The Resurrection

Today, Easter Sunday concludes our study of Jesus’ Passion. Throughout the series, we have seen how Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He spoke the truth, wherever he went, to whomever would listen. His message to all is the same, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.”

Our concluding passage is the last chapter in Matthew’s gospel. In this last chapter, Matthew tells us three important things, The Truth, the Lie and the Commission. The truth is Jesus is alive and has risen from the dead. The lie is the chief priests and the guards conspired to create a cover-up. And the commission is the job Jesus has given us to do.

The Truth

After the Sabbath was over, and near dawn on Sunday, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. From the other gospels we know that they went to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial.

Their actions reveal a couple of things worth noting. It reveals their love for Jesus, such love that they would get up early and go to the tomb, no knowing if the guards would let them in, if anyone would roll the stone away, or if they would be able to do their task. It also reveals that they didn’t expect Jesus to be alive. They came with burial spices and things. They, indeed all the disciples believed Jesus was dead and that he’d stay dead.

But when they arrived at the tomb, an angel of the Lord descended from heaven amid an earthquake, or even causing an earthquake, rolled back the stone and sat on it. Bright as lightning and with clothing as white as snow, his appearance struck such fear in the guards that they became like dead men.

The women, though shocked and amazed, though afraid, did not fall to the ground, but stared at the angel, who said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here for he has risen, as he said.”

The women, after seeing the tomb was empty, ran quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy to tell the other disciples. As they were on their way, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Greetings!” they came up to him, fell on the ground and worshipped him. Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The women were rewarded for their love for Jesus. Because they went to the tomb, they were the first to see it was empty, the first to see the angel, and the first to see the risen Christ! This is an example of them being faithful in a small thing and then being given the task of doing a greater thing! They came to finalise the burial of Jesus, instead they became messengers of his resurrection! Sent by Jesus to his brothers, the disciples, they became the first to proclaim the gospel, the good news that Jesus is alive, and has conquered sin and death! They were the first to get the message out!

What is the little thing Jesus is asking you to do? Is it talking to your neighbour, checking in, seeing how they are coping with these Covid restrictions? Is it sharing your lunch with a classmate? Is it getting to know someone at work? Will such small openings make way for something bigger?

The Lie

But theirs was not the only message to go out. While the women were on their way, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests what had happened.

You know, as I’ve reflected on this passage, until this time, I never thought that the chief priests could have responded differently. Upon hearing the news of Jesus’ resurrection, which they believed was possible based on what they heard Jesus say, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will rebuild it.” They acted on their belief by posting guards around the tomb. Now, did they really believe Jesus would rise from the dead? No. Did they think Jesus’ disciples would try to steal Jesus’ body from the tomb so that they could claim he rose from the dead? Yes.

Interestingly, this thought never seems to have entered the disciples minds. They believed he was well and truly dead and would stay that way. So, in that sense the guards were utterly unnecessary.

The guards were also utterly useless. They could no more stop the resurrection of Jesus than any one of us can stop the sun from setting tonight.

The chief priests, after hearing the guards’ report, should have put everything together, realised that Jesus truly is the Messiah, and gone to the tomb themselves. They should have looked for the disciples and asked them what it all meant. They should have believed the truth staring them in the face.

But they did not believe. They hardened their hearts further, and continued to believe their own lies. They paid off the guards and came up with the story that the disciples had stolen his body during the night. They had to pay quite a sum to those guards, a sufficient amount, a costly amount. And many believed this false narrative.

What false narrative from the world are you tempted to believe? Are you listening to what the world is saying about sex, about identity, about race, about Christianity? See Jesus as he really is, risen from the dead, alive. See and believe in Him.

The Commission

In obedience to what the women told them, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, they worshipped him, but some doubted. Let’s pause there for a moment. Some of the eleven disciples doubted, at that moment in time. Jesus, on the day he rose from the dead, was standing right there in front of them! They could see his hands and his feet. And they still doubted? In the years that followed, each and every one of the disciples proved their faith and trust in Jesus.

Doubts will come. Every one of us will experience them, have experienced them, perhaps are experiencing them right now. Doubts are an opportunity to examine the truth. It is not uncommon to wonder, “Is Christianity true? There are so many worldviews, how can I be sure that Christianity is true?”

Not only is there a tonne of evidence for the truth of Christianity, one really great reason for believing is that Christianity corresponds to reality. No other worldview describes the world as it really is except for Christianity. It is the only worldview that makes logical sense.

Now, there are many people who hold to many different worldviews, but they do it for reasons that don’t include truth. Some do it to feel in control. Some want to be out of control. Some want to live in a world of rules and regulations, some want to be free to do whatever they want, whatever their hearts desire. Inevitably, the truth, the reality of life catches up. God created the universe good. Human beings sinned by disobeying God. Ever sins, human beings have come up with all sorts of ways to fix the problem. The result is always the same, evil and violence. The only solution is the one God himself has provided. Out of his great love for his creation, He sent his one and only Son to die on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sin, so that whoever believes in him, trusts in him for salvation, may not perish but have everlasting life.

There, in Galilee, Jesus spoke these words to all of them, to those who worshipped him, as well as to those who doubted, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The words Jesus spoke to the women, apply to us as well. “Do not be afraid.” Go and make disciples. Disciples are people who follow Jesus. People who believe in him, people who may have doubts now and then, but who keep coming back to the Word, keep coming back to the scriptures, who keep holding on to the faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. It means, congregation, that we boldly, fearlessly bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to our neighbours, our friends, our coworkers, our families, anyone we meet.

Next Sunday, we will begin a new sermon series on Jonah. Like us, Jonah was given a message to bring! But Jonah was sent to a terrible and wicked people, the very enemies of Israel. He was first and unwilling, and then a reluctant prophet.

Let us not be afraid, unwilling, nor reluctant prophets! We have such great, great news to share! Jesus is alive! He is risen from the dead! No more sin held against us! No more guilt! No more shame! No more condemnation! In Christ, all is forgiven. In Jesus is life, real life! Now that’s worth sharing, Amen!