Journey to the Cross

The Resurrection of the King

**Scripture:** Matthew 28:1-10 (LSB)

**Date:** April 20, 2025 (Easter Sunday)

**Theme:** Christ, the risen King, conquers death as our substitute, ascending to reign and securing our eternal hope.

**Goal:** Exalt Jesus as the victorious Lord, calling us to trust, proclaim, and hope in his risen reign.

Introduction

Good morning, church—He is risen! We’ve walked a long road to get here. Week 1, Mark 8 showed Jesus resolute—set to suffer and rise. Week 2, Matthew 16, he stood as the Christ, building his church against all odds. Week 3, John 13, he knelt in love, washing feet before the cross. Week 4, Psalm 118 and Matthew 21 hailed him King, riding humbly to triumph through rejection. Week 5, Matthew 26, we saw his agony in Gethsemane, submitting to the Father’s will. Last week, Matthew 27, we stood at the cross—his death, our rescue. Now, Matthew 28:1-10, it’s Easter—the Resurrection of the King.

This isn’t a fairy tale or a springtime vibe. This is victory—death-crushing, sin-breaking, hope-giving victory. Jesus walks out of that tomb, ascends to rule, and hands us a hope nothing can shake. The Old Testament saw this day coming—God’s plan explodes here. Today, we’re at the empty tomb, headed to the throne, carrying a hope that holds forever. Let’s see what happened, feel its power, and grab hold of its promise.

The Tomb Opens, Death Shakes (Matthew 28:1-4)

It’s dawn, just after the Sabbath, first day of the week. Two women—Mary Magdalene and another Mary—trudge to the tomb, hearts heavy, expecting a corpse. They saw him die—blood, nails, spear. But something’s about to hit they don’t see coming. Matthew says a big earthquake strikes—boom, the ground heaves. An angel, blazing like lightning, drops from heaven, rolls that stone away—not to free Jesus, but to show he’s already gone. Roman guards, tough as iron, tremble and collapse, out like lights.

This is massive. Exodus 19:18—Sinai quaked when God showed up. Psalm 114:7 says, “Tremble, O earth, before the Lord.” That’s happening—God’s moving, death’s losing. Genesis 3:15 promised a seed to crush the serpent—here’s the win, the tomb cracking wide. Job 19:25 sang, “I know my Redeemer lives”—and he does, shaking the earth to prove it. The King’s not dead—he’s alive, and no grave holds him.

The Angel’s Good News (Matthew 28:5-7)

The angel looks at the women—terrified, eyes huge—and says, “Don’t be afraid. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the crucified one. He’s not here—he’s risen, just like he said.” Just like he said—Mark 8:31, he promised the third day. Psalm 16:10 swore, “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let Your Holy One see decay”—God kept it, word for word. The angel adds, “Go quick, tell his disciples he’s risen. He’s headed to Galilee—you’ll see him there.”

Hope floods in. Isaiah 53:5 said he’d die for us, but Hosea 6:2 whispered, “On the third day he will raise us up.” Leviticus 17:11’s blood paid the price—now life wins. 2 Samuel 7:13’s throne endures—this King’s no grave-dweller. The women seize this news, run—fear and joy colliding, because it’s too big to keep quiet. The King’s alive, keeping his word, giving hope that death can’t touch.

The King Meets His Own (Matthew 28:8-10)

They’re sprinting, hearts pounding, when—suddenly—Jesus himself steps out. “Greetings!” he says, like it’s just another morning. They drop, grab his feet, worship—Psalm 22:23, “Praise him, all you who fear the Lord!” He’s real—flesh, scars, alive. “Don’t be afraid,” he says. “Tell my brothers to hit Galilee—they’ll see me.” Brothers—not just followers, family, like Psalm 133:1’s unity under his win.

This is personal. Deuteronomy 18:15’s prophet, Isaiah 9:6’s Prince—he’s here, meeting them, meeting us. Daniel 12:2 promises, “Many will awake to everlasting life”—he’s the first, the proof our hope’s secure. The King’s no ghost—he’s alive, calling you to himself, worthy of every ounce of worship.

Theological Reflection

Step back—this resurrection ties it all together. Genesis 3:15’s seed didn’t just bruise the serpent—he crushed it, walking out alive. Isaiah 53’s servant, pierced for us, now stands whole. Psalm 16’s hope—God won’t abandon his Holy One—bursts true. He’s the covenant King—sin died on that cross, AD 70’s fall sealed his reign (Hosea 13:14, “I will ransom them from death”), and our resurrection’s next (Daniel 12:2).

His death was substitution—our guilt, his cross. Leviticus 16’s scapegoat carried sin away; Jesus took every stain—your lies, your anger, mine—and paid it. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He became sin for us, so we could be God’s righteousness.” He wasn’t guilty—we were. He died, rose, and God swapped our filth for his perfection. Reformed truth sings—we rest in his work. No earning, just trusting his finished job—cross, tomb, life.

But here’s the fire—our hope lives because he does. 1 Corinthians 15:20 calls him the “firstfruits”—he rose, so we will too. Our bodies, our future, our eternity—it’s locked in because he beat death. Romans 8:11 says the Spirit who raised Jesus will raise us—our hope’s not a maybe, it’s a done deal. Psalm 110:1, quoted everywhere in the New Testament—Acts 2:34, Hebrews 1:13—says, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool.’” He’s risen, ascended, ruling now—our hope rests in the King on the throne, guaranteeing we’ll rise, live, reign with him. Every OT promise—Passover lamb, David’s throne, third-day hope—lands here, in the risen, reigning King, giving us a hope death can’t steal.

Conclusion and Response

The Resurrection of the King—Jesus lives, death’s done, your hope’s secure. He didn’t just beat the grave—he climbed to the throne, and he’s holding your future. Can you see it? Feel it? He’s the Christ who rose, ascended, reigns—your Lord, your Savior. Let this grip you, lift you, set your soul ablaze.

Picture Mary Magdalene, dawn barely breaking, shadows clinging to the garden. The tomb’s open—stone rolled back, guards gone. Your heart pounds—where is he? Then he steps forward—“Greetings!”—alive, eyes blazing with love, scars glowing with victory. You drop to your knees, dirt under your hands, and grab his feet—real, warm, risen. Tears turn to laughter—Friday’s cross is undone, the King’s alive! But look up—he’s not stopping here. Psalm 110:1 blazes bright—he’s rising, clouds swirling, ascending to God’s right hand. Angels shout, heavens thunder, “Sit here, my Son—rule!” Sin, death, Satan—crushed under his feet like dust. The tomb’s empty, the throne’s full—your King reigns, and your hope stands unshaken! Because he lives, you’ll live—forever, free, whole, with him.

[Pause—slow, letting triumph and hope soar.]

This Easter, live in Matthew 28. Rest in his victory—don’t earn it, trust it. Proclaim his resurrection—tell the world he’s alive, enthroned, our hope. Worship him—he’s worthy of it all.