What was on Jesus’ Mind on Resurrection Day?

Text: Matthew 28:1–10 (NKJV)

What was on Jesus’ Mind on Resurrection Day?The Empty Tomb

Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–11

28 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. 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. 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. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 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.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

The Appearance of Jesus to the Women

So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

I. Jesus was overflowing with rejoicing on resurrection morning!

9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”

* What was in the mind of Jesus the morning he arose from the grave?

- He was rejoicing and full of great joy!

Listen to the words of Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1-2:

Hebrews 12:1–2 (KJV 1900)

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy

that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost:

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in heaven above

And signs in the earth beneath:

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

21 And it shall come to pass

That whoever calls on the name of the Lord

Shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

25 For David says concerning Him:

‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,

For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;

Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life;

You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

* Peter quotes the Psalms verifying that the writer of Psalms is writing the very thoughts that Jesus thoughts at the time of his death and resurrection from the dead.

31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Psalm 22

A Psalm of David.

* This is what Jesus was thinking as He hung upon the cross:

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not;And in the night season, and am not silent.3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.4 Our fathers trusted in thee:They trusted, and thou didst deliver them.5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered:They trusted in thee, and were not confounded.6 But I am a worm, and no man;A reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn:They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him:Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb:Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.10 I was cast upon thee from the womb:Thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near;For there is none to help.12 Many bulls have compassed me:Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.13 They gaped upon me with their mouths,As a ravening and a roaring lion.14 I am poured out like water,And all my bones are out of joint:My heart is like wax;It is melted in the midst of my bowels.15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd;And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws;And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.16 For dogs have compassed me:The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me:They pierced my hands and my feet.17 I may tell all my bones:They look and stare upon me.18 They part my garments among them,And cast lots upon my vesture.19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord:O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; My darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: For thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

* Now here is where Peter takes his text from as he preached about what Jesus was thinking on resurrection day:

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; And fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard.

25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: They shall praise the Lord that seek him: Your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: And he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: And none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Psalm 16:7–11 (KJV 1900)

7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:

My flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life:

In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 17–18 (KJV 1900)

Psalm 17

A Prayer of David.

1 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. 2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. 3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, That my footsteps slip not. 6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. 7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee From those that rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 9 From the wicked that oppress me, From my deadly enemies, who compass me about. 10 They are inclosed in their own fat: With their mouth they speak proudly

. 11 They have now compassed us in our steps: They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; 12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. 13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: 14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, From men of the world, which have their portion in this life, And whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: They are full of children, And leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

* What was on Jesus mind on resurrection morning? He was satisfied and rejoicing and rejoicing the he had been raised from the dead by the Power of God in a body with the Likeness of God!

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalm 18

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,

1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: The snares of death prevented me. 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry came before him, even into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the hills moved And were shaken, because he was wroth. 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: And darkness was under his feet. 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: Yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place; His pavilion round about him Were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, Hail stones and coals of fire. 13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, And the Highest gave his voice; Hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; And he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, And the foundations of the world were discovered At thy rebuke, O Lord, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from above, he took me, He drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: But the Lord was my stay. 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his judgments were before me, And I did not put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also upright before him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; With an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; And with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But wilt bring down high looks. 28 For thou wilt light my candle: The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; And by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God? 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, And setteth me upon my high places. 34 He teacheth my hands to war, So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, That my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: They are fallen under my feet. 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; That I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cried, but there was none to save them: Even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; And thou hast made me the head of the heathen: A people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: The strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45 The strangers shall fade away, And be afraid out of their close places. 46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; And let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47 It is God that avengeth me, And subdueth the people under me. 48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: Yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, And sing praises unto thy name. 50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; And sheweth mercy to his anointed, To David, and to his seed for evermore.

Romans 15:9–13 (KJV 1900)

9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

* Let me tell you why we should rejoice over this “lively hope” that we have this morning because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Look at the following verses:

Not only was Jesus overflowing with rejoicing on resurrection morning…

II. On this celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, we who have believed on Jesus should be rejoicing too!

* Turn with me now to I Peter 1:3-9

1 Peter 1:3–9 (KJV 1900)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

A. Jesus was full of joy o resurrection morning because he knew that he was about to receive the inheritance of a kingdom from His Father.

We should be rejoicing also this morning because we have and inheritance coming too!

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

B. We know that Jesus was kept by the power of God. We should also be rejoicing too because we are kept by the power of God too!

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

* We have reason to rejoice on this resurrection morning because the same power that kept Jesus from falling, keeps all those who believe in Jesus from falling as well!

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Jude 24–25 (KJV 1900)

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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C. Jesus was full of rejoicing on resurrection morning because He was experiencing the reality that his suffering was only temporary.

We should also be full of rejoicing this resurrection morning because we know that Our trials, like those of Jesus, will end!

They are only temporary!

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

D. Jesus was full of joy on that first resurrection morning because he was about to receive great rewards for his suffering.

Not only will our trials be over, but we will reap great rewards for them.

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

James 1:9–12 (KJV 1900)

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Romans 8:15–18 (KJV 1900)

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Timothy 2:11–12 (KJV 1900)

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…

Revelation 22:12–14 (KJV 1900)

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

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III. Jesus was rejoicing on that first resurrection morning because He had a new body. We should be rejoicing this resurrection morning because we will also have a new body just like His!

Philippians 3:20–21 (KJV 1900)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,

according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

* For years and years you could hear the saints of God in little country churches all over this county singing:

I’ll have a new life:

On the resurrection morning When all the dead in Christ shall rise I'll have a new body Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life

Sewed in weakness, raised in power Ready to live in Paradise I'll have a new body Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life, oh yes

Chorus: I'll have a new home (glory, glory) of glory eternal Where the redeemed (ever stand) of God shall stand There'll be no more sorrow No more pain, there'll be no more strife (no strife) Yes, raised in the likeness (in His likeness) of my Savior Ready to live (I'll be glad) in Glory Land I'll have a new body Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life

What a hallelujah morning when the last trump of God shall sound I'll have a new body Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life (eternal) Graves all bursting saints all shouting Heavenly beauty all around I'll have a new body Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life

Repeat Chorus

* We need to be filled with rejoicing this resurrection morning because like Jesus received a new body from the father, so we will also receive a new body like the one Jesus received!

III. Jesus was full of rejoicing to be reunited with his father.

We should be full of joy this resurrection morning because we will also see those we love again!

* Jesus was full of rejoicing because He had been to see his father that morning!

* We should be full of rejoicing this resurrection morning also! Because the same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead that morning will also raise our loved ones from the dead!

* I am telling you my friends that one day there is going to be a great reunion in heaven!

Glad Reunion Day

There will be a happy meeting in heaven I know When we see the many loved ones we've known here below Gather on the blessed hilltops with hearts all aglow That will be a glad reunion day Chorus:

Glad day (that will be a happy day yes), a wonderful day Glad day (that will be a happy day yes), a glorious day There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay That will be a glad reunion day When we live a million years in that wonderful place Basking in the love of Jesus beholding His face It will seem but just a moment of praising His grace That will be a glad reunion day Repeat Chorus (x2)