The Resurrection of the King

I. Introduction

Matthew 28:1–10 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. 5 But the angel 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 has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 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.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” 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 tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

II. Women disciples visit the tomb of Jesus (v. 1)

A. Who were the women?

1. Mary Magdalene

2. Mary, mother of James, Joses, and Salome

3. Joanna and others (Luke 24:10)

B. Why were they going to the tomb?

Mark 16:1 ESV

1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

C. Why only women?

the women will become the first witnesses to the resurrection, a fact that seems to guarantee the credibility of the account in a world that usually did not accept women’s testimony as legally binding. Were the story fabricated, only male witnesses would have appeared.

Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 426.

III. An angel of the Lord shows up at the tomb (vs. 2-4)

A. Earthquake

B. The stone was rolled away and sat on. It was very large. (Mark 16:3-4)

C. His appearance scared the guards into fainting.

IV. The Angelic message (vs. 5–7)

A. Don’t be afraid

B. I know you seek Jesus who was crucified

C. Jesus

1. Jesus is not here.

2. Jesus has risen, just as He said.

Rephrase is necessary: “Jesus was raised, just as He said He would be!”

Matthew 16:21 ESV

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Matthew 20:19 ESV

19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

3. Come and see the place where He was laying.

4. Go tell the disciples that Jesus has risen from the dead.

5. Jesus is going to Galilee before you. You will see Jesus in Galilee.

Matthew 26:32 ESV

32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

V. The disciples’ response to the message. (v. 8)

A. Fear

B. Great Joy

C. Obedience

VI. “Greetings!” from the Risen King! (v. 9a)

VII. The disciples’ response to the risen King. (v. 9b)

A. They came to Him

B. They took hold of Jesus’ feet

C. They worshipped Jesus

VIII. The commands of the King! (v. 10)

A. Do not be afraid.

B. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, to see me there.