The King is Alive (Matthew 27:57-28:15)

The King Has Risen

Matthew 27:57-28:15

Preached on the Lord’s Day, April 5, 2026, to the Saints of Land O’ Lakes Bible Church

i. Introduction

He has risen… (He has risen indeed). What a joyous opportunity we have this morning to meditate on the resurrection of our glorious King! For if Christ has not risen from the dead, we are to be most pitied as Christians.

The Apostle Paul acknowledges in 1 Corinthians. First in chapter 15, verse 14:

1 Corinthians 15:14 (ESV)

14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

Then in three verses later in verse 17:

1 Corinthians 15:17 (ESV)

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Now, of course there are many in and of the world who seek to deny the resurrection. They join a line of others in this, believing a lie that began in the day that Jesus arose from the dead.

But for us as Christians, the truth of the Resurrection of Christ shapes us in our faith and in our weekly gatherings. For even as we gather on the first day of the week, on Sunday, it is in light of Jesus’s resurrection. For it was on the first day of the week when he rose from the dead.

That is why each week when we gather as a church, we center ourselves around both the Cross of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ. For without these, we have no salvation, no future hope.

And so, this morning is a special morning to a degree. While at the same time, it really is not that much different from what we do every Sunday on the Lord’s Day when we gather. For we gather to look to the Crucified and Risen Savior as our only hope in life and death! We look to our King who laid down his life for us to take it up again, so that in him we too may rise!

And it is these very truths that we seek to focus on this morning as we continue in our series through the Gospel According to Matthew. Please then, let me invite you to take out a copy of the Bible and turn with me to Matthew 27:57-28:15. If you need to use the Table of Contents to find Matthew that is perfectly fine. Or if you do not have a copy of the Bible, there is a Red Bible there in your seats. And in that Bible you can find Matthew 27:57-28:15 on page #992.

Recap: As I said, we as a church have been making our way through this Gospel Account from Matthew. We began back in Matthew 1:1:

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

And as the son of David, the son of Abraham, we quickly learned that this Jesus was no ordinary seed of the woman, for he was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20), born of a virgin, and that he was to save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21).

Throughout the gospel account then, we see this Jesus being revealed further to us. Both in his life and his teaching. His teaching being with great authority. An authority greater than the religious leaders of Jerusalem, that of the scribes and Pharisees.

But we have also seen how Jesus in both his life and teaching has been fulfilling all that the law and the prophets have spoken. That he has been blameless, though often falsely accused, in keeping all of God’s laws and commandments.

And yet, as the blameless one, was delivered over to be put to death. And in so doing, Jesus was made to be a curse as he was nailed to a tree. A curse not for his sake, but ours. For on the cross, Jesus was brought to humiliation so that he may take away our sins by the shedding of his blood, as a sacrificial lamb slaughtered on our behalf, because of our guilt, our sin.

And now this morning we turn our attention to what follows after Jesus completes this sacrificial work on the cross, after he has cried out, it is finished!

Let us then hear the word of the Lord, beginning in Matthew 27:55 for the sake of context…

Main Idea: In the cross we see Jesus as the suffering servant, but in his resurrection, we see the King of Glory who conquers death and is therefore worthy of our trust and worship.

1. Jesus really died and was buried. (Matt 27:57-66)

2. Jesus really rose from the dead leaving an emptied tomb. (Matt 28:1-15)

I. Jesus really died and was buried (Matt 27:57-66)

Here in Matthew 27:57-66, we see two responses to Jesus’s death. There is the response of those devoted to Jesus and the response of those opposed to Jesus.

Devotion to Jesus

First, there in Matthew 27:57-61, we see the response of those devoted to Jesus. There is first this man named Joseph of Arimathea. Prior to this account and after, we hear nothing of this man. But here, we are told of him and that he is a rich man. And in parallel accounts, we are also told that he was a respected man of the council (Mk 15:43, Lk 23:50), that is of the council of the Sanhedrin, the religious leaders.

This being in contrast to most rich and most religious leaders within Jerusalem. For they have rejected Jesus. And we have learned from Jesus himself back in Matthew 19 and the account of the Rich Young Man that it is with difficulty that a rich person will enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, with man it being impossible, but not from God.

And so, it is this work of God we see in Joseph of Arimathea, that he was not just rich and a member of the council, but a devoted disciple of Jesus. A devotion shown in his seeking to both affirm his devotion to Jesus and in his honoring of Jesus even after he had breathed his last.

Despite the disciples having fled following Jesus being seized at Gethsemane, and even Peter denying Christ three times, here is one who still publicly affirms and draws near to Jesus as we see he goes to Pilate on behalf of Jesus there in verse 58.

Joesph here counts the cost of following Jesus, knowing that in going in this devotion, shame and dishonor could come upon him or worse because of his association with Jesus. Despite the cost, he counted Christ a greater treasure in wanting to honor him by ensuring he did not remain upon the tree and received a proper burial.

For under normal circumstances, the body of those crucified are simply tossed out to be devoured by wild animals. Imagine how here, if a body was just tossed out into the woods or a ravine what would come of it? The coyotes and wolves would surely devour the flesh and meat of what was tossed out.

But Joseph would not have this! And so, he requests the body of Jesus and lays him in his own tomb cut out of rock. A virgin tomb. That is a tomb that had not had any laid in it, it was fresh. And then he secures the tomb as we see there in verse 60, insuring Jesus’s body receives a proper burial.

Events captured by two eyewitnesses. Two women we have seen before back in verse 55 who have been present along the way, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Two who were present at Jesus’s crucifixion and death, and now at his burial.

Beloved, we have a great example of what a faithful followers of Christ look like here! First in that of Joseph and one who treasures Jesus and is willing to identify with him despite what the cost may be! Let us see how great a treasurer we have in him, a treasurer that surpasses any other treasure of this world.

And second, in these two women who followed Jesus closely through it all. Trusting and believing him through his death and burial. Trusting that he indeed was who he said he was as the Savior of the world! And how they further bear witness to Jesus’s death and burial so others may hear.

Opposition to Jesus

The second response to Jesus’s death and burial is that of his opponents, of those who reject Jesus. We see these in verses 62-66. For once more these raging opponents gather themselves against the Lord’s anointed King.[1]

Raging that not even the seizing and death of Jesus puts a stop to. For the raging was so great, that they could not even honor the Sabbath and counted it worthy of breaking to gather themselves together and go to Pilate. What hypocrites! They charged Jesus with guilt of breaking the Sabbath for disciples plucking grain and the healing of men, while on the Sabbath they plot with Pilate how to keep the narrative on their side as they remember Jesus’s words as noted in verse 63. That Jesus had said that after three days he would rise from the dead.

Such a promise causes fear in these opponents. Fear at this moment not of Jesus actually rising, but of his disciples coming to steal the body of Jesus to claim he had risen, as seen there in verse 64. Thoughts that did not cross the minds of the disciples but had of these wicked rulers of Israel.

Upon approaching Pilate, we see there in verse 65, whether sincerely or spitefully Pilate tells them to go and make it as secure as they can. And so, they do there in verse 66.

The very opponents who deliver Jesus and ensure he is crucified now take part in making sure the tomb of Jesus is sealed, secured, and guarded.

These opponents of Jesus, along with those devoted to Jesus declare by their words and actions that Jesus really died and was buried. And yet, while they both affirm this, they show two very different responses to Jesus.

Those who oppose Jesus and hate him, they continue their raging and plotting against him out of fear of him. They grope blindly to ensure Jesus has no further hinderance to their purposes. They fear how any news, even false reports of Jesus rising from the dead would impact them as they cling to their power and evil nature. A nature that will soon be more fully revealed.

Then there are those who are devoted to Jesus. They respond to Jesus’s death not out of obligation, but their love for Jesus. A love that flows from both understanding who Jesus is and what it is he has done in pouring out his love and mercy upon those who are unworthy.

Two paths, which shall we follow in light of Jesus being truly dead and buried?

Apply

There is the path that leads to death. The path in which Jesus’s opponents took. The path that despite Jesus’s death, downplays its significance, trying to minimalize sin. The path that chooses resistance to Jesus and his kingship, fighting to remain their own authority instead.

Or there is the path of life. The path that seeks to honor Jesus no matter the cost. Those who value Jesus above everything else. Those who are devoted to him in honoring him with their lives. Forsaking their lives and desires as they are each day more conformed to that of their Savior!

Beloved, Jesus really died and was buried. And it was on our account. Therefore, let this great act of love fuel our devotion to him! That’s point #1.

II. Jesus really rose from the dead, leaving an empty tomb (Matt 28:1-15)

Verse 1… Once more we see these two women who have been faithfully devoted to Jesus. They now seek to further honor Jesus following the Sabbath day of rest. For while here we only read of their coming to the tomb, in both Mark and Luke, parallels of Matthew, we see that they went with spices to anoint Jesus in his burial. Something that would have been normally already done but was unable to be done due to timing two days earlier with the Sabbath beginning.

But as they arrive, they become eyewitnesses once more to the glory of Christ. Look there at verses 2 and 3…

For on Friday and Saturday, the earth had held and imprisoned Jesus’s body. But now, on the third day, there comes a great earthquake. The shaking of the earth. And with it an angel descends and rolls away the tomb and sits upon it.

Each part of this declaring the glory and victory of King Jesus! A declaration that the earth nor tomb could hold Jesus. Death nor Hell had no power over Jesus! For he arises and his grave clothes are folded and set aside, not for later use but permanently!

For the strangeness of Friday is undone. For yes, on Friday, Jesus was struck on the heel by the seed of the serpent. He was put to death as he was counted as a curse and hung on a tree, then he was buried. But the seed of the woman was not defeated, for that would not be right. He arose from the tomb, crushing the head of the serpent and defeating him in the glory of the resurrection! And so, securing his place as God’s True and Forever King!

And in such of a glorious resurrection and the appearing of this warrior angel seated on the once sealed tomb, those who were charged to stand guard over the sealed tomb, we see in verse 4, are overcome with fear. In fact, it says that they fell as fainted men do, but appeared as if they were dead.

Men who were accustomed to seeing war and gruesome things are here brought down quicker than when a chainsaw meets a tree.

For it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God, one in whom they have rejected. Just drop down to verses 11-15 with me here…

The very ones who had feared a false report going out are the very ones now to give a false report, trying to stop and counter the news that Jesus has risen from the dead in the resurrection. Soldiers who would sooner die than fall asleep on the job and have failed to keep watch, now declare that they fell asleep while on duty to spread this false message. For only in lies is a bribe necessary. And a bribe price was settled among the Jews and Romans this day. A bribe that has caused this false report to continue to spread, even here in our own day.

But let those who have ears to hear see the foolishness of such reports. For just as the guards at the tomb trembled and feared, so will all who deny the resurrection, who deny the victorious King on the day of the King’s Return in his second coming.

Listen to how J.C. Ryle puts this:

“What will the ungodly and the wicked do at the last day, when the trumpet shall sound, and Christ shall come in glory to judge the world? What will they do, when they see all the dead, both small and great, coming forth from their graves, and all the angels of God assembled round the great white throne? What fears and terrors will possess their souls, when they find they can no longer avoid God’s presence, and must at length meet Him face to face?” [2]

Do not Fear

For while fear seizes his opponents, notice the words told to the two women who had come to honor Jesus.  Verses 5-6…

These devoted women in seeing all of this are told not to fear as they seek Jesus! They are told clearly and plainly that he has risen. Then they are invited to see the clear evidence that the tomb that was previously filled and sealed and kept guard, is now empty.

….

Apply

[1]Psalm 2:1-3 allusion.

[2]J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860), 405–406.