What A God Final Week

Introduction — Everybody Has a Final Boss

Open with the Buffet challenge eating illustration and “The Book of Casseroles.”

“Everybody has a final boss.”

one more mountain, diagnosis, grief, or apparently unbeatable enemy.

Review the What a God series: nature, nations, false gods, the furnace, and bondage all looked unbeatable—but God won every time.

Raise the central question: “But what about death?”

Declare the answer: The grave had never lost until Jesus stepped into it.

Preview the sermon: resurrection power, victory over death, and hope that anchors every promise.

Transition: “Today we come to the final enemy—and we discover that even the grave could not hold our God.”

1. The Empty Tomb Reveals His Power

Matthew 28:1–4 ESV

1 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.

A. The tomb was humanly secure

It was Roman-secured, government-sealed, and guard-posted.

Breaking the imperial seal was a capital offense.

The religious leaders did everything humanly possible to keep the stone from moving.

Yet when God decided the tomb was finished, Roman power did not matter.

Pulpit Line: “The seal said, ‘Stay in.’ The soldiers said, ‘No one gets through.’ The stone said, ‘This is final.’ But God had the final word.”

B. The stone was rolled away so we could see

The angel did not move the stone to let Jesus out.

The risen Jesus did not need the door opened.

The stone was rolled away so the witnesses—and we—could see that the tomb was empty.

C. Resurrection is greater than resuscitation

Explain egeirō: to awaken, rouse, or raise from a lying-down position.

Lazarus returned to mortal life and eventually died again.

Jesus rose with an imperishable, glorified body over which death has no dominion.

Romans 6:9 ESV

9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

D. That resurrection power still matters

The same power that raised Jesus is at work in those who believe

Ephesians 1:19–20 ESV

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Whatever looks sealed, stamped, and guarded must still answer to God.

Your Story is not over till God says that it over Regardless on what may look over and completed.

Three marks of resurrection power

It is sudden. God broke into the women’s grief when they expected only a dead body.

It is overwhelming. Trained soldiers fell like dead men.

It is undeniable. The tomb stood open in daylight before witnesses.

Application: “Do not call final what God still has the power to change.”

Transition: “The empty tomb shows us that God has power—but God did not leave the women to guess what that empty tomb meant.”

2. The Angelic Announcement Declares His Victory

Luke 24:1–12 ESV

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

A. Remember what Jesus already said

The announcement was simple: “He is not here, but has risen.”

The resurrection was not God’s emergency response to Friday.

Jesus had already said He would suffer, die, and rise again.

When fear grows loud, remember what He told you.

Recall His promises for loneliness, condemnation, weariness, and death.

Pulpit Line: “When fear starts preaching, answer it with the Word of God.”

B. Stop looking for life among dead things

Ask the angel’s question: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Confront false sources of life: approval, money, sin, politics, careers, relationships, comfort, and even religious activity.

Good things become dead things when we ask them to do what only Jesus can do.

C. The witnesses gave honest testimony

Women were the first witnesses in a culture that discounted their testimony.

The apostles initially dismissed their report.

Those details would be strange inventions but make sense as honest history.

D. The evidence demands a response

Peter ran, looked, saw the linen cloths, and marveled.

The empty tomb was not a metaphor.

A real body was absent from a real grave because Jesus truly rose.

E. Jesus holds the keys

Jesus did not merely survive death; He defeated it.

He rose never to die again.

declares that Jesus holds the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Believers still grieve, but not as those without hope.

Three responses to the announcement

Stop looking for life where it cannot be found.

Remember the words and promises of Jesus.

Go and tell the good news, even when others respond with disbelief.

Transition: “The resurrection changes what death means—but Paul shows us that it also changes what life means right now.”

3. The Risen Christ Secures Our Hope

1 Corinthians 15:20–26 ESV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

A. The resurrection is of first importance

Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised, and appeared to witnesses.

His burial confirms His death; His resurrection confirms His victory.

More than five hundred people saw Him alive.

The disciples were transformed because they encountered the risen Jesus.

B. Jesus is the firstfruits

Firstfruits were the first portion and guarantee of the coming harvest.

Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of everyone who belongs to Him.

C. Your future is secure

Our weak and aching bodies are not their final versions.

Philippians 3:20–21 promises that Christ will transform them to be like His glorious body.

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Build the hope: no more cancer, dementia, wheelchairs, funerals, hospital-bed tears, or death.

D. Every promise rests on the empty tomb

Forgiveness is secure because Jesus was raised for our justification.

His presence is secure because He lives and intercedes.

Evil will not win because Christ has broken sin and death’s power.

The kingdom will come because the King is alive.

E. There are only two places to stand

In Adam: sin, guilt, separation, and death.

In Christ: forgiveness, righteousness, reconciliation, and life.

We enter Christ by grace through faith—not by becoming good enough first.

Illustration Line: “You don’t take a shower before you get in the shower.”

F. Death is an enemy with an expiration date

Jesus reigns even while the world appears chaotic.

A battle still being fought does not mean the outcome of the war is uncertain.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Three implications for believers

Live with confidence, not panic. Your Savior is not in a tomb; He is on the throne.

Live with holiness, not compromise. Resurrection life gives you a new identity and calls you to newness of life.

Live on mission, not merely for comfort. The church carries news—not advice or self-help—that Christ died, was buried, rose, and saves all who call on Him.

Transition: “If the tomb is empty, then whatever you carried into this room today can be brought honestly before the risen Christ.”

Conclusion — Bring Your Impossible to the Risen Christ

Review the series: God rules over nature, nations, false gods, human weakness, spiritual darkness, and death.

Build the declaration: the grave could not hold Him; the stone could not stop Him; the guards could not contain Him; Rome could not silence Him; Satan could not defeat Him; death could not keep Him.

Speak personally to four groups:

Those carrying grief: grief is real, but it is not forever.

Those carrying shame: His grace is greater than your past.

Those carrying fear: do not let fear preach louder than the empty tomb.

Those carrying the impossible: it may be too big for you, but it is not too big for God.

Call believers to awaken again—egeirō—and recover the wonder of a living Savior.

Give the salvation invitation

Romans 10:9 ESV

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.

Final Crescendo

If Jesus is alive, there is hope for the sinner. If Jesus is alive, there is strength for the weary. If Jesus is alive, there is forgiveness for the ashamed. If Jesus is alive, there is courage for the fearful. If Jesus is alive, there is comfort for the grieving. If Jesus is alive, death is not the end.

Final Declaration: “What a God. Let us live like the tomb is empty.”mpty.