Resurrection Sunday

The Resurrection of Jesus

Good morning everyone, I hope you all are well and blessed today.

When we talk about being blessed there is so much we can include in that thought.

We are alive today, We were fed and clothes and so was our family, We know He never leaves us or forsakes us, We are saved by the blood of Jesus, We are sealed until the day of redemption, We grew up in America, Our family members are saved, and the list can go on and on...

Are you blessed?

Yes, I believe every day we are blessed!

We had a great week of VBS, We had __________________ children. If we had any decision, what can we say about that

I want to say thank you to everyone who helped or contributed to “VBS” in some way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am grateful to you and for your sacrifice to be here this week.

Now today we come to the last chapter of the gospel of Matthew, chapter 28 and today we are going to look at verses 1-10.

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.”

So we know what day it is, it is the first day of the week. The day we know and call Sunday now. It was 3 days after the crucifixion of Jesus and his Burial into a borrowed tomb.

And on the first day of the week, the most incredible thing happened, Jesus died, was buried and on their third day He rose again! This event will be our topic of study today… The resurrection of Jesus.

So three thoughts this morning....

1. Angelic Visitors...

Now as we begin to open the text of the Scriptures, we see the Sabbath and Passover has ended, being the first day of the week as we mentioned a few moments ago.

As as this morning comes about, we know two ladies, followers of Jesus are making their way to the tomb of Jesus to finish taking care of His body. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary loved him so much so, and even in death they hoped to serve him one last time.

And as they come toward the tomb, they experience the unexpected...

Verse 2 tells us that there was a great earthquake. What does that mean, a great earthquake?

To have a great earthquake means it shook the area violently, we do not have a number like today, from the Richter scale. But they the mere words, “great” we know it just wants a little noise, maybe a little rumble under the feet. It was great, a major one, like the days prior when he died on the cross.

And the Bible says there are some things that accompanied the earthquake.

A. The first is angelic visitors… verse 2, In truth, the angelic visit may have triggered the earthquake but nonetheless, there is an angelic visitor. We are not told the name of the angel or anything that might give clues as to who it might be, and really that isn’t important. And angel descended from heaven.

B. The second is the first action of the angel, The angel rolled the stone away from the tomb of Jesus.

Now there are some who might think that the angel let Jesus out, oh no. Jesus was already gone, He has already been raised. The angel rolls the stone away so that people know the stone has been rolled away and Jesus is not there.

Now the Bible tells us that when the stone was rolled away, the angel whose description is stunning, it is said that He was dressed a brilliant while robe, it was like lighting.

His presence is one that reflects the very glory of God the father, He radiates the glory and holiness of God.

He sits down on the stone and the guards flee in fear at the sight of this angelic being.

Remember the religious leaders were afraid that the people might come and secretly move the body of Jesus and claim he had resurrected, that they might stir the people up. So Pilate agrees to seal the tomb and placed a guard there to watch over the tomb of Jesus.

Now this day it changes, the angel descends, the men are scared and flee and the angel waits for the women to come there.

Why?

They have a message for them, and for others....

Friends, angels are God’s messengers, they come and tell, come and serve and do all that the Father has told them to...

Just has Gabriel came and told Mary she would bare a son who would be great, the son of God… so this day there is a message…

And when you hear this words, what will you do as he delivers God plan and direction....

And this brings us to a second thought today...

2. Special Invitation....

As the ladies grew close to the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw the angel as he was sitting there upon the stone that was rolled away from the entrance to the tomb.

I cannot imagine their emotions as they came close, Think about it, … the tomb being opened along an angel of heaven. But before they can open their mouths and say anything, please hear the words of the angel.

Look with me at verses 5-8

Matthew 28:5–8 ESV

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.

So lets consider the words of the angel carefully...

A. Don’t be afraid… Without a doubt these ladies are terrified. These last 72 hours have been a night mare friends.

Jesus was crucified, died and buried and they have huddled as the church alone, wondering if the officials might try to kill them. and as they made their way to the tomb. The angel first words to them as they take in the whole scene is “Don’t be afraid.”

This is a good moment ladies, you are at a historical moment both physically and spiritually. So do not be afraid...

B. I know you seek Jesus who was crucified… i know you are looking for Jesus. The angel was aware of their purpose there that day, how? God knew they were coming, God knew they loved Jesus and wanted to serve him again and in the midst of their love for Jesus God shows up! God the Father wanted them to know what was happening … a miracle had happened!!

Don’t be afraid, I know you seek Jesus who was crucified...

C. He is not here, He has risen… Wow.... remember these ladies were coming to finish preparing the body of Jesus, in love and devotion they wanted to serve him on last time.

But when they arrived, man they received a different a message they didn’t expect.. He is not here, He has risen.

The angel delivering the message is important, no one saw Jesus leave the tomb, so just as the angel foretold his coming to Mary, Joseph and then others the night of his birth. So here they angel once again for tell His resurrection.

Remember Jesus had told them He would raise from the dead, He taught them about it last, but no one really got it until later...

Just like back in Matt 16:21

“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.”

D. Come and See the place where He lay.... The last portion of verse 6 gives us the this wonderful, special invitation… Come and see where He lay...

Can you imagine. Come and see!, look for yourself friends and see where He lay… and for them to examine the tomb, to see the place where Jesus lay, and to see the only thing that was there were the grave clothes.

The clothe for his body and the one that wrapped His head up, these were folded nicely and in place as a witness that Jesus was not dead, the grave clothes are left for the dead, He is alive...

What a special invitation they received that day, come and see!

Friends one day the invition will come for us, come and rise for the marriage supper of the lamb has been prepared for you and our Lord

Woooow.....

But the invitation is still active today to come and see, come and see that the Lord is good, that He loves you and gave His life for you.

We struggle in life, trying to find peace, happiness, hope in difficult times and Jesus gives all this each day and every day to those who are His and come to follow Him.

The invitation is for you to come my friends....

Come to Jesus all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.... Matthew 11:28

Now this brings us to one last thought for this day as we talk about the resurrection of Jesus

Here is my third thought for today.....

3. His Appearance to many...

On the morning of the first day of the week, the 3rd day since His death and burial, Jesus rose from the dead....

He arose...

Let me take you back to the text again. Verses 5-6

Matthew 28:5–6 ESV

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.

The angel told them, and then invited them to come and see where He had previous lay… but then He gave them a command...

The angel told them to go quickly and tell his disciples, verse 7

Matthew 28:7 ESV

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.”

My friends, this is an important command.

They came to see Jesus, to serve him and instead they found he had risen. They were command to take what they had discovered and share it with the other disciples.

Tell them He had risen, that Jesus was going before them to Galilee, and they all would see Him there.

These dear ladies were the first to discover He has risen, but something else is getting ready to happen… They are getting ready to see Him...

Lets look at verses 8-9

Matthew 28:8–9 ESV

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.

As they started in obedience to the command of the angel, on their way to the city, suddenly Jesus appears to these ladies that loved Him, and had come to finish preparing this body,,,

I love verse 9, it says”And behold”; that word behold it carries the idea that as they were walking back suddenly He appeared to them personally and he gave them a wonderful greeting.

Friends, these ladies were witness to the stone being rolled away, to the angel and a empty grave, and now they have seen Jesus personally, alive and well.

And what was their response, the Scripture says they fell at his feet and worshipped him.

Beautiful, you know why? It is appropriate. They see the Son of the living God, He had died, buried and was now alive, they fell down and worshipped Him. He is God.

My dear friends, Every time you encounter the presence of the living God the right thing to do is to fall down and worship Him.

He is deserving of our attention, our time and our worship! amen!!

And as they do this listen to what Jesus says to them...

Matthew 28:10 ESV

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.”

Don’t be afraid. Don’t be alarmed my friends, He wants them to know it is safe, It really is He, and He is standing before them..

And he tells them to “go and tell his brothers to go to Galilee”, and there they will see me....

Notice my friends that Jesus uses that word “brothers,” those that were scattered, those that ran away and even the one who denied Him 3 times… Jesus calls them His brothers..

By using the word “brother”, he shows that He loves them, accepts them and treats them as laborers along side of him, They were His brothers and yes sisters with the Lord.

Jesus is portraying the church, his men and women as a brotherhood that works together in harmony, more equality than hierarchy! Yes there is a difference between us and our Lord, of course there is but we join Him as co-laborers for the sake of the gospel.

Here is what I want you to see my friends, You my friends, regardless of your past life, your past mistakes, your past disappointments, you are instead of those things, you are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.

You are forgiven, accepted and redeemed. And he calls you to join Him in His kingdom work for God’s glory

Now we know as we walk through all four of the gospels, we see Jesus appeared to His disciples as they waited in the upper room, He walked with some on the road....

But he will meet them in Galilee. we will take more about that next week..

He appeared to many over the course of the 40 days between his resurrection and acension

This week was to bring to life the resurrection of Jesus. He arose and because He lives, we live.

Here is a great question my friends...

Are you alive in Christ...

Let’s pray