The Resurrection of the King
Notes
Transcript
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Contrast of reactions to the resurrection. Both saw the same thing, same facts.
I. The Resurrection Conspiracy (The Guard’s Reaction)
I. The Resurrection Conspiracy (The Guard’s Reaction)
A. The Historical Fact (1-3)
A. The Historical Fact (1-3)
1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
This is like an automatic door opener. What an astounding thing for the angel to move this stone. Angels are created spirit beings. They are not human and they do not have bodies of flesh like ours. [talk about angel origins] I imagine the angel beaming down to earth and the impact of his landing causing the earthquake.
This angel came for the benefit of these saintly women not for the guards. The guards just happen to be there. These faithful loving women needed the tomb opened and God did it in the most spectacular way they could imagine.
stone rolled away, not to let Jesus out, but to let the world in.
God has authority over the Roman seal
B. Their Heart’s Response (4)
B. Their Heart’s Response (4)
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
We often think that the soldiers saw Jesus, but Jesus never appeared to these men. He only appeared to the women and then Jesus’ disciples. Why? The King does not reveal Himself to His enemies first, but rather His followers. These were seasoned temple soldiers and they shook for fear of the angel. What made them so terrifying? It was their appearance. They appeared like lightning and were brilliant white. White robes are often an indication of purity and righteousness. So their righteousness was what was so striking.
You also are a messenger of God. No, not exactly like an angel from heaven, but you have an announcement from God like the angels do. What will impact people that come into contact with you? Your righteousness! Not how cool you are, not how beautiful you are, or smart, but how pure you are.
C. Their Accurate Report (11)
C. Their Accurate Report (11)
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
The ladies saw Jesus and were on their way to tell the disciples.
Some of the guards. How did they choose that detail?!
D. Their Compromising Offer (12-14)
D. Their Compromising Offer (12-14)
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14 “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”
Believer’s Bible Commentary B. The Soldiers Bribed to Lie (28:11–15)
This explanation raises more questions than it answers. Why were the soldiers sleeping when they should have been on guard? How could the disciples have rolled the stone away without waking them? How could all the soldiers have fallen asleep at the same time? If they were asleep, how did they know that the disciples stole the body? If the story was true, why did the soldiers have to be bribed to tell it?
This is the basis of the resurrection conspiracy.
E. Their Selfish Decision (15)
E. Their Selfish Decision (15)
15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
to this day - the day in which Matthew wrote down what God directed him to write.
II. The Resurrection Comfort (The Women’s Reaction)
II. The Resurrection Comfort (The Women’s Reaction)
A. The Historical Fact (1-3)
A. The Historical Fact (1-3)
1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
The women were afraid (they needed to be told not to fear), but not as fearful as the soldiers.
B. Heavenly Comfort (5-7)
B. Heavenly Comfort (5-7)
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
The women are sent to tell it to them, and so are made, as it were, the apostles of the apostles. This was an honour put upon them, and a recompence for their constant affectionate adherence to him, at the cross, and in the grave,
Believer’s Bible Commentary A. The Empty Tomb and the Risen Lord (28:1–10)
The angel then deputized the women to go quickly to announce the glorious news to His disciples.
C. Their Emotional Response (8)
C. Their Emotional Response (8)
8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
1. Fear
1. Fear
We need these aspects of their response in our lives. We need to leave where we are quickly. Leave our complacency. We are always going. Like eating and drinking and breathing. You do it and then you do it again and again and again. So we go quickly from telling one person to telling the next and then the next about Jesus.
We need to do it with fear. This fear is an awe at what we just saw. We need that reverence and awe for the truth that only comes from a fresh renewal from the Word of God.
They were acting on faith from the word that they heard from the angel.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
2. Joy
2. Joy
We need to go with joy. They were so happy to know that Jesus was alive. Can you imagine that these godly ladies just kind of moped their way back to the rest of the disciples? Do think that they were quiet during the journey? It is an amazing thing to watch a group of women talking with each other. They have an amazing ability to carry on 10 different conversations all at the same time. It looks like utter chaos to man, but ladies not only hear all 10 conversations at the same time but can report back all the details of every one of them. I think that is what was happening the whole trip back to the disciples. They were probably talking a mile a minute. They were excited and filled with joy! We need that joy.
What can give us this kind of joy?
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
Jesus is alive and that means if you believe in this testimony you have eternal life, you are loved by the Father and the Son, no matter who you are, no matter what you have done you, (if you believe) have been made righteous, you have fellowship with the Father, you are accepted by Jesus, He is pleased with you and finds great joy in you.
D. Their Heart Response (9-10)
D. Their Heart Response (9-10)
9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. 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 take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
They obviously were overwhelmed and just wanted to touch Him and know that He was real. I love that they worshipped Him. They knew what this meant. This man had raised Himself from the dead so He was no ordinary man. He was God Himself and worthy of worship. What did their worship consist of? Praise, “Oh Jesus, You are the Messiah, the King.” “You are the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” “You truly do have life in Yourself.” “There is none like You, oh Lord.” Maybe their worship also consisted of consecration, “Oh Jesus, we will serve you.” “What would You have us do?” But their worship most definitely must have included a deep love in their souls for their Shepherd, Teacher, Master, Lord, and King. He who had died was now alive again and they were happy to see Him. For those of you who are married or have children, do you ever have that feeling of such intense love for your spouse or children that you don’t even know how to express it? You want to show them how much you love them but words fail you, and all you do is hold them as tightly as you can without hurting them. I think that must come close to what these ladies felt for Jesus.
How can you express your heartfelt worship of Jesus?
Kings defeat their enemies and provide peace for their subjects. Jesus had defeated His enemies, the last of which is death itself. “54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus triumphed over the law (He kept it perfectly), therefore He triumphed over sin. He has won the victory!
Because The King has triumphed, so we too will triumph. So, how should this effect our daily lives?
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:53–58, NASB95)
You should have a boldness, a confidence, and an inner fire to live a victorious life because your life is bound up with the life of Jesus. So, Don’t be afraid, go and take the word to all who need to hear. And those who believe will see Jesus some day too.
Chip Dean — “Imagine our country being attacked on our own soil. The invading military wipes out all forms of communication. Our military forces strategize together and strike hard against this enemy. After a long, difficult battle, our military wins the war. Communication has not yet been reestablished. You are assigned to an elite team of messengers that spreads the word that we are no longer slaves and captives of our enemy. Do you go out embarrassed, quietly muttering about victory and freedom? No, you proclaim it! Jesus told His disciples that it is our joyous task to proclaim God's offering of repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.”
Christ on the sixth day finished his work; he said, It is finished; on the seventh day he rested, and then on the first day of the next week did as it were begin a new world, and enter upon new work.
Contrast the soldiers to the women. One group cowered, hid, and lied about Jesus’s resurrection. The other group, worshipped, rejoiced, and proclaimed that Jesus is alive. They both face the same facts, but the difference is the women saw the risen Jesus and believed in Him.
Have you seen the risen Jesus today in the testimony of this book? Do you believe also that He is alive?