A Dawning Of A New Day Series

Sermon – “A Dawning of A New Day”

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10 “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Introduction: The apostle Matthew had careful painted a picture of Jesus as the promised Messiah and king of the Jews. Matthew would not allow Jesus to be buried without telling us about a rich man Joseph of Arimathea who begged the body of our king and buried him in his new tomb. Matthew mentions that his body was wrapped in fine white linen and sealed in the tomb. History records that Joseph and Nicodemus begged for his body. It is amazing their level of love. They came looking for Jesus’s body when He could do nothing for them. The crowd looked for Jesus only when they thought he could do something for them.

Although the disciples were blinded by grief and fear, they were slow to believe the Resurrection story. The Chief priest and Pharisees seemed to believe their purpose had been accomplished. One can only imagine the tension of those days. The weekend had been filled with fear and uncertainty. Probably no other group of men were ever under so much pressure as the disciples of Jesus. The eleven disciples had abandon everything to follow Jesus. They dreamed of grandeur and great success. They could almost see themselves in positions of influence and power. Now they find themselves hiding in fear and disappointment. How could they go on without Jesus? How could go back to their old jobs and way of life? Back to fishing? Back to tax collecting? It must have seemed a hundred years ago. How could they even show their faces when Jesus had been charged, found guilty and crucified. They needed a new day!

The disciples were trapped in an upper room with nothing but memories. Nothing but scattered and broken hearts. Maybe they should have fought in the garden; maybe they should tried to testify in court; Maybe it has all been a big mistake. When Jesus said, “It is Finished” what did he mean? Is it really finished? Both enemies and friends of Jesus waited. The first news of the day was disturbing. They had been awakened by the aftershocks of an earthquake, and the reports said that many graves had been opened, and the temple had been vandalized. Even the veil in temple had been torn from top to bottom. Then Mary Magdalene and the other women were determined to go to the tomb and complete the burial ceremony. The unexpected happened. The impossible was made possible. It was the dawning of a new day!

1. Expectations were Exceeded. Matthew 28:1-10 “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Mary Magdalene and the other women were the last ones to leave the tomb and the first to return. They had watched while Joseph and Nicodemus carefully wrapped the body of their Lord. They had watched the soldiers secure the tomb with a stone and a seal. When they arrived, they expected to find a sealed tomb, Romans soldiers and a dead Savior. A new day had dawned, and their expectations were exceeded. The stone had been rolled away, the soldiers were like dead men standing and God had sent a welcoming committee. The angels said, fear not! One can only imagine the terror experienced by these women and the peace these words brought to their hearts. Fear not, don’t be afraid, everything is okay! Expectations were exceeded, then their Sorrows were Turned into Joy.