# 121 RESURRECTION DAY: The Greatest Day in History - Matthew 28:1-15

Introduction: What was the GREATEST DAY in history? Was it:

· Was it July 4, 1776, when America gained its independence?

· Was it August 6, 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, bringing an end to World War II?

· Was it July 20, 1969, when 360 million people watched Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the surface of the Moon?

· Was it November 9, 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, bringing an end to the Cold War and reunifying Germany?

   Some of you are thinking, “It was my birthday!” Let’s not become self-absorbed, shall we?

Christ followers believe that the greatest day in history was Resurrection Sunday. This day is celebrated every year by 2.5 billion people worldwide.

   Now, let’s look at the greatest day in history. We discover that…

I. It happened on a Sunday – 28:1

   1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

  This wasn’t just another day – it was the first day of the week. And it was going to be the greatest day in all of history.

   On a side note: If you own a calendar and it starts with Monday as the first day of the week and ends with Sunday – you need to get another calendar. The first day of the week is Sunday. Calendars should flow from Sunday to Saturday (Seven days – One Week).

   We are told in this verse that the Sabbath was over, a new day dawned, and Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb.

   Once again, we have the women at the tomb. They were present when Jesus was crucified, they were present when Jesus was buried, and now, early Sunday morning, we find them once again at the tomb.

   Question: Why did these women come to the tomb? After all, there was a large stone covering the entrance; it was sealed, and there were guards in place. Why then would they come? We read in Mark 16:1, that they “brought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.” I believe they came expecting a resurrection. I believe that these two women remembered that Jesus had said, “After three days the Son of Man will rise.” These women came to see if what Jesus said would happen had happened!

   Next, we discover that…

II. It was a Supernatural Day – 28:2-3

   2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

A. There was an Earthquake – 28:2

   Verse 2 tells us that on this Sunday there was a great earthquake. Listen, there are earthquakes (27:51), and then there are great earthquakes (28:2). This was an earthquake that was remembered!

   Earthquakes used to be measured using the Richter scale (developed in 1935). The Richter scale measures seismic wave amplitude. However, today earthquakes are measured using the Moment Magnitude Scale (developed in the 1970s). It measures the total energy released by an earthquake.

   Here is how the scale works:

· Small numbers (2–3): are barely felt.

· Medium numbers (4–5): there is noticeable shaking.

· Large numbers (6–7+): can cause extensive damage.

· Great numbers (8 and above): extreme damage is caused.

   Here is something to keep in mind: each whole number is 10 times stronger than the one before it. So, when we read in our text that it was a “great earthquake,” I believe we are looking at an 8+.

   Damage was caused, and I especially believe it was intended specifically for the Garden Tomb. It would be a day well remembered.

B. There was an Angel – 28:2-3

   2 And behold, there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

   Now, I want to talk about the “angel of the Lord” mentioned in these verses. The angel descended for a distinct purpose. His strength was needed to roll back the stone from the entrance of the tomb—not for Jesus to get out, but for people to look in. And that’s exactly what he did—he rolled away the stone from the entrance of the tomb, and then he sat on it.

   When I read this, I viewed this angel as a concierge (kon-see-AIRZH). He was going to help the women who came to the tomb. He was going to provide them with direction.

   We are also given a snapshot of what this “angel of the Lord” looked like. We are told that his countenance(his facial appearance) was like lightning. I believe that this is telling us that he had a radiant glow about his face. Next, we are also told that his clothing was white as snow. Now, what do we know about snow? If you look at it long enough you can experience snow blindness. This angel was BRIGHT! Both his countenance and his clothing. Listen to these verses about the appearances of angels:

· Ezekiel 1:13 – As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.

· Luke 2:9 - And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

· Acts 1:10 - And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

  What else do we discover about this day?

III. It was a Fearful Day – 28:4-5

   4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

A. The Guards were fearful – 28:4

   The soldiers guarding the tomb were fearful when they saw the angel of the Lord. We read that they shook for fear. I cannot imagine being so fearful that I would shake, and yet we read in the Bible that this is a common reaction among those who saw an angel. Here are some examples:

· Gideon: He was frightened and convinced he would die after realizing he was speaking to the angel of the Lord (Judges 6:22).

· Daniel: Overwhelmed to the point of fainting and losing his strength upon encountering a heavenly being (Daniel 10:8-9).

· Manoah and his wife: The parents of Samson, who fell face down in fear after the angel ascended in the flame of their altar (Judges 13:20).

· Zechariah: A priest who was overcome with fear and panic when an angel appeared at the altar to announce the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:12).

· Mary: The mother of Jesus, who was deeply troubled and confused when the angel Gabriel greeted her (Luke 1:29).

· The Shepherds: Shepherds watching their flocks near Bethlehem were terrified when an angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around them (Luke 2:9).

   So, whenever you find an angel in the Bible you find the word fear close by. Angels are so outside of our world that they bring out the fear in the best of us.

B. The women were afraid – 28:5

    Now, notice in verse 5, that the angel of the Lord spoke to the women and said,

   “Do not be afraid,”

  You see, they too were fearful.

   What I find interesting in Scripture is that whenever an angel appears, they always seek to squelch the fear in those to whom they appear and speak to.

  Next, we discover that…

IV. It was a Christ Risen Day – 28:6-7

   6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

A. The Angel’s Message – 28:6

   The message of the angel of the Lord was that Jesus had risen.

   And I would submit to you that The Greatest Day in History was this day – the Sunday that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

   The angel said to the women:

   “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

   The angel hid nothing from the women – everything was able to be examined, touched, and gone through. They could see the place where Jesus once laid – He’s no longer there. He had risen.

B. The Women’s Assignment – 28:7

   The women were also given an assignment from the angel. The angel said,

   “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

   You have got to love the words: “Go and Tell”.

   The message remains the same today. We too are to “Go and Tell” everyone about the Greatest Day in History – Resurrection Sunday.

   One of the best ways we can do this is by our daily conduct, our verbal witness in conversations, and by extending an invitation to others to come and join us in worship on Sunday mornings.

   Next Sunday, we will bring our study in Matthew to a close, and it will be a message about the Great Commission—how all of God’s people are to “Go and Tell.” The point is, the message hasn’t changed.

   Next, we discover that…

V. It was a Joyful Day – 28:8-10

    8So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.  10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

A. It was a day of “fear and great joy” – 28:8

   What brings fear into your life?

· Heights and cliffs without safety rails (Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park).

· When a child is very sick and you can’t do anything.

· An auto accident.

· A negative medical report.

   Now, have you ever thought about what days bring you the most joy in life? Here is my list of joyful days:

· Birthdays

· Graduations

· Wedding day

· Anniversary

· The day vacation starts

· Pay day

· Christmas

· Thanksgiving

· 4thof July (Independence Day)

· Summer days

   The two women in our text ran from the tomb in fear and great joy. So, RESURRECTION Sunday is a day for great joy.

B. It was a day of joy and worship – 28:9

   As they were going to carry out their assignment, we are told that Jesus met them and said to them, “Rejoice!” Jesus, too, put his stamp of approval on Resurrection Sunday as being a day of great joy.

   We read that the women fell at Jesus’ feet and were holding tightly on to Him. They didn’t want to let Jesus go. We read that they worshipped Him. I would say that joy always leads to worship. But what is worship?

   The word Worship means, “to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to show reverence or adoration.” These women were expressing reverence, awe, devotion, and submission to Jesus.

   May God help us to learn what it truly means to worship the Lord when we gather as the body of Christ. Jesus is worthy of our worship. Christianity is a worship faith – it’s what we do as the people of God.

C. It was a day of joy and assignment – 28:9

   Jesus reminded the women that they were not to be afraid but were to “go and tell” His disciples that they were to go to Galilee, and that there they would see Him.

   These two women were now on assignment – they had a mission to accomplish. They were to go and witness to Jesus’ disciples.

   There is one final thought I want to share before we move along. Every day that we share Jesus with others is a day of joy in our own lives. Nothing brings a deeper joy and satisfaction in our life than to talk with people about Jesus Christ.   

   Finally, we discover that…

VI. It was a Pay Day – 28:11-15

  11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.

A. The Guards give a report – 28:11

   The guards who were supposed to be securing the tomb came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.

   Note: There is no mention of joy with them. No, they left the tomb in fear – they were greatly afraid.

B. The soldiers assemble with the elders – 28:12

   12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’

   The words “consulted together” simply mean, more plotting and more schemes were being carried out. No doubt they were putting their minds together to create new lies.

   Here is where the payday occurs. The elders gave a large sum of money to the guards to fabricate a story about how the disciples came at night and stole the body of Jesus while they slept.

   It always amazes me how people will sell out their conscience for money.

   Paul penned these words to Timothy: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10)

   Does any of this make sense to you? No, of course not.

   I might add, there is no joy here either. There is continued plotting, there is fabrication of lies, and there is a large sum of money being given. What we have here is lies and more lies. And don’t forget that this is what the religious leaders had been doing all along.

   The elders wanted the guards to report that when they were sleeping that the disciples came at night and stole the body of Jesus. Don’t miss: While they were sleeping. What is wrong with that picture? Soldiers were not allowed to sleep while on watch duty. To be caught sleeping was punishable by death. It was often carried out by beating or other severe means.

C. The elders reassure the soldiers – 28:14

   14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.”

   The elders reassured the soldiers that they had their backs when it came to them sleeping on their watch. And these religious leaders were willing to make up additional lies that they could feed to Pilate.  

   I love this quip from Mark Twain, who said, “One of the striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.” (Today’s Best Illustrations by Elesha Hodge)

   Jesus said the following to religious leaders about lies in John 8:44,

   “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

D. The Soldiers got their money – 28:15

   15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

   Even today, all these years removed from the Greatest Day in History, we have liberal bible teachers and journalists who continue to say and write that Jesus never truly rose from the dead; rather, His disciples came at night while the soldiers were asleep, and they stole the body. The disciples made up the story that Jesus rose from the dead.

   Question: Would you die for a lie? Every disciple of Christ, except John, died a martyr’s death. All they would have needed to do was to deny the resurrection. But they were not willing to deny the truth.

   And if the elders of Israel wanted to end the story of the resurrection once and for all, all they would have had to do was to find the body of Jesus and parade His corpse around the streets of Jerusalem. But they couldn’t.

  They couldn’t because Jesus was in fact alive!

Conclusion: In these fifteen verses we encounter the greatest day in human history – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But what does this day mean for us? 

1. No day in history surpasses this day. The events recorded in Matthew 28 have altered the course of the world forever.

2. Every Lord’s Day should be marked by deliberate reflection upon the Resurrection of Christ. This central truth distinguishes the Christian faith from every other religion.

3. The Resurrection is not a truth to be kept private. Like the women at the tomb, we are commissioned to “go and tell” that Jesus is alive.

4.  Because of the Resurrection, believers may possess a joy that overcomes fear. The repeated command, “Do not be afraid,” reminds us that God has not given His people a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)

5. Lies concerning the Resurrection will continue to circulate and shift, but they must be rejected. The unchanging truth remains: “He is risen from the dead.” (Matthew 28:7).