He Is Risen, Hope for All

Matthew 28:1-6

Intro: Stones Video

He is Risen

Some of you are here today because someone invited you. Maybe it's Easter and you thought, "Why not?" Or maybe life has gotten hard and you're looking for answers. Let me tell you—you're in the right place.

The resurrection of Jesus is either the greatest event in history or the cruelest hoax ever played on humanity. There's no middle ground. If Jesus stayed dead, Christianity is a lie and we're wasting our time. But if Jesus rose from the dead—if that tomb is really empty—then everything changes.

Here's what I want you to see in this story:

The women came to the tomb with no expectation of resurrection. They thought it was over. Their hopes were buried with Jesus. Maybe that's how you feel today. Your marriage feels dead. Your dreams feel buried. Your faith feels like it's been sealed behind an immovable stone.

But here's the good news: the tomb is empty. Death couldn't hold Him. The grave couldn't keep Him. And the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you right now.

I want to give you hope this morning

Hope for your past

the empty tomb interrupts your hopelessness

Hope for today

The resurrected savior brings us joy

Hope for your future

The empty tomb guarantees your future

The Empty Tomb Interrupts Hopelessness

Matthew 28:1–6 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.

The empty tomb interrupts our hopelessness

Before the resurrection we had no way

World gives us no hope

The women came expecting to find a corpse. 

Luke 24:1 tells us they brought spices to complete the burial preparation. They had no expectation of resurrection, despite Jesus having told them plainly what would happen.

This shows us that the resurrection was not wishful thinking or the product of fevered imagination—it was the last thing they anticipated.

These women, who had traveled with Jesus and heard him say 3 times that he would die and be resurrected, came to the tomb without hope

Harvard study on lonely men

Followed 600+ men for 80 years

200 sophmores at Harvard and 400 young men from Boston

Every two years they checked in

Hypothesis of study is that the harvard students would live longer and be happier

What they found was that men over in 50 in loveless marriages died sooner

Those who had loving families lived the longest

The world doesn’t offer you hope, only Jesus does

The earthquake and angelic appearance serve a particular purpose.

The women were asking themselves who was going to roll back the stone

The earthquake happens, and angel descends, stone is rolled away

This shows us two things

First, is that God is in complete control

The God who caused a solar eclipse on Friday was bale to move a stone guarded by Roman soldiers

Remember this next time you need God to do something

Second, the stone isn’t rolled away to let Jesus out

It was rolled away to show everyone the tomb was empty

Death was defeated

Our past can no longer hold us down because sin was defeated on the cross and death was defeated in the tomb

"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said" (v. 6).

We should not miss the importance of those final two words.

The resurrection was not plan B. It was not God improvising after a failed mission.

It was exactly what Jesus promised, fulfilling His own words from Matthew 16:21, 17:23, and 20:19.

Matthew 16:21 ESV

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

The Resurrected Jesus Gives Us Hope for Today

Matthew 28:7–10 ESV

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.”

Because Jesus is risen we have hope for today

The women are told to go and tell the disciples to go to Galilee

They go around the corner and Jesus is there waiting for them

They’ve gone from hopelessness, to confusion, to rejoicing all in the matter of a couple of minutes

Departed w/ Fear & Joy vs. 8

Something they thought was lost was now in front of them in his resurrected body

Their response was perfect!

They bowed before him, grabbed his ankles, and worshipped

Empty Tomb Guarantees Our Future

1 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

Because the tomb is empty our future is guaranteed

We have a future because of His Mercy

We deserve to suffer the consequences of our sin

Jesus extends mercy to us

Mercy is not getting what we deserve

Instead he takes our punishment on the cross, forgives our sin, and gives us eternal life

We don’t have to despair if we are going to hell or not because faith in Jesus secures our destiny

Born Again to Living Hope

We are born again to a living hope

It’s not distant wish, it is a distinct reality

This hope is alive and well

Inheritance waiting for you