Sermon Tone Analysis

The Gospel is more than a story

8:1

There is an old saying, “the devil is in the details.” Sometimes, when people try to challenge the Resurrection of Christ, they make grand, sweeping charges about pagan beliefs that sound similar, or about the impossibility of the Resurrection.

After the Sabbath: it was the 1st day of the week, for the Sabbath was and is the 7th.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb: in the first century, women were not valued as witnesses (Remember the Samaritan woman in ?).

This incident begins with women going to the tomb.

Matthew (as are the other Gospel writers), makes it clear that this resurrection occurs, not on the Sabbath, but after the Sabbath, on the first day.

Based upon , they - including Jesus - “rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”

Jesus said that he would rise in three days (; ), and the sinless Son of God does not lie, nor does He break any other commandment.

Matt 28:3-7

Things one should know about angels

a) The Bible does not give us a complete description of what the angels look like; they often appear in white clothes (; etc.) and surrounded with great light (; etc.).

They inspire fear (; ), but should not be worshiped (; ).

[1]

[1] Grindheim, S. (2013).

Introducing Biblical Theology (p.

18).

London; New Delhi; New York; Sydney: Bloomsbury.

b) Angels of the Lord do what they are told to do!

That angel came down, rolled away the stone, and sat there.

He didn’t say anything to ease the fears of the guard, nor did he say anything to Peter and John (; ).

He only appears and comforts the women.

The Bible does not tell us why God gave these instructions.

However, it is interesting that, just as it was a woman that brought a bad report to God’s representative, Adam (), so now, it is a woman that brings the Good News to Christ’s representative, Peter ().

The impact of Christ’s resurrection

Matt 28:8-10

They obeyed the angel, albeit with fear - Law can have that impact upon you.

Then they see Jesus, and they “worshiped Him.”

The full unveiling of the Gospel to them dispelled the fear that energized them before for says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear....”

Col 3:1-4

This is another aspect of the Resurrection: Now that He is risen, and established in His Kingdom, our orientation to life itself has changed.

He died for us, and now He is risen.

We died with Him, and in Him, we now have eternal life.

We are not to live as those whose focus is death, but as those whose focus is life.

Whatcha Lookin’ 4

The women were looking to show their last respects.

Later, the men went, looking to clear up a crazy story.

Why are you here?

What do you seek?

Christ is not in the tomb; He is not dead.

You will not find Him with Buddha, nor will you find Him with Mohammed or Confucius.

The philosophers, mystics, and law-enforcers have all died, but the Christ lives.

He is risen; He is risen indeed.