2. Stopping The
Great Escape

3. Matthew 27:62-66
“62 Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days

4. I will rise.' 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said

5. to them, "You have a guard of soldiers
to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.”
Matthew 27:62-66

6. Stopping The
Great Escape

8. I. TODAY PEOPLE CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION

9. II. YOU CAN’T STOP GOD

10. Matthew 27:63
“63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise,

11. his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first. 65Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you

12. know how. 66 So they
went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.” Matthew 27:63-66

13. Can’t you just see all the HEAVENLY HOSTS looking down, WATCHING…

15. Guarding The Dead

16. Matthew 28:2-4
“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

17. white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.” Matthew 28:2-4

19. Why was the stone ROLLED AWAY?

20. Mark 16:1-3
“1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun

21. had risen, they went to the tomb
had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

22. The stone was rolled away not…

23. III. THE RESURRECTION ROARS THE POWER OF GOD.

24. This business of the EMPTY TOMB makes…

25. Now, I wasn’t there. I didn’t see the STONE ROLLED AWAY but…

26. 1. First of all, through the years I have talked with people who were…

27. 2. Second, AND MOST OBVIOUS, if VICTORY HAD NOT…

28. My reasons for believing in the EMPTY TOMB are the same…

29. 1. First, I believe in the resurrection because RELIABLE EYEWITNESSES have told us what they saw and heard.

30. 2. Secondly and more important I believe in the EMPTY TOMB because our world reflects the changes of a RISEN SAVIOR.

31. Maybe you saw the cartoon of two Roman soldiers…

32. Peter and John never could forget…

34. Mary Magdalene never would forget…

38. IV. A TEMPTATION FOR CHRISTIANS TO SAY, ALL IS OKAY!

39. THINK right now today ABOUT A PICTURE:
AN EMPTY TOMB
MAYBE A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY
GOD IS GLORIFIED IN CHRIST IN A WAY…

40. AND BECAUSE THE MESSAGE of His resurrection is so:
MAGNIFICANT
IMPRESSIVE
STRIKING
EXTRAORDINARY

41. IT’S TEMPTING TO SAY EVERYTHING IS O.K.

42. IT’S TEMPTING TO SAY EVERYTHING IS O.K.
--- but it’s not, NOT FOR EVERYONE

43. I mean the empty tomb is EVERYTHING for…

44. I mean the empty tomb is EVERYTHING for…
…FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AS THOUGH it never happened, IT IS A CURSE.

45. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
“7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the

46. Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

47. Do you long for the appearing OF JESUS?

48. AS MUCH AS you love life, you LONG…

49. But the wonderful thing IS BECAUSE OUR
FAITH IN JESUS

50. But the wonderful thing IS BECAUSE OUR
FAITH IN JESUS
PURPOSE IS TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIM .

51. WE’RE READY! But the wonderful thing IS BECAUSE OUR FAITH IN JESUS
PURPOSE IS TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIM
WE’RE READY!

52. Isaiah 46:9-11
“…9 I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'

53. 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”