The Resurrection Story Series

The year was 1815. There were no satellites or telephones or even telegrams yet. There were no radios to communicate news. Nobody could send a text message or post a message on Facebook or YouTube. Still, the ENTIRE country of England knew that General Wellington was facing Napoleon in a heavyweight battle on the 18th of June, 1815, and that the future of England was in great uncertainty. A sailing ship semaphored (pronounced sim-eh-for which is “signaled with coded flags”) the news to the signalman on top of Winchester Cathedral. He signaled to another man somewhere on a hill, and this way the news of the battle was passed on by flags from one place to another all the way to London and across the whole land.

When the ship came in, the signalman on board semaphored the first word: “W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n.” The next word was “d-e-f-e-a-t-e-d,” and then the fog came down and the ship could not be seen. Signal after signal relayed the bad news. “Wellington defeated” went all across England and there was great gloom all over the countryside. But after two or three hours, the fog lifted, and the signal came again: “Wellington defeated the enemy.” Gloom had turned to dancing…all of England rejoiced.

This morning we’re going to look at a similar narrative that takes place in the New Testament Gospels. If you're not very familiar with the Bible, it's a book that is neatly divided into two parts called the Old Testament and the New Testament. And the entire Old Testament is a really just a 4000-year case study where it was conclusively proven the human race has a big problem…AND that we cannot solve that problem on our own. But the Old Testament also foreshadowed a Savior who was named Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy and promises from the Old Testament. And when we finally meet Jesus in the New Testament, we see that despite his teachings, his miracles, and his love for those around him, he was ultimately betrayed by a close friends. And the story of what happened BEFORE Easter was that Jesus was tried, beaten, crucified, dead and buried…and at that time, the message was relayed all across the land…the one that said the Messiah was dead.

But later, on the third day, the fog would lift. The stone would roll away, and the tomb would be empty. What looked like a crushing defeat was nothing more than the set-up for an incredible victory of sin, death and hell. And so I would like to invite you to take your Bible and turn with me to the book of Matthew 28 (we’ll put the words on the screen if you don’t have a Bible with you today).

Now, I don’t know where you’re at spiritually today. I can’t tell if you’re close to God or feeling distant – if you’re full of faith or full of doubt – if you’re seeking a purpose or fully certain of yours. Some of you are looking for community, others for peace, and still others for a change in your life. You’ve tried everything else and now you’re here. Whatever place you are in a relationship with Jesus, today’s message is for you:

Matthew 28:1-7

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.

This is the story of a Savior who changed the lives of those who followed Him. Men who were fearful and became bold, one who was a doubter who became a martyr, and one who was a denier who became a leader. And in all of this, I want to focus on two life-changing truths this morning that Easter reminds us of:

1. JESUS WELCOMES DOUBTERS

If you are here and you have some doubts about Christianity and faith in general, here is some good news – you are in good company. John the Baptizer—the cousin of Jesus, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and the direct forerunner of the Messiah—dealt with doubt. John had dedicated his life and ministry to preparing the way for the Lord by preaching repentance and baptizing people. Then one day when He saw Jesus, he cried out, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel” (John 1:29-31). It was a bold, confident, Spirit-prompted declaration.