The Resurrection of Christ Matthew 28: The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (28:5-6a)

Introduction The resurrection – The Cornerstone of Christian Faith: – The central event in God’s redemptive history – No Christianity if there were no resurrection – All that we are, have, and hope is predicated on its reality The message of resurrection hope – Death is not the end for those who believe in God – Death is a doorway that leads to eternity with God – Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours Now Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor. 20:22)

Introduction The resurrection of Jesus Christ has been preached since the formation of the church – Peter On Pentecost - “And God raised him up again putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:23-24) To his fellow Jews (Acts 4:10) To the Gentiles (Acts 10:40) – Paul – central theme of Paul’s epistles In the synagogues Before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (Acts 23:6) Before the governor, Felix (Acts 24:15, 21) Before King Agrippa (Acts 26:8) – John’s vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation (Rev. 1:17-18) “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me shall live even if he dies.” (John 14:19)

Overview Matthew presents the resurrection from the perspective of the emotional reaction of a group of women who loved Jesus deeply ThemeVerses Compassionv. 1 Terrorvv. 2 – 7 Joyv. 8 Worshipv. 9 Hopev. 10

Compassion (v. 1) After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week – Sunday morning – Christians worship on Sunday rather than Saturday (Sabbath) because of Jesus’ resurrection The other Mary – the mother of James and Joses and the wife of Clopas (Matt. 27:56 & John 19:25) Went to look at the tomb - Came to anoint Jesus’ body with spices (Luke 24:1) Did not expect to find Jesus resurrected – Lack of faith... compensated for in loving compassion – Lack of understanding... made up for in courageous devotion After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. (28:1)

Terror (vv. 2-7) There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women. “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matt. 28:2-7)

Terror (vv. 2 – 7) There was a violent earthquake – second supernaturally caused earthquake in connection with Jesus’ death; first occurred at the moment of his death An angel of the Lord... rolled back the stone and sat on it – Angel did not move the stone to let Jesus out – Jesus had left the tomb before the stone was rolled away – Angel moved the stone to let the women and the apostles in Mary Magdalene’s reaction from John’s gospel – Left as soon as she saw the stone moved; ran to Peter and John – “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:2) – Peter and John ran to the tomb to find out what they could Did not consider the possibility of resurrection The guards’ reaction – fear – They shook and became like dead men – paralyzed with fear

Terror (vv. 2 – 7) The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” – Has risen (has been raised) – the entire Trinity participated in the resurrection Jesus himself (John 10:18) The Father (Rom. 6:4, Gal. 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:3) The Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11)

Terror (vv. 2 – 7) “ Come and see the place where he lay” – angel invited them into the tomb “Go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead.’” – Fascination must turn quickly to proclamation Why did God choose to reveal truth of resurrection to those women rather than the disciples – The closer a believer stays to the Lord and to His work, the more he will witness and experience the Lord’s power “ He... Is going ahead of you into Galilee” – Galilee represented the world at large – Jewish and Gentile – Galilee is where Jesus gave the Great Commission – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” (Matt. 28:19)

Joy (v. 8) Women obediently responded to the angel’s command – They were still afraid – Yet filled with joy – Ran to tell the disciples Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene separately – The disciples did not believe her encounter with the resurrected Christ (Mark 16:11) – Their disbelief proves they did not plan to steal Jesus’ body in order to create a fake resurrection as feared by the chief priest and Pharisees (Matt. 27:62-64; 28:13) So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (28:8)

Worship (v. 9) As the women were on their way to tell the disciples, Jesus appeared to them and greeted them with an informal greeting commonly used in he marketplace or between travelers The women recognized him. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. – They now knew with certainty that He was the risen Messiah – Adoration and praise were the only proper responses to his presence – Full reality of the resurrection was solidifying in their minds and hearts Seen the empty tomb Beheld the risen Lord Touched his glorified body Suddenly Jesus met them, “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. (28:9)

Hope (v. 10) Jesus repeated the angel’s message Jesus considered the disciples his brothers, despite – Their lack of faith – Their cowardice – Their defection When they arrived in Galilee they would – See Him again – Experience a great convocation and commissioning by the Lord Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (28:10)

Conclusion Truth of the resurrection undergirds other truths 1.Word of God is totally true and reliable 2.Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as He claimed to be, and that He has power over life and death 3.Salvation is complete; on the cross Christ conquered sin, death, and hell and rose victorious 4.The church has been established. “I will build my church; and the gates of Hades (death) shall not overpower it.” (Matt. 16:18) 5.Judgment is coming 6.Heaven is waiting. Because Christ is alive by the resurrection, believers have the assurance that He is now preparing a heavenly dwelling for them