Come & See, Go & Tell

Good morning and happy resurrection Sunday!

I invite you to open your copy of God’s word to the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 28

Q: Have you ever heard news that seemed too good to be true?

ILL: Imagine with me for a moment...you’re at home on a normal day

The doorbell rings

You open the door—and there’s a camera crew, balloons, and someone holding one of those giant checks from Publishers Clearing House

They’re smiling and saying “Congratulations! You’ve just won a million dollars!”

Now be honest—what’s your first reaction?

Back in the day when I was a kid...we might would have more quickly accepted and celebrated the good news

BUT...not today! Not in this age of scammers

We would be skeptical

We would think it’s a scam

We would have a hard time believing it

Because we’ve been conditioned to believe...when something feels too good to be true, it probably is

On that original resurrection morning...Mary and her group of friends made their way to the tomb

They went sad, but would soon receive news so good...surely it felt too good to be true!

They went to the tomb...fully prepared and expecting to find:

The tomb sealed

And Jesus’ dead body within

BUT, what they found was news that seemed for a moment...too good to be true

However, any fear and doubt would quickly way to joy!

What they found would forever change their lives…and I believe it has the power to change your life today…as well!

I invite you to read with me…we won’t read the whole passage since Pastor Ryan already did…

But…pick up with me in verse 5

Matthew 28:5–10 ESV

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 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.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

PRAY

In the time we have this morning, I want to focus on two phrases spoken by the angel to these women

There were two specific calls to action the angel gave them…and two calls to action you need to consider today

First, we see in verse 6…we see the call to…

1. Come and See

This was an invitation…to seek…to inspect…to believe

Think back to all that was going through these ladies minds as they made their way to the tomb…

Their hearts were heavy over their perceived loss

They believed Jesus was Messiah, but now it seemed to be over

They had followed Him for three years, left everything to follow Him

They loved Him...

By all accounts here…their hope was shattered

BUT...in a moment...everything would change…Matthew 28:5–6 “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

God sent His angel to meet these women…in the midst of their hurt…their pain…their fear

And speak HOPE into their lives

“Jesus is NOT here!”

“For…HE has risen…as He said”

“Come, see the place where He lay”

Inspect it for yourself! See that it is true…and believe!

And if that wasn’t enough...Jesus caught them as the left the tomb and appeared to them...personally

What a powerful and incredible moment

Any doubt or questions they had were now gone

They were in awestruck wonder

And fell at His feet and worshipped Him

Jesus...was alive!

As news of the resurrection would spread…there would be varying responses to the empty tomb…

The soldiers shared with the chief priests and religious leaders…

These men didn’t care enough to even go and investigate these claims

Their response was to bribe the soldiers to report a lie…that the disciples came by night to steal Jesus’ body away

The ladies would report to the disciples…

Peter and John had to come and see for themselves

Peter marveled at what he had seen (perhaps still undecided)

John seeing the empty tomb believed

Jesus then appeared on multiple other occasions to His disciples…

We read here in Matthew 28:16–17 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.”

We know Thomas doubted

He wasn’t there to see Jesus

The report alone wasn’t enough

John 20:25 “… he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.””

Jesus would come and let Thomas do…just that…and he believed

Throughout history, people have wrestled with the truth of Jesus’ resurrection

Why is that?

Two reasons:

Because, there is something about death that seems so final

Here we are in a graveyard…

Some of your loved ones are buried here

These headstones represent this hard truth…that they are no longer with us

Death is a hard thing

And then there’s the obstacle of the natural mind

We struggle to believe what goes beyond the natural limits of mankind

However, we know that God is above all, that God isn’t limited or bound by the limits of the flesh

There is nothing God can’t do!

It takes faith…real and genuine faith…to believe the news of the resurrection

BUT listen to me…our faith is more than empty hope…a shot in the dark

Our faith…is something we can be sure of…

Here’s why I believe in the resurrection of Jesus: (Here’s the evidence…)

The Empty Tomb

I’ve been there…I’ve inspected it…it’s still empty today

The Eye Witnesses

The Bible tells us that Jesus made at least 10 appearances to others and gave many infallible proofs

In one instance, He appeared to over 500 people at once

BUT…if that’s not enough for you…consider…

The Changed Lives

Think about Jesus’ disciples

When Jesus was arrested they all fled for fear of persecution

As Jesus died, most kept their distance

They feared for their own lives

BUT…once they saw Jesus resurrected from the dead…they were changed!

Those fearful men because bold witnesses of Jesus

So bold, they were willing to die for the cause of Christ

Listen, people are certainly capable of lying…but who is so committed to a lie…that they would die for it?

There’s also the changed lives throughout history

The awesome stories of God’s redemption and radical transformation of those who have put their faith in Jesus

And lastly, there’s my story…and your story

Your personal story of how Jesus saved and redeemed your life

You are a walking, living, breathing testimony to the power of God to change a life

The same power that rose Jesus from the dead

So…we come back to the angel’s invitation

It is an invitation to seek…to investigate…to believe in Jesus by faith

God is not afraid of your investigation

Bring your doubts

Bring your questions

God is able...to answer and meet every one of them...

Come and SEE

We’re going to come back to this point in a moment...

But let’s explore this next phrase first...

The angel says to these women…

Matthew 28:7 “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.”

2. Go and Tell

What do YOU do with good news?

I love good news!

I’ve not been good at keeping good news to myself, though I’m getting better

ILL: I remember, when Shannon said YES to be my wife

I couldn’t help but tell everyone I knew!

I turned in to my Nana

She had one of those roledex’s with all her contacts

And when she read something juicy in the national inquirer she would grab that roledex and go to town!

Well, I wasn’t gossipping…BUT…I had good news to share

It didn’t matter whether you wanted to hear it or not…I was going to tell you!

Some of you Grandparents know what I’m talking about…

That first grandbaby is born…you carry that picture proudly and show it off to anyone who will listen

You sports fans…your team wins the championship…do we casually just go to bed?

NO!

We call our family, we call our buddies…we laugh…maybe we cry...we celebrate

I know it’s been a while, but I still remember what that feels like!

When we get good news…IT comes natural to us…to GO and TELL somebody!

Now…follow me here…I cannot think of any better news than the resurrection of Jesus Christ

There has been NO more significant event than this…in the course of history…though His birth was pretty important as well

IF we believe the message of the gospel…

That mankind was hopelessly lost in sin

Unable to work their way out of its grip

Standing guilty before Holy God

Worthy of His coming judgement

With NO hope

But…that God in His great love…sent His Son Jesus…

Who was born in human flesh (fully God, fully man)

Who would die in our place (substitutionary atonement)

And rise from the grave

So that by grace through faith…we could be saved

And offers the gift of salvation to any and all who would believe in Him by faith

HOW…could we NOT share that news!

IF YOU really believe

IF YOU’ve really tasted and seen that God is good!

IF YOU’ve experienced the peace, joy, and hope only Jesus can give

YOU don’t have to be forced to share it...you will want to!

Listen...the good news of the gospel is the BEST news ever!

We were lost in sin

We had no hope

We had no peace with God

We were destined for a life apart from God

BUT...God so loved the world...He gave us Jesus!

Who would lay down His life for us

That is love!

And that’s God’s love for you today

So…as we close...HOW do we respond to the good news of Jesus’ resurrection?

To the believers here today...Go and TELL

As the Gospel of Matthew comes to an end…we see the Great Commission…Jesus’ call for His followers to GO and make disciples

This is a call to live your life with purpose

The idea…you’re already going…so go with purpose!

Listen, in Jesus…your life has been changed

In Jesus you’ve been given new life and you’ve got a story to tell

A story others need to hear

GO…and TELL your story…and point them to Jesus!

And for some here today...God is calling you to Himself

Calling you to COME and SEE

To inspect the good news of the gospel

And to believe...putting your faith and trust in Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord

Some of you are here today…and you come seeking

You’re trying to figure out what this is all about...what life is all about

Maybe, you have heavy stuff happening in your life…and your simply seeking something more

Searching for answers

Listen, you’ve come to the right place!

Here’s the good news of the gospel…

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God loves you!

So much...He gave His only begotten Son...Jesus

Who died in your place

Who paid the debt of your sin

He died in your place, was buried...and on the third day...rose to life!

Jesus paid it all...and He invites you to believe in Him by faith

NOT blind faith…NOT a shot in the dark

BUT…by the evidence before you

And His Holy Spirit…who is calling you right now

IF you have yet to trust in Jesus…here is your call today…to Come and See...and believe

The tomb is empty

Jesus is alive

And that changes everything

So today you have a choice:

Will you walk away...

Or will you come and see...and believe?

Scripture says, Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Not might be

Not could be

You will be saved!

So...if that’s you today...call on Him

Right now

In your own words

Put your trust...fully...in Jesus

LEAD in Prayer

INV:

We’re going to close with one more song, I invite everyone to stand as we do

Let’s worship the risen Savior today

And IF you prayed that prayer...I’m going to ask you to do something BOLD

Come to the front...right now...join me up here and tell me about the decision you just made

I know it’s scary, but hey, every believer here today has once done the same

We want to celebrate with you and help you take your next step in this journey...believer’s baptism

If that’s you...come now!

Be bold and make your newfound faith known!