. Throughout the Old Testament, and is Jesus’ teachings his resurrection is taught. Had Jesus not left the tomb then none of this would be true, and the Scripture would not be reliable.

Literally, God’s power breaks into the graveyard…

Now there’s something else I need to just make clear here this morning. The stone was rolled away on Sunday morning, not to let Jesus out…He was already gone. The stone was rolled away so that people would be able to see that the tomb was empty.

With both all of these things being true, we need to take a look at message that the angels told these women.

A Message of Life (vv. 5–7)

This is the most important thing that was said on Sunday morning. These angels are able to tell the women that Jesus was no longer there.

“He is not here; He is risen!” is the foundation of the Gospel.

The angel brought to these women a message of life, a message about the resurrected Jesus. Here’s the truth, had Jesus failed to rise, he would have been a deceiver unworthy of our devotion.

The angel proved to these women that Jesus was no longer there, by inviting them in to see for themselves.

Now we can’t examine the evidence in the same way that the believers did on that first Sunday. Let’s look at just a few of the reasons why we can have confidence that Jesus truly rose from the dead…These are evidences of resurrection.

We have the historical record of the empty tomb that was filled by the man named Jesus.

We have eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ appearance. Jesus appeared to over 500 people who were still alive when their testimony was circulated.

We have the disciples changed lives. They went from afraid to bold, and willing to die. No one dies for a hoax, but these men were willing to die for the truth.

There is the rise of the early church. This new church grew fastest in the place where Jesus was crucified, and then went out from there.

We see the conversion of skeptics. Paul once hunted Christians, and became the most prolific church planter and started the missionary movement.

We read the consistency of prophets and Scripture . Throughout the Old Testament the Messiah’s death and resurrection was told. Jesus said he would do it too, and his teachings and the Old Testament prophecies were lockstep with each other.

Finally we see the lasting global impact. Today there are over 2 billion people that claim Jesus as Lord, centuries after his earthly ministry. Many global religions grow primarily through population trends and culture, but Christianity is driven by the life-changing power of the risen Jesus.

We’re not done though…let’s talk about

A Personal Encounter (vv. 8–10)

Jesus has a personal encounter with the women and called them to proclaim the Good News. “Come and see!” was followed by “Go and tell!” Through a personal encounter these witnesses were told not to keep this to themselves, but to share with others…specifically to the disciples…They immediately left to obey what they were told by the angel of the Lord.

Now…here is something that I love so much. You see, it is when these women are obeying God’s word that Jesus came to them. When we are obeying God’s Word, He is with us.

You see, as the women were on their way to tell the disciples about this amazing encounter they had…suddenly Jesus met them. They recognized his voice immediately, after all, Jesus said his sheep will know his voice. When they recognized Jesus, they immediately fell at his feet and worshiped him. Jesus comforted these women, just like he will comfort the disciples later. Jesus said, “Do not fear.”

Jesus encouraged these women the same way he will encourage the disciples, and it how he encourages you today…do not fear.

These women worshiped at Jesus feet on Sunday morning because they recognized his voice. Jesus then gives instructions to the disciples to meet him in Galilee. Matthew wrote largely of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, it is natural that Jesus would meet the disciples there. This is where these men were from and where they would be returning. Jesus instructed them to return and wait for him to change their lives.

Now there is something pretty amazing that speaks to the personal relationship with the disciples. You see, prior to his arrest, Jesus had told the disciples they would fall away…this is due to fear. He tells them that he will die, but that he will rise and then meet them in Galilee. However, they’ve forgotten which is why they are staying where they were. Had they believed his words, they wouldn’t have waited in Jerusalem, but they would have immediately rushed back to Galilee.

How often do you forget what you have already learned? You have learned, and most here believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Yet you are living your life in fear of being found out…just like the disciples were. Listen, we’re here this morning to worship the risen King of all Kings, yet many of you still live like he’s still in the tomb and you have to be careful who knows you follow him.

I know that’s harsh…but it’s also true.

Remember, Jesus’ resurrection confirms His victory — and proves His identity as the true and living King of Kings.

Application:

So how are you going to live today? Are you willing to listen to the angel of the Lord this morning? In Luke 24 we read the angel say, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” In other words, why are you living like Jesus is still dead? So how about you this morning? Are you living like Jesus is alive?

You see, when we put Jesus in her proper location we begin to see that Jesus’ victory changes our priorities…our hopes…and our fears. Will you put Jesus among the living today? Will you trust Jesus with your struggles? Will you listen as the Holy Spirit calls you to repentance and allow the victory of Jesus claim victory over your sin…or would you rather keep doing things your way?

The angel of the Lord invited the women to come and see that the tomb was empty. You have the same invitation…come and see who Jesus really is. Come and experience the personal encounter with Jesus that he has made available to you.

This morning we celebrate the resurrection of the living Son of God…Don’t allow your spiritual blindness to keep you from experiencing new life with the Risen King.

The King who wore a crown of thorns now wears the crown of victory — and He’s inviting us to share in His resurrection life. Jesus’ resurrection will change everything…

Listen, if you’re a follower of Jesus today, let this Easter reignite your awe and your joy. Remember that every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday. Every day is a gift to live in the power of the risen Christ.

And if you’re here today and you’ve never truly believed—maybe you’ve heard the story, maybe you’ve even come to church before—but you’ve never placed your trust in the Risen King, then today is the day to do it. Not because I’m asking you to, but because Jesus is alive, and He’s inviting you to walk out of the grave too. To be raised to new life.

Jesus is not in the tomb. He is risen—and He is calling your name.

Let’s Pray: pray for eyes to be opened and hearts to be softened.

Now the worship team is going to lead us in a final song, and I just feel like God is working in some hearts this morning. I’d like to give you an opportunity to respond to that pull on your heart. I will be up here, and whatever it is that God has placed on your heart just come on up and allow me to pray with you. Allow us as a church to encourage you in your response to the Lord…

Possibly have them sing the chorus again…