8 - Dawn: The Day Everything Changed

SERMON 8 — Dawn: The Day Everything Changed

Matthew 28:1–10 Theme: Resurrection is not just an event—it’s the beginning of a new world.

Opening

There’s something about dawn. It’s quiet. It’s gentle. It doesn’t force its way in—it simply arrives, and suddenly everything looks different.

Easter is God’s dawn breaking into the world.

Not with trumpets or fireworks or a cosmic drumroll. But with a rolled‑away stone, an empty tomb, and two women walking in the early morning light.

Matthew 28 begins not with noise, but with dawn.

And dawn is when everything changed.

Walking Into the Story

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb. They’re not expecting resurrection. They’re expecting to grieve.

They bring spices, not celebration. Tears, not triumph. Questions, not confidence.

And then— the earth shakes. an angel appears. the stone rolls away.

And the angel says the words that changed history:

“He is not here; He has risen.”

Not “He escaped.” Not “He revived.” Not “He slipped out the back.”

He has risen. Just as He said.

Illustration: The Locked Door

Have you ever locked your keys in your car? You stand there staring through the window at the keys sitting in the seat, mocking you.

You try the handle again—as if it might magically open this time. You call someone. You wait.

You’re stuck.

Death was the locked door humanity couldn’t open. No amount of effort, goodness, or religion could unlock it.

But Jesus didn’t pick the lock. He broke the door off its hinges.

Resurrection isn’t a repair job. It’s a revolution.

A Little Humor

A kid once told me, “Jesus came back from the dead… so does that mean He was like a zombie?”

I said, “No, buddy. Zombies chase people. Jesus chases hearts.”

The Women’s Response

The angel tells the women:

“Do not be afraid.” “Come and see.” “Go and tell.”

That’s the Easter pattern.

1. Do not be afraid.

Because fear loses its power when death loses its sting.

2. Come and see.

Faith isn’t blind—it’s invited to look into the empty tomb.

3. Go and tell.

Resurrection is too good to keep to yourself.

The women run— filled with fear and joy.

Isn’t that honest? Faith often feels like both at the same time.

Jesus Meets Them on the Way

As they run, Jesus appears and says one word:

“Greetings.”

Not “Behold!” Not “Fear not!” Not “Ta‑da!”

Just… “Good morning.”

Because resurrection isn’t just cosmic— it’s personal.

Jesus meets them on the road, in their fear, in their confusion, in their running.

He meets us the same way.

Illustration: The First Light

Have you ever watched the sunrise after a long night? You don’t notice the exact moment the darkness loses. But slowly, steadily, the light takes over.

That’s resurrection. Not just one moment 2,000 years ago— but the beginning of a new world where darkness doesn’t get the final say.

Connecting to the Series Theme

Week 1: Dust — God begins with honesty. Week 2: Wilderness — God forms us in hard places. Week 3: Promise — God calls us forward. Week 4: Thirst — God fills us with living water. Week 5: Sight — God opens our eyes. Week 6: Life — God brings resurrection. Week 7: Branches — God rewrites our hopes. Week 8: Dawn — God begins a new world.

This is the journey From Dust to Dawn: God takes what is broken, buried, and hopeless— and brings it into the light.

Three Truths Easter Declares

1. Death doesn’t win.

Not in Jesus’ story. Not in yours.

2. Hope is stronger than despair.

The tomb was full of death on Friday. It was full of angels on Sunday.

3. Jesus is alive—and that changes everything.

Not just someday. Not just spiritually. Not just symbolically.

Right now. Right here. In you.

Illustration: The Unfinished Story

A teacher once asked her students to write a story. One boy turned in a paper with only one sentence:

“And then everything got better.”

The teacher said, “Where’s the rest?” He said, “That’s all I needed.”

Easter is God writing that sentence over the world. Over your life. Over your grief. Over your fears.

“And then everything got better.”

Not instantly. Not easily. But inevitably.

Because Jesus is alive.

Application: What Does Resurrection Mean for You?

1. Your past is not your prison.

The stone is rolled away.

2. Your present is not hopeless.

Jesus meets you on the road.

3. Your future is not uncertain.

The dawn has already broken.

4. Your calling is not small.

“Go and tell” is still the mission.

Easter isn’t just something we celebrate— it’s something we live.

A Gentle Turn Toward Hope

The women came to the tomb expecting death. They left carrying resurrection.

You may have walked in today with grief, fear, or questions. But you can walk out with hope.

Because the tomb is empty. Because Jesus is alive. Because dawn has come.

Closing Prayer

Risen Lord, Thank You for breaking the darkness with Your dawn. Thank You for rolling away stones we could never move. Thank You for meeting us in our fear, our questions, our grief, and our running. Fill us with resurrection hope. Help us live as people of the dawn— people of courage, people of joy, people of new beginnings. Lead us from dust to wilderness, from wilderness to promise, from promise to living water, from living water to sight, from sight to life, from life to hope, and from hope into the full light of resurrection. In Your victorious name, Amen.