Matthew 28:1–10 - The Resurrection Changes Everything

Opening

Opening Illustration: Twist Ending

I have always loved cinema. In fact in college I seriously considered a career in making movies. I like to joke that when my wife and I got married I organized the DVD collection by Directors last name, she organized the books by color, and neither of us could ever find anything. But one of the great skills in film making, is the twist ending. It’s very difficult to pull off. But you think of some of the great twist endings in film history, Planet of the Apes, or The Sixth Sense. As the viewer, it isn’t until you the twist is exposed at the end that a thousand little details that you missed during the movie suddenly make sense. It’s a good twist ending makes you say, “How in the world did I miss it - it was right there - right in front of my eyes the entire time.”

Personal

The resurrection is the twist in God’s story of redemption that not only unlocks the Old Testament, but it unlocks your life. When you get this, you begin to look at your life and go, “How did I miss this for so long.” Charles Spurgeon put it this way:

“The resurrection is the corner-stone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the key-stone of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set forth all the streams of living water which flow from this one sacred source, the resurrection of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but to know that he has risen, and to have fellowship with him as such–communing with the risen Saviour by possessing a risen life–seeing him leave the tomb by leaving the tomb of worldliness ourselves, this is even still more precious.”

Has the resurrection taken a hold of your life? Is your life colored by the reality of the empty tomb? If not - I beg of you this morning that you consider what I have to say. The resurrection declares that death is not the end of the story. It declares that no matter how bad life gets, Jesus has already been there, and he’s seen it through to the other side. It declares that Jesus is Lord, and with that singular fact, my life is in good hands. In short, the Resurrection Changes Everything.

The Story

Let us begin by reading the story of those who first encountered the risen Christ. On that first Easter Sunday, it was a few women who had gone to the tomb of Christ to anoint his body with spices that first encountered him alive. We read in Matthew 28:1-10:

Matthew 28:1-10 “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, “D…”

As Soon As the Sabbath Was Over

Consider these women on this first Easter morning, and how their lives were suddenly changed by this encounter. It was still dark when they were making their way to the tomb. Jesus had been crucified on a Friday. In Jewish culture, Saturday was the Sabbath, and so no work could be done. But these women knew the very first thing they wanted to do as soon as the Sabbath was over. Jesus had changed their lives when he was alive. He was a miracle worker and a teacher. Even after his death, they loved him and they would have continued to love him for the remainder of their lives. But their love would have been a grieving love. It would have been one marked by longings unmet. And then on this first Easter morning, these humble women approached the tomb. There was an Earthquake, and angel appeared to them and proclaimed that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Taking Hold Of His Feet

Verse 8 tells us they departed with “Fear and Great Joy.” They left sprinting with the news of what they had heard. But before they could reach the other disciples, the resurrected Jesus met them in their path. We’re told they, “took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”

Something changed in the heart of these women in that moment, and it was a change that would define their entire life. No longer would their greatest joy and hope be marred by unmet expectations and unmet longings. If Jesus had conquered death, then he was far more than a noble teacher. If Jesus had conquered death, then he was far more than wise sage. You see Jesus death was good news to these women not just because they got their friend back from the dead. It was good news because of what it meant.

The Resurrection Means Jesus Is Who He Claimed to Be

The question we should be asking ourselves this morning, is what is the meaning of the empty tomb? Is it simply a wonderful miracle of history that a great prophet died and came back to life? Is it, as some false teachers might say, a simple story who’s true meaning is to demonstrate how Christians can overcome challenges in their life. Oh no. These women understood the meaning of the resurrection, and that is why it changed everything.

The Resurrection is the Certification of Christ

There is a great little verse in 1 Timothy 3:16 which is a sort of summary verse of the gospel. It reads:

1 Timothy 3:16 “16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

The phrase “vindicated by the spirit” is a very interesting bit of language. What does it mean? Well, the word “vindicated” can also mean “justified." or “declared rightoues.” Now, we know when speaking of Christ that Christ never had any lack of righteousness, there was no sin in him. So what does it mean that Jesu was “vindicated in the spirit?”

The Answer Lies in the Resurrection

I believe the answer lies in the death and the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection is the vindication of all that Jesus Christ taught. In other words, if the resurrection is true, then it validates and vindicates all that Jesus ever said about who he was, for who could ever bring themselves back to life from the death? Some of you might have a view of Jesus that likes some of his teaching, but disagrees with him in other areas and has not truly made him Lord. I appeal to you right now, if Jesus did truly rise from the dead, then reconsider your position.

Who Did Jesus Claim to Be

Who did Jesus claim to be?

Revelation 1:8 “8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.””

John 8:58 “58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””

John 10:9 “9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Colossians 1:15 “15 He is the image of the invisible God...”

The Scriptures claim repeatedly that Jesus is God in the flesh, the second person of the Trinity.The point is this. It is one thing to claim these things about yourself. Many an insane person have claims to be God. But only Jesus is vindicated in these statements by rising from the dead! The Resurrection Changes everything because it means Jesus is who He said He was.

The Resurrection Changes Everything Because it Means His Message is True

Secondly, the resurrection changes everything because it means his message is true. What then is the message of Christ. Many people think Jesus was simply a great teacher, who laid down a new and better ethic for his followers. That is a false representation of Jesus. Anybody who takes the time to read the accounts of his life and teaching can quickly see that is not what Jesus claimed. Jesus claimed he had come to reconcile sinners with God.

Illustration: The Prodigal Son

Jesus was rather famous for telling parables. Short stories meant to explain deep truths through narrative. One parable in particular summarizes the message of Christ so powerfully, the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Younger Son

It’s the story of a man with two sons. The younger son was a bit of a rebel, the older son was the straight laced kid. The younger son defied his father, asked for his inheritance early mocking his dad. And his Dad with his tears in his eyes let his younger son run off, where that younger son spent all his father’s inheritance on reckless wild living. One day that younger son looks up and realizes the mistake he’s made but he’s too ashamed to admit it. He finally humbles himself, and shamefully walks back to the father’s house assuming the father will not accept him. But while the son is still off in the horizon walking back to his fathers house, the father sees the son returning and sprints out to meet him, hugging him, even throwing a party for him that night. The gospel is for men and women like that son.

The challenge that prodigals have to receive the gospel is shame. Prodigals know they’ve messed up. Men and women who have looked honestly at themselves, and have seen the depth of sin and mistakes we have made, errors against God. Who know in our heart of hearts that God has no reason to welcome back a rebel like us. But the message of the gospel is that if you will look to Christ for forgiveness, the Father will consider your debt fully paid by Jesus on the cross, and he will embrace you like that father embraced the younger son.

Older Son

But let us not forget the older son. Remember he had two sons. The straight laced older son looks and sees the father celebrating his younger brother. He begins to sulk and he says to his Dad, “Dad — I’ve always been a good kid. I never ran away like this, but you’ve never thrown me a party like you’re throwing my little brother.” As it turns out the older brother had just as much need of salvation as the younger brother. His heart was filled with jealousy and bitterness instead of compassion for the lost son returned. The older brother’s sinfulness just came out in a different way, through pride, thinking he was better than his brother.

That same pride lurks in many of our hearts today as well. We have a lot of older brothers in this room. Pride will keep many a man and woman far from God because pride says you’re not that bad, and you don’t really need a savior. But here’s the good news, there’s grace for that too. If you’re Christianity has never had those precious moments of clinging to the feet of Jesus, you might be the older son.

Nominal Christianity - My Fear

Friends — I fear that in our modern day, we have so many people who are using the title Christian but have yet to encounter the resurrected Christ who changes everything. Their definition of what it means to be a Christian is nothing more than to give a nod and wink to a bible verse here and there and to attend Church occasionally. No! May it not be so of one person in this room. You were called to more. The Lord is calling you up, to the life that is truly life. The life of faith in Christ, clinging to his feet in worship, recognizing the grace of God that has forgiven sinners like us.

The Resurrection Changes Everything Because Life Can Never Be the Same

The Resurrection Changes Everything because it means Jesus is who he said he was. It changes everything because it means his message was true. And finally it changes everything because life can never be the same. Consider these women who met Jesus that day. And the disciples who met him only a few hours later. Only days before, the Apostle Peter was denying Jesus, full of cowardice. A few days after encountering Christ risen from the dead, he’ll be a changed man. How could he ever be the same. This is not a religous/emotional experience, this is Resurrection! A Christian is a changed person. The Bible calls this being born again. Its a remarkable process, that sometimes appears to be a very slow process, and other times appears to happen instantaneoulsy.

I would like to close this Easter message out by inviting two young men to come forward. In just a moment we will be celebrating three baptisms, public declarations of choosing to have faith in Jesus. All three are remarkable stories of transformation. We have seen today the meaning of the resurrection. But I also want you to know the power of the resurrection to change lives. All of us have a unique story, a journey God has brought us on. Your story is known to Christ. And when you place your faith in Jesus, he takes that story and he infuses new life and new meaning into it.