Jesus The Christ Is Risen, As He Said He Would

Matthew 28:1–8 KJV 1900

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which 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, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Introduction

Today, we commemorate and celebrate the most holy day of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, known as Resurrection Day or as is traditionally referred to as Easter Sunday. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and His bodily resurrection from the dead is the absolute critical, crucial, and core truth upon which Christianity stands or falls—there is no middle ground. Either it is true that Christ rose from the grave on the 3rd day, which was Sunday morning, or it is false, and He did not rise. There are no other options. In fact, it is the litmus test as to whether you are a Christian or not. The Scriptures declare that If you believe in your heart, and confess with your mouth, that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved from the penalty and punishment of sin, which means that you are a Christian. If you do not believe this, you are not a Christian and therefore not saved from the penalty and punishment of sin, but are at this very moment under God’s condemnation, which is eternal damnation. At the risk of being redundant, let me put it like this: Christians believe that Jesus The Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea, lived a sinless life, suffered bled and died upon Calvary’s cross for the sins of all who through faith come to Him for Salvation, that He was buried in a tomb, and on the third day after His death, He arose or resurrected from the dead just as He said He would. Christ then showed Himself alive to His followers for forty days before He ascended back to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of His Father making intercession for the saints. And this same Jesus will soon return to gather His Church to Himself, save His people Israel, and destroy Satan, the Anti-Christ, the False Prophet, and all unbelievers in Hell.

The doctrine of the Resurrection is the hinge upon which Christianity swings. For if Christ be not risen, nothing else that He ever said or did matters—His virgin conception, His miracles and even His death on the cross. As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:14-15, 17-22, “…if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (21) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Therefore, the Resurrection is either true or false. Today, we will look at the evidence that supports this miraculous truth. Resurrection Day coincides with the Jewish celebration of Passover, because it was the Passover when Jesus was crucified—becoming our Pascal Lamb or as John the Baptist put it, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

The resurrection is recorded by all the gospel writers: Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; and John 20:1.

Note: Passover is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after March 21—or one week later if the full moon falls on Sunday. In other words, Easter falls between March 22 and April 25.

Chronology of the resurrection events:

Finding the stone rolled away, the women entered the tomb, but found it empty (Luke 24:3).

While they were still in the tomb, the angels suddenly appeared (Luke 24:4; Mark 16:5).

The angel who spoke reminded them of Jesus’ promises (Luke 24:6–8), then sent them to find the disciples and Peter, to report that Jesus was risen (Matthew 28:7, 8; Mark 16:7, 8).

The women did as they were told (Luke 24:9–11).

The disciples were skeptical at first (Luke 24:11), but ran to where the tomb was, John arriving first (John 20:4), but Peter actually entering the tomb first (John 20:6).

They saw the linen wrappings intact but empty, proof that Jesus was risen (Luke 24:12; John 20:6–8).

They left immediately (Luke 24:12; John 20:10).

Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb, and was standing outside weeping when Christ suddenly appeared to her (John 20:11–18). That was His first appearance (Mark 16:9).

Sometime soon after that, He met the other women on the road and appeared to them as well (Matthew 28:9, 10).

Later that day he appeared to two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–32), and to Peter (Luke 24:34).

V.6 “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

The angel told the women not to fear, because he knew that they were at the sepulcher seeking the crucified Christ. The angel’s message was “He is not here: for He is risen as He said.” Then he gave them an invitation to “Come see the place where the Lord lay.”

Obviously, the angel was aware of what Jesus had said. Well, what did Jesus say, and when and where did He speak these words regarding His resurrection? I don’t have sufficient time to give an exhaustive list, but let me give you this:

John 2:19, At His first temple cleansing, Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and chased out those that sold sacrificial animals in the temple. Then the Jewish leaders asked Jesus for a sign that justified His actions. Jesus responded by saying, Jesus answered and said unto them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In other words, once you have destroyed my body, I am going to resurrect it on the third day. My resurrection will be your sign!

Matthew 20:19 – On His way into Jerusalem for His Triumphal Entry, Jesus informed His disciples that He the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of the chief priests and scribes who would condemn His to death, “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”

Mark 8:31 – “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

Mark 9:31 – “For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, “The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.”

Mark 10:34 – “And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.”

Luke 18:33 – “And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.”

Luke 24:7 – “Saying, “The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

Matthew 12:38-40 – After healing a man possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: insomuch that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw. “…certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (39) But he answered and said unto them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: (40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Matthew 27:63 – After the crucifixion, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, “Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, “After three days I will rise again.”

Jesus also said:

“God so loved the world…”

“In this life you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”

“Let not your heart be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again to receive you unto myself…I am the way, the truth, and the life…”

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Side Note: What does all this mean and why all the fuss about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? That is such a good question, and I am so glad you asked. Here is what it means. It means that the Scriptures are true. That God is the Creator of Heaven and earth, and everything contained therein—including man. And, because of Adam’s (the first man) sin of disobedience against God, all humanity was plunged into sin and death. Nevertheless, through His Mercy and Grace God promised to send a Redeemer through the Seed of the woman, to destroy Satan and restore fallen man to an eternally blessed relationship with God. Because women do not carry a seed, this demands that the conception not involve a man. Thus, the only woman to ever conceive and give birth is the Virgin Mary. Amen somebody. This Seed of the woman who was announced and named by Gabriel the Arch Angel, praised by the angelic choir, witnessed by the shepherds abiding their flocks in the field, and worshipped by the wise men who followed His Star in the east, is none other than Jesus Christ. Amen somebody. This means that Jesus is The Promised One. The Only Begotten Son of God. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed. The Messiah. The Son of David. The Lord of lords and King of kings. He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, is alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Not Mohammed, not Buddha, not Confucius, and not the gods of Hinduism. Amen somebody.

Conclusion

Jesus The Christ lives! And, because He lives, all who put their trust in Him lives as He lives. Death has been defeated. Therefore, death has no more dominion over believers. We can like Paul, ask the question, “Oh death, where is your sting? Oh grave, where is your victory? For the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks, be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.” “…Wherefore, God hath highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every name: of that which is heaven, and that which is in the earth. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” AMEN.

I don’t know about you, but I’m hitching my wagon to Jesus Christ. My soul is anchored in the Lord. All my hope is riding on the truth of His resurrection. “Some folk would rather have houses and land. Some folk choose silver and gold…I’ve decided to make Jesus my choice.”

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

Happy Resurrection Day! Now go and tell somebody what this day is all about and as you go, may the Lord bless and keep you is my earnest prayer. Amen.