Sermon Tone Analysis

ENGAGE

What is the single most important event in human history?

Without question, without hesitation the answer is unequivocally, THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD!

Not everyone agrees with my statement.

However, if you are a follower of Christ, you cannot come to any other conclusion.

Listen to the powerful words of the Apostle Paul.

1 Corinthian 15:12-20 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.

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.

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.

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.

Get Paul’s point?

Without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, you and I have no hope of an eternal resurrection.

Literally, Jesus’ resurrection is our ONE and ONLY hope.

This is why we make such a big deal about EASTER - better named - Resurrection Sunday!

Every Sunday is a celebration of the Christ resurrecting from the dead - He was raised on the first day of the week and so the church gathers on the first day of the week to celebrate this glorious truth.

That is one reason why weekly church attendance is so important.

But one a year we make a big deal about Christ’s beating death and rising from the grave!

We celebrate this in part because of the glorious benefit we receive from it - the promise of our eternal life IN CHRIST!

But are there other reasons we should celebrate the resurrection of Christ?

Every Easter we recite this phrase...

“Christ Has Risen, He Has Risen Indeed!”

So What?

Well, there are implications for this life as well and that is what I want you to notice from Matthew chapter 28.

We are going to do a “fly over” of this amazing last chapter of Matthew’s gospel.

And what I hope you will discover with me is...

Main Idea - You Are Forever Changed By the Power of the Resurrection!

What kind of an impact will the Resurrection of Jesus have on your life?

How will the Resurrection change you?

Well, the resurrection will, according to this chapter, result in three specific areas of change - Worship, Truth, and Purpose!

1.

His Resurrection Turns You Into An Authentic Worshiper (vs.

1-10)

People are built by God to worship.

However, since the Fall of Adam and Eve, we still worship, just the wrong things.

The bottom line is Since the Fall of mankind, we worship ourselves.

But the resurrection changed all this...

The horrific crucifixion is over, Jesus was buried, and now, Sunday morning the lady disciples went to the tomb early in the morning to finish the embalming they started before the Sabbath kept them from finishing.

They were not going in faith that Jesus was raised from the dead.

They were going out of obligation to prepare the dead body of Jesus.

The Ladies went to the Tomb And Got More Thank They Expected (vs.

1-6)

Matt 28:1-6 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.

Scene One - Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb after the Sabbath in the morning of the first day of the week.

Change Scene - An Angel shakes things up and scares the hardened roman soldiers to death - like so scared they passed out!

Like they were dead!

The Frightening Angel comforts the women with the truth regarding their Jesus!

What is the truth?

This supernatural, fearsome, frightening being said some of the most beautiful and powerful words ever uttered.

“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.

Come, see (let me prove it to you) the place where he lay.”

Believe me friends, these ladies didn’t expect this situation that Sunday morning so long ago.

The Angel gives these ladies a job...

Clear Instructions - Go and Tell (vs.

7-8)

Matt 28:7-8 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.

When Meeting The Resurrected Christ Worship Results (vs.

9-10)

Matt 28:9-10 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.”

When Jesus saw his friends, He greeted them!

The ladies response to seeing Christ is telling - Worship.

The worship He accepts which proves His deity.

Jesus is more than worthy of your worship.

Remember, you are a worshipper!

You cannot divide human beings into those who worship and those who don't.

Everybody worships; it's just a matter of what, or whom, we serve.

Paul David Tripp.

What will you do with Jesus?

If you are truly His, you will worship Him authentically.

Review - You Are Forever Changed By the Power of the Resurrection!

His Resurrection Turns You Into An Authentic Worshiper

Transition - There is another way we are transformed because of the resurrection...

2. His Resurrection Empowers You to Stand for Truth!

(vs.

11-15)

Okay, so this next scene in our story changes back to the guards.

Remember the guards that were scared to death?

Well, apparently they woke up and headed into town to tell their story.

Remember, a Roman soldier would be imprisoned or killed if they failed at their post.

So they had a lot riding on this communication they were about to have.

There is something very important that you need to see...

A Truthful Report on What Happened (vs.

11)

Matthew 28: 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

Please understand the guards knew the truth because they were there and they told the priest the truth because that is what the text says.

But notice what happens next...

A Reasonable Lie to Cover-up the Truth (vs.

12-15)

Matthew 28:12-15 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 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.

The guard’s motive - save their skin (this solution did not make them look good however).

The priest’s motive - a desire to hold on to their power structure.

They wanted the concept of Jesus to Go away!

The bottom line - they lied about the resurrection and their reasons were temporal.

What do I mean?