The…pt 6 Resurection

The resurrection of Jesus is the dividing question of history. I mean that literally in one way- BC/AD is literally based on the timing of the resurrection of Jesus (imperfectly of course) but I mean that in a personal since as well.

If you believe that Jesus was not resurrected from the dead, or that He did not exist at all, it sets you on a course of life very different from someone who does believe that Jesus was in fact resurrected.

And the biblical narrative makes that VERY clear, both in how the disciples and the opponents of Jesus react. Because, as we will see this morning, the people who crucified Jesus- especially the soldiers- were convinced something unexplainable had occurred. So much so that money changed hands and a story was created to counter the story of the resurrection.

And the disciples were so convinced, that they almost to a man, gave their lives in sharing the story of Jesus.

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Without this reversal of the ignominy of the cross, Jesus’ death would have atoned for nothing. The resurrection demonstrates Christ’s vindication by God, who reestablishes him in heaven as Lord of the cosmos. It is the most spectacular of all the biblical miracles and from a human perspective the most incredible of Christianity’s claims. If it is false, Christians are of all people most to be pitied (

So this morning I want to share with you one of the Gospel accounts of this time splitting event, and ask you what do you believe?

Turn with me to Matthew 28.

Verses 1-7 start with the circumstances of that first Easter morning.

Mary and Mary make their way to the tomb with the intention to anoint Jesus’ dead body and are met with quite a scene.

an angel hanging out by an open tomb

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

The appearance of the angel in v. 3 matches similar angelic appearances which surrounded Jesus’ birth, as do the words “don’t be afraid” in v. 5 (cf. esp. 1:20) and combines with chaps. 1–2 to frame the whole Gospel. Mark calls the angel a “young man

Roman guards passed out like scared children

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

The young man’s appearance and garb are appropriately angelic: brilliant, glorious, and pure. The whole scene terrifies the guards and temporarily paralyzes them, so that they cannot intervene. The verb “shook” in v. 4 comes from the same root (seis-) as the “earthquake”

and a message- Jesus is alive

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

The angel’s emphasis, “who was crucified” (v. 5), underlines the reality of Jesus’ death. “Come and see the place” verifies that this is the correct tomb and correct location within the tomb, thus stressing that he really is alive.

The angel invites them to check out the tomb- no body is there. In other Gospels, this causes them both fear and excitement. There is confusion. What they are seeing is not normal.

Church, that is true. We do not see resurrections. Someone does not die for 3 days and then get up and walk around.Especially not someone who has endured the trauma that Jesus has endured and then been interred in a cold tomb of stone for 3 days.

Something beyond the natural has occurred.

The hope of the resurrection is that death itself has been overcome. The results of sin and decay have been defeated and left to the side like the grave clothes Jesus removed.

When Jesus is resurrected ANYTHING is possible.

Even our forgiveness and redemption.

Look, I am going to be straight with you. Jesus has to come ad die because we have to have someone pay for all the bad things we have done and will do in our lives. The literal sin of the world laid on his shoulders on the cross.

That means your sin too.

And I know most people don’t like to talk about that but we need to. Sin is deadly. It corrodes our souls like acid. It destroys families and relationships and companies and countries. It does not spare anyone. We live with the results of sin every day.

And Jesus came to crush it and give us a way out from under its grip. He died in our place for our sin.

Which is why His resurrection is so significant. He accomplished what He set out to do. He won.

And He is about to turn the world upside down with the disciples who are going to pick up His mantle.

Hence verse 7- tell those guys to meet me in Galilee.

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Verse 7 describes the fulfillment of 26:32 and commands the women to tell the Eleven to go to Galilee to see Jesus. This does not preclude other earlier resurrection appearances, as described in

Can you imagine the Marys response to this message? Tell them what?

And the verse says joy and fear- joy at the message and fear- why? They are still unsure?

So go with me to verse 8-10.

Jesus shows up to reassure them.

Y’all I would have had a heart attack. He is alive!!

And this is not a ghost- look at verse 9- they grab His feet!!!

Fully resurrected.

And they worship Him.

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

En route to the city, they see Jesus himself, who gives them a cheery greeting (like our hello). Their extra-ordinary response reflects a posture and attitude of utter worship and testifies to the bodily nature of Christ’s resurrection

This is the change- if you believe that Jesus is truly resurrected that means He is who He said He was- God. Which means the only response is worship- which means He is the only One who gets our devotion.

We can’t split the focus. He is not God some days and others are gods other days because He is resurrected every day- until someone else pulls off that feat- and it won’t happen- then no one else qualifies to be worshiped.

So that’s one response- worship. There is one other- go to verse 11-15.

Deny. Deny. Deny.

Enemy works this way. Gotta come up with a story cuz if we don’t this is going to change the world.

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

these are probably Roman soldiers, temporarily delegated to do the Jewish leaders’ bidding. These leaders decide to bribe the soldiers with a considerable amount of money (“large sum of” in v. 12 translates enough) to lie to their superiors. The excuse they are to give is the very one which the guard was designed to prevent in the first place (v. 13). Admitting that they had slept on their watch could have proved fatal. But the priests recognize this danger and promise, euphemistically, to persuade Pilate (v. 14, “satisfy”) to keep them out of trouble, presumably again with a big enough payoff

And I will tell you this morning for some of us that cynicism, that bitterness, that desire to not be submissive to anyone…it fights against the desire to believe.

And we aren’t taking bribes, but we are lying to ourselves and refusing to give the Gospel and the history surrounding it a fair hearing.

Because there is something we are afraid of- what if this is true?

If it is true then the rest of it is true. Sin. Heaven. Hell. Holiness. All things I cannot fix or comprehend apart from the good news of the Gospel.

My life would have to change. My power would be threatened. Same thing these folks are wrestling with.

Jesus upends our lives. That is true. And it is not a promise of an easy life. But it is a promise of an abundant life- one you will never experience apart from Jesus.

So what happens when the disciples finally see Jesus? Go to verses 16-20.

They get their marching orders.

Now real quick- verse 17 says “some doubted” Doubted what? Jesus is literally right in front of them. What are they doubting?

The better word there is “hesitated.” Some were not sure what to do with the resurrected Jesus.

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Distazō refers more to hesitation than to unbelief. Perhaps, as elsewhere, something about Jesus’ appearance makes him hard to recognize at first. Perhaps they fear how he may respond to them. Perhaps their Jewish scruples are still questioning the propriety of full-fledged worship of anyone but Yahweh.107 Or (most likely?) they may simply continue to exhibit an understandable confusion about how to behave in the presence of a supernaturally manifested, exalted, and holy being

Maybe that is you today. I want to follow Jesus, but I am not sure what to do or what’s next. (Gospel presentation here)

Jesus then makes clear what He wants them to do. He has the authority of God- He is God with skin on, and He has a commission to give them- one we inherit as His disciples as well.

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Jesus is passing the torch to his disciples, even as he promises to be with them forever—spiritually, not physically—to empower them for future mission. Jesus can make the claim of v. 18 only if he is fully God, inasmuch as the whole universe is embraced in the authority delegated to him

We are to make disciples everywhere we go

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Too little is made of it when all attention is centered on the command to “go,” as in countless appeals for missionary candidates, so that foreign missions are elevated to a higher status of Christian service than other forms of spiritual activity. To “make disciples of all nations” does require many people to leave their homelands, but Jesus’ main focus remains on the task of all believers to duplicate themselves wherever they may be

We are to help them to understand what it means to follow Jesus

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

The verb “make disciples” also commands a kind of evangelism that does not stop after someone makes a profession of faith. The truly subordinate participles in v. 19 explain what making disciples involves: “baptizing” them and “teaching” them obedience to all of Jesus’ commandments. The first of these will be a once-for-all, decisive initiation into Christian community. The second proves a perennially incomplete, life-long task

And we are to do so in the confidence of the presence of Jesus.

Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Verses 18–20 link back with 1:23 to frame the entire Gospel with references to Immanuel—God with us. In Jesus, God remains with us for now and eternity! What more do we need to persevere in Christian living? We must go out and obey his commission. But the final word of the Gospel remains Christ-centered. Even when we fail, he remains faithful

Always He is with us.

What are you going to do with Jesus today?