An Inconvenient Truth

Pastor C. H. Jr.

Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Matthew 28:11–15

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Introduction- Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”

Illustration: Al Gore’s 2006 Academy Award winning Global Warming documentary titled “An Inconvenient Truth”

NASA scientists who were silenced because the facts led to an inconvenient truth which they were intent on presenting

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it”. - Upton Sinclair (Muckraker)

Using Fake News to discredit inconvenient truths

Fake news (also known as junk news, pseudo-news, or hoax news) is a form of news consisting of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional news media (print and broadcast) or online social media. Digital news has brought back and increased the usage of fake news, or yellow journalism.

The news is then often reverberated as misinformation in social media but occasionally finds its way to the mainstream media as well.

Fake news is written and published usually with the intent to mislead in order to damage an agency, entity, or person, and/or gain financially or politically.

Illustration: We are experiencing our own Inconvenient truth at the current moment regarding concerning the Coronavirus:

Deadly

Loss of love one’s lives

Shelter in place’s impact on people’s mental health

Loss of sports seasons (which affects the mental health of some)

Impact upon the economy and loss of jobs

A new normal appears to be becoming our new reality when it comes to our social interactions with one another

Our state governors Debating with the President over whether or not shutting down the economy will be worth it in the end

In other words, what “if the cure ends up killing the patient” then is it worth it.

And Opening back up the economy- businesses of the community, city, state, nation, & world within the next 2-3 weeks

Transition To Body- Inconvenient Truth regarding Jesus’ resurrection

It Can Only Be Proclaimed

We did not see it and you cannot prove it to a skeptical audience.

God through the Holy Spirit reveals this truth to those whom He chooses as an act of His love and grace for us.

Matthew 21–28: A Commentary on Matthew 21–28 Summary and Meaning for Today

He does not speak of God’s action with Christ, of the resurrection itself that transcends space and time. The resurrection remains invisible, undescribed, and a mystery, although it did happen. It can only be proclaimed: “He has been raised from the dead” (v. 7*: ἠγέρθη ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν). Since the resurrection of Jesus is not described, the Easter story has an “empty place” at the decisive point.

Goes on further to say

Matthew 21–28: A Commentary on Matthew 21–28 Meaning for Today

Although he did not describe the resurrection of Jesus itself as an event within history, he so clearly and unequivocally emphasized God’s actions with people after the resurrection that it is implied that only wicked people refuse to be convinced by it. After the resurrection Matthew has let the Jewish leaders, whose malevolence he had repeatedly emphasized throughout the entire passion narrative, reach the pinnacle of their wickedness. The more one is of the opinion that in 27:62–66* and 28:11–15* the evangelist himself largely creates a polemical fiction, the less one can absolve him of the charge of his own intentional and skillful malevolence—in the name of faith in the risen Christ.40

polemical- relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech

Why are the guards at the tomb of Jesus Christ?

Matthew 27:62–66 ESV

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Body- In The Midst Of The Inconvenient Truth Of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection (Proclaimed Yet Unseen)

Walk In Obedient Gospel Centered Faith

Third time the text mentions the women (Mary Magdalene & the other Mary going to testify concerning Jesus’ resurrection)

The Angel said go quickly

Matthew 28:7 ESV

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

The women depart quickly

Matthew 28:8 ESV

8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

And today’s text begins with

Matthew 28:11 ESV

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

Preview of Next week’s sermon: “ Committing Ourselves To The Church’s Call (Matthew 28:16-20)

Matthew 28:19 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

And Next the Apostles will go..

Acts 1:6–8 ESV

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God Rejects The Royalty Of Those Who Reject His WORD

1 Samuel 15:22–23 ESV

22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

Because...

The Word of God is Our Guide!

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 23:1–6 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 119:9–11 ESV

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Ephesians 6:16–18 ESV

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

But not only do Mary Magdalene & the other Mary, and so should we:

Walk In Obedient Gospel Centered Faith, they also...

Promptly And Impartially Obey God’s Word

(no matter how inconvenient faith in Jesus Christ may get)

Jesus Christ’s resurrection is an inconvenient truth for these two women

Mary Magdalene & the other Mary are women and within our text’s original historical context, they were on the margins of society, their witness would not be considered valid in a court of law because they were women

Yet they immediately go testify concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Matthew 28:12 The Message

12 They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers,

Matthew 28:13 The Message

13 bribing them to say, “His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping.”

Illustrate: Cherry-picking the facts

Cherry picking, suppressing evidence, or the fallacy of incomplete evidence is the act of pointing to individual cases or data that seem to confirm a particular position while ignoring a significant portion of related and similar cases or data that may contradict that position.

"it is an exaggeration based on the cherry-picking of facts"

Illustrate: Jury of impartial peers and being on a jury and following the law even if I did not particularly like the defendant.

Note the chief priests & elders conduct and putting aside the commands of the LORD and following God’s Word when convenient.

Note Jesus’ says regarding the scribes & Pharisees- do what they say but not what they do!

Matthew 23:3 ESV

3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

Note that the children of Israel were suppose to know God as Jehovah or Yahweh (The LORD).

Note talk about the Words of the LORD regarding bribes and what Judas did after he realized the consequences of being bribed.

Exodus 23:8 ESV

8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 ESV

7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Amos 5:12 ESV

12 For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate.

Deuteronomy 16:19 ESV

19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 10:17 ESV

17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

James 2:9 ESV

9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Proverbs 3:5–7 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

So we, the body of Jesus Christ, the church:

Walk In Obedient Gospel Centered Faith,

Promptly And Impartially Obey God’s Word,

But Finally we ought to...

Know God’s Purposes Can’t Be Defeated (Nor Thwarted)

In Matthew 27:62-66

Matthew 27:62–66 ESV

The Chief Priests & Pharisees requested guards so that the body would not be stolen and now they are saying tell the lie that the body was stolen) here in

Matthew 28:13–15 ESV

13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Paul says in...

Philippians 1:15–18 ESV

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Illustration: Oh let me paraphrase 50 Cent & Kat Williams

“If the _____ hate then let 'em hate”

If you got 14 hating on you, you need to figure out how to get to 16 before the summer get here!

Transition To Close- This Season Is A Moment of Truth for the Church

Illustration: Moment Of Truth (2008-09)

Moment of Truth 21 question polygraph test

Illustration: Will you pass your Christian polygraph test if you were before a live TV audience

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of the saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Close- Jesus Christ The Way And Truth And The Life

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 18:33–38 ESV

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

I know some of you are troubled right now

John 14:1–7 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

We Proclaim Jesus Christ As Raised From The Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12–14 ESV

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:15 ESV

15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

1 Corinthians 15:16–18 ESV

16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

1 Corinthians 15:19–20 ESV

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.