“RUN TO THE EMPTY TOMB!”
Easter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Text: Matthew 28:1–10 (ESV)
Text: Matthew 28:1–10 (ESV)
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
A man once told his wife, “I’ll be excited when something exciting actually happens!”
A man once told his wife, “I’ll be excited when something exciting actually happens!”
She said, “You mean like… the fact that we’re still alive, have food, and didn’t die in your cooking last night?”
She said, “You mean like… the fact that we’re still alive, have food, and didn’t die in your cooking last night?”
He said, “No, I mean something BIG.”
He said, “No, I mean something BIG.”
That’s how a lot of Christians treat Easter.
That’s how a lot of Christians treat Easter.
We celebrate like it’s a small event…
We celebrate like it’s a small event…
When in reality, it’s the BIGGEST event in human history.
When in reality, it’s the BIGGEST event in human history.
The resurrection isn’t just good news…
The resurrection isn’t just good news…
It’s earth-shaking, life-altering, eternity-defining news!
It’s earth-shaking, life-altering, eternity-defining news!
And yet… sometimes we sit on it.
And yet… sometimes we sit on it.
👉 Today I want to challenge you:
👉 Today I want to challenge you:
Stop walking… and start running to the empty tomb.
Stop walking… and start running to the empty tomb.
The Resurrection
The Resurrection
28 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. 2 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 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.”
28 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. 2 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 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.”
POINT 1: THE RESURRECTION IS A DECLARATION — JESUS IS WHO HE SAID HE IS
POINT 1: THE RESURRECTION IS A DECLARATION — JESUS IS WHO HE SAID HE IS
Explanation
Explanation
In Matthew 28:5–6, the angel says:
In Matthew 28:5–6, the angel says:
“He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.”
“He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.”
The resurrection is not just an event…
The resurrection is not just an event…
It is God’s stamp of approval on everything Jesus claimed.
It is God’s stamp of approval on everything Jesus claimed.
He claimed to be the Son of God
He claimed to be the Son of God
He claimed to forgive sins
He claimed to forgive sins
He claimed to defeat death
He claimed to defeat death
And Easter says:
And Easter says:
👉 “Every word was true.”
👉 “Every word was true.”
Illustration
Illustration
Imagine a student who keeps saying,
Imagine a student who keeps saying,
“I aced the test, I aced the test!”
“I aced the test, I aced the test!”
But you don’t believe them… until the teacher hands back the paper — 100%.
But you don’t believe them… until the teacher hands back the paper — 100%.
The resurrection is God handing back the paper saying:
The resurrection is God handing back the paper saying:
👉 “Perfect. Approved. Verified.”
👉 “Perfect. Approved. Verified.”
Application
Application
You don’t follow a maybe Savior
You don’t follow a maybe Savior
You don’t worship a hopeful Messiah
You don’t worship a hopeful Messiah
👉 You serve a RISEN KING
👉 You serve a RISEN KING
So stop living like Christianity is uncertain.
So stop living like Christianity is uncertain.
Walk with confidence.
Walk with confidence.
Speak with boldness.
Speak with boldness.
Live with conviction.
Live with conviction.
POINT 2: THE RESURRECTION IS A LIBERATION — DEATH IS DEFEATED
POINT 2: THE RESURRECTION IS A LIBERATION — DEATH IS DEFEATED
Explanation
Explanation
When Jesus walked out of the tomb, He didn’t just rise…
When Jesus walked out of the tomb, He didn’t just rise…
👉 He broke the back of death itself
👉 He broke the back of death itself
As 1 Corinthians 15:55 says:
As 1 Corinthians 15:55 says:
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Death used to be the final word.
Death used to be the final word.
Now?
Now?
👉 It’s just a doorway.
👉 It’s just a doorway.
Illustration
Illustration
It’s like a bee that can only sting once.
It’s like a bee that can only sting once.
Once it stings, it loses the stinger.
Once it stings, it loses the stinger.
Jesus took the sting of death on the cross…
Jesus took the sting of death on the cross…
So now death might buzz…
So now death might buzz…
But it can’t destroy.
But it can’t destroy.
Application
Application
You don’t have to live in fear
You don’t have to live in fear
You don’t have to panic about the future
You don’t have to panic about the future
You don’t have to be controlled by anxiety
You don’t have to be controlled by anxiety
👉 The worst thing that could happen to you…
👉 The worst thing that could happen to you…
is not the end.
is not the end.
That changes EVERYTHING.
That changes EVERYTHING.
POINT 3: THE RESURRECTION DEMANDS A RESPONSE — RUN AND TELL!
POINT 3: THE RESURRECTION DEMANDS A RESPONSE — RUN AND TELL!
Explanation
Explanation
In Matthew 28:8:
In Matthew 28:8:
“So they departed quickly… with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.”
“So they departed quickly… with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.”
They didn’t stroll.
They didn’t stroll.
They didn’t debate.
They didn’t debate.
They didn’t overthink.
They didn’t overthink.
👉 They RAN.
👉 They RAN.
Why?
Why?
Because when something is truly life-changing…
Because when something is truly life-changing…
You can’t keep it to yourself.
You can’t keep it to yourself.
Illustration
Illustration
When your team wins a championship…
When your team wins a championship…
You don’t whisper about it.
You don’t whisper about it.
You yell.
You yell.
You post.
You post.
You tell EVERYONE.
You tell EVERYONE.
And yet…
And yet…
We whisper about the resurrection.
We whisper about the resurrection.
Application
Application
When’s the last time you shared your faith?
When’s the last time you shared your faith?
When’s the last time you talked about Jesus outside church?
When’s the last time you talked about Jesus outside church?
👉 If the tomb is empty…
👉 If the tomb is empty…
then silence doesn’t make sense.
then silence doesn’t make sense.
This week:
This week:
Tell someone
Tell someone
Invite someone
Invite someone
Share your story
Share your story
👉 RUN AND TELL.
👉 RUN AND TELL.
RESPONSIVE READING (Congregation Participation)
RESPONSIVE READING (Congregation Participation)
Leader: The stone was rolled away.
Leader: The stone was rolled away.
People: The tomb is empty!
People: The tomb is empty!
Leader: He is not here—He has risen!
Leader: He is not here—He has risen!
People: He has risen indeed!
People: He has risen indeed!
Leader: Death has been defeated.
Leader: Death has been defeated.
People: Victory belongs to Jesus!
People: Victory belongs to Jesus!
Leader: Fear has no hold on us.
Leader: Fear has no hold on us.
People: We walk in resurrection power!
People: We walk in resurrection power!
Leader: The grave could not contain Him.
Leader: The grave could not contain Him.
People: Our Savior lives forever!
People: Our Savior lives forever!
Leader: Go and tell the good news!
Leader: Go and tell the good news!
People: We will run and proclaim: JESUS IS ALIVE!
People: We will run and proclaim: JESUS IS ALIVE!
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Let me ask you:
Let me ask you:
Are you living like Jesus is still in the tomb…
Are you living like Jesus is still in the tomb…
or like the stone has been rolled away?
or like the stone has been rolled away?
Because if He’s alive:
Because if He’s alive:
Your sin is forgiven
Your sin is forgiven
Your future is secure
Your future is secure
Your purpose is clear
Your purpose is clear
👉 So don’t just attend Easter…
👉 So don’t just attend Easter…
LIVE IT.
LIVE IT.
Run to the empty tomb.
Run to the empty tomb.
Run with joy.
Run with joy.
Run with purpose.
Run with purpose.
Run with excitement.
Run with excitement.
Because…
Because…
👉 JESUS IS ALIVE!
👉 JESUS IS ALIVE!
