Sermon Tone Analysis

Open the Gospel of Matthew.

The gospels are 4 different accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

-Written by 4 different authors

-Written specifically to 4 different audiences

But all contain the account of Jesus death on the cross and His resurrection the 3rd day.

This day we celebrate (called “Easter”) is the most significant day we could celebrate.The resurrection is the event that proved Jesus was who He said He was.

The resurrection is the event that proved Jesus was who He said He was.

The resurrection is the event that proved Jesus was who He said He was.

And you need to know this is not just something that Christians believe happened.

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is an accepted fact with indisputable evidence.

-All of human history marks time based upon the life and death of Jesus.

B.C. - Before Christ

B.C. - Before Christ A.D. - Anno Domino (The year of our Lord)

A.D. - “Anno Domini”: The year of our Lord

B. C.E. - Before the Common Era

C. E. - Common Era

What is funny is those who are trying to not use Jesus’ life as a reference point on the calendar are still using Jesus’ life as a reference point on the calendar.

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus

And when you speak about the resurrection, people will try to explain it away.

Swoon Theory - Jesus fainted on the cross, revived in the tomb.

And then, in a state where He had been brutally beaten within an inch of his life…He moved the stone away from the door of the tomb, overcame the Roman guard…and then was never seen again to be apprehended.

Hallucination Theory - Jesus’ disciples only thought they saw Jesus alive following His crucifixion.

-He appeared to individuals (Mary Magdalene, Peter, James, Apostle Paul)

-He appeared to small groups (2 on road to Emmaus, group of women)

-He appeared to mid-size groups (12 apostles -minus Thomas, 12 apostles - including Thomas)

-He appeared to a huge crowd (over 500)

-He appeared near the tomb

-He appeared along the road to Emmaus

-He appeared in Jerusalem behind closed doors

-He appeared on a mountain in Galilee

-He appeared at the Sea of Galilee

-He appeared on the Road to Damascus

Conspiracy Theory -The Disciples Lied

-The disciples lied to perpetuate their religion.

-They made the whole thing up.

When Peter preached it, when Paul preached it, …they knew it was a lie....

But the fact that every apostle other than John (who was exiled) died for telling the story of Jesus’ resurrection.

-they were tortured, they were threatened.

None of them - regardless of pressure, threat, torture or bribe ever recanted.

Some will die for a cause they know to be true.

Some will die for a lie if they believe it to be true (9/11)

But none will die for a lie that they know to be a lie!

Three Responses to the Resurrection

Delight ()

“In the end of the Sabbath” - the sabbath running from Sundown on Friday to Sundown on Saturday…So just as the sun is coming up

Mary Magdalene

Mary, mother of James and Joses

Salome

Coming to the tomb, with spices to anoint the body of Jesus - they didn’t embalm in those days so to preserve the body (prevent its decay) they would come back and use spices...

When they arrive...

-Stone is rolled away

-Earthquake

-Angel sitting on the stone he had rolled away

-Roman Guard has fainted

Note: Angels are not the cute, cuddly little winged creatures man has made them out to be.

When one shows up in scripture “Fear not...”

Why did the angel roll the stone away from the door?

So Jesus could get out?

If Jesus needs the stone rolled away…He’s not God!

At this point, Jesus is alive and is in His glorified body.

One of His appearances after this is when the disciples are assembled in a room behind closed doors and Jesus appears in their midst.

The stone wasn’t rolled away so Jesus could get out.

It was rolled away so they could look in.

What was the response of these ladies?

And there are several things we see here and they are all wrapped up together in a messy little package - so let me just share all of them.

There is belief

How do we know?

Because of what they do with the info the angel had shared with them...

They ran to tell others

There is great joy (vs.

8)

There is great joy (vs.

8)

They had gone to the tomb thinking He’s dead, we’re going to preserve His dead body....our hope of Him being the Messiah is over....they’re discouraged, despondant....but upon hearing this pronouncement from the angel..... “great joy”

There is obedience (vs.

8)

There is a personal encounter with Jesus (vs.

9)

He meets them

He speaks to them (All hail - Hello)

They touch him

There is worship (vs.

9)

The only response to a resurrected Christ is worship.

-and note that Jesus received the worship (didn’t rebuke them -indicating that He is God!)

There is witnessing (vs.

10-11)

-If you believe Jesus is truly alive....

-If you believe Jesus is truly alive....

-If you’ve experienced the joy of the resurrection...

-If you’ve experienced a personal relationship with Him...

-If you worship Him as the Savior who died and rose again the 3rd day...

-The natural response is the desire to tell others!

This is the greatest news the world has ever known!

Denial ()

Then there’s another group....

The Roman soldiers have a problem...

They report back to the chief priests...

“how did things go last night?”

-Pretty well other than we lost the body we were supposed to guard!

They had experienced an earthquake

They had experienced an angel

They know the body is gone

They share this story with the Religious Leaders...

-And they would not make this up (losing the body could result in death, falling asleep could result in death)

What do the religious leaders do with this news?