Preached Sunday Morning, December 6, 2009
Matthew 28:1-8
Introduction:
Mary Magdalene had gone through the horrors of watching her beloved Savior writhing in pain upon the cross for six hours until He finally died. The image of His grizzly face was forever etched upon the fabric of her mind. His beard had been ripped out. The priests had beaten him with their fists. The crown of thorns severely marred his forehead. Our Savior’s blood poured down the cross of Calvary. Mary shuddered as she remembered those awful events. She was on her way to the grave site to pay her respects very early that first Easter morning.
All of a sudden she encountered an angel. The stone had been rolled away, and the soldiers no longer stood guard over the entrance to the tomb!
Our passage outlines three basic commands that this angel gave Mary. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey this morning, you will be able to grow closer to God as you, like Mary Magdalene, listen to the words of the Resurrection Angel.
I. Fear not!
Matthew 28:5
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
A. Because you seek Jesus
B. Because He is not in the grave!
1. Like every other philosopher
2. Like every other religious leader!
C. He is risen!
Matthew 28:6
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
1. Just like He said.
Matthew 12:38-41
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
2. Victory over sin.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
3. Victory over death.
Revelation 1:17-18
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
4. Victory over Satan.
Revelation 12:9-11
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
II. Come and see for yourself!
Matthew 28:6
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
A. See the evidence of His resurrection
1. His clothes were folded.
John 20:5-9
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
2. There were men in shining garments where Jesus used to be.
Luke 24:1-5
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
B. Why seek the living among the dead?
Luke 24:5
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
1. Dead prophets and philosophers.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2. Dead rituals
Romans 10:1-4
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
3. Dead works.
Hebrews 9:14
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
III. Go quickly!
Matthew 28:7-8
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
A. Proclaim this truth to all!
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
B. Go in fear, or a sense of urgency!
2 Corinthians 5:11
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
C. Go with joy!
Psalm 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.