He Said He Would!
Matthew 28: 1-6 NRSV
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Let us pray.
Last Sunday, I saw Mrs. Lee get happy in church since I’ve been here and we went over the passion that God had for us when the Israelites asked Samuel to pray to God to give them a king all the way to the King of kings being challenged and denied from the same group of people. God is no stranger to rejection believe that.
When people reject God, realize that they don’t know God, but Christ put a face on God, and if you don’t know Christ, then you won’t know God because he’s the way the truth, and light. I’ve said this before, you can get tired of church, but if you get tired of God, then you never knew God in the first place. If you get tired of God then there’s something seriously wrong! But even through that kind of frightening stupidity, God is still blessing us even when we don’t derserve it because God so loved the world! And if you living and breathing then, God so loves you! We deserve judgement…but God has mercy because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Ya’ll it’s not about us today or any other day. It’s about the G-O- to the D! We need to praise God with all that we have because God is the reason why we are experiencing life in all it’s splendor!!!! If Christ is not the reason why you’re here then we need to pray for you because your family can’t get you into heaven. Your mama can pray for you, but she can’t get into heaven. Your daddy may make you go to church, but your daddy can’t save you, but the One who died and was raised on the third day can!!! The One who died on the cross is the reason why we have life abundantly! The One who said he was gonna do that is the One that makes us all right with God! There’s no if’s and’s or but’s about that! It’s all about J-E-S-U-S everyday all day for me baby cause if you don’t have Jesus, we pray that you can get with program because he’s the only way we have full access to God 24/7!
So in looking at the text we see early Sunday morning there was a great earth quake at the break of dawn because an angel came down and rolled the stone back. The stone was put there because the Pharises gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, remember what that imposter said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So could you please make sure that the tomb is secure until the third day otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell people that he has been raised from the dead, and that last deception will be worse than the first.” So Pilate ordered the tomb to be sealed and had arm guards posted up.
Now, before I go any further, I’m gonna need your help this morning. I can’t do this by myself. My goal this morning is to confuse the enemy. The best way to confuse the enemy is to praise God. So every time I say “Why should this be a surprise?” I need you to said at the top of your lungs: “Because He said he would.”
So… Why should this be a surprise? He said he would.
At this point in time, it’s just time for us to shut the devil down because of I’m tired of his mess because he has no ground to stand on because Christ did what he said he would.
Why should this be a surprise? Because He said he would.
So when the ladies, Mary Magalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome they were going that morning to put oil and spices on the body, which they believed to be there. They found that the stone had been rolled away, and they went in and didn’t find the body. Yeah they were perplexed about the situation because they watched him die on the cross and bare the shame of humanity. Yeah they were wondering what was going on, but an angel approached them and said, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” But even with what the angel told them there was still some skepticisim.
Why should this be a surprise? Because He said he would.
If he could make the blind see, heal the sick, cast out demons, feed the multitude, raise people from the dead, and preach the gospel to the poor, then Why should this be a surprise? Because he said he would.
Then Jesus ended up taking a little walk and having a little talk to Emmaus with Cleopas and his homebody… they were distort about what they saw and had not hope, but they were having talk with somebody that made everything right. He explained every scripture to them that pertained to what had happened and about who he was. They said, “Well, we hope that Jesus was the one to redeem Isreal. And it’s been three days since they killed him. They went to the tomb to see him, but his body wasn’t there. And everyone is saying that they had a vision saying that angels told them that he’s alive.” Christ said, “Look, how foolish can you be, and why are you so slow to believe what the prophets said about me. This had to happen in order for the Messiah to come into his glory.” But their eyes were finally opened as he went through all the scriptures with them him. They said to one another, “Didn’t your heart feel like it was on fire when he was talking to us while we were walking?”
Why should this be a surprise? Because He said he would.
While they were talking about what happened, Christ himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” they were scared! What! It must be his ghost!
Now, it ain’t a ghost. Don’t be scared. Why should I be surprised because I did what I said I would.
Touch me and see! I’m not a ghost! A ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones as you see that I have. He did one better… he showed them his hands and his feet.
But when he approached them the first time, one of the disciples was missing. When they told him, we have seen the Lord. Thomas said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of he nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” He’s like… I don’t want to hear what you have to say. I saw what I saw. The man is dead as a door nail. Once you’re dead, you’re gone ain’t no coming back! So whatever! You ain’t gotta lie Craig. It ain’t Friday, it’s Sunday, and none of us has any jobs! So whatever! I gotta see that for myself! Unless I see and feel it for myself… I just can’t bring myself to have that kind of hope!”
I’m reading this, and I’m saying to myself, “I don’t know what for.” He did what he said he would. You’ve seen what he could do first hand, and I’m getting this from words off the page of the Bible, and I believe. So blessed are those who believe and have not seen! Because of who I am because of what I put Christ through when he went to the cross, if Christ says that he is going to give me an abundant life, then guess what ya’ll he gone do what he said he would! And he’s doing it now! If you’re not living life to the full, then that’s your fault! You’re not taking advantage of the power that you obtain by confessing and expression who is Lord over your life! Up from the grave he arose with a might triumph over his foes and he rose a victor from the dark domain.
Now come on now! Let’s lift up the name of the Most High! Let’s give a hand clap of praise this morning! He deserves it! Because He lives we can all face tomorrow and all fear is gone! Help me lift him! Up! Let’s give God the glory! We are no longer the conquered we are more than conquerors! We got the power! So let’s give him the glory! So let’s give it up!
When Christ told Thomas “Go ahead, put your finger right here and feel my side.” Thomas said “My Lord and My God!” There was no more doubt in Thomas anymore because he did what he said he was going to do.
Because of what Christ did on the cross, because he said he was going to be with us til the end of time… Because he said he was going to tear the temple down and rebuild it on the third day. Because of all that you have to understand and know that he’s gonna do what he said he was gonna do. Through sickness, storms, and pain… it doesn’t matter because he’s gonna do what he said he would.
If you don’t have Christ in your life now, then now is a great time to accept the invitation to get to know him.
Because of what he is and he did what he said he would, we are blessed beyond measure. We’re blessed in our homes, at our jobs, in our comings and goings, in the morning , at noon, in the evening and at night, when we’re scared, when we feel brave and courageous.
Because he did what he said he would, we have the power to do what ever we put our minds to. Ya’ll don’t hear me this morning because it had not been for Christ and what he did for us, we wouldn’t be able to withstand the craziness of life!
It’s time to celebrate! It’s time to give Christ all honor and glory! Put your hands together for the One who defeated death! The One who calms the storms of life! The One who brings meaning to our lives! The One that takes all our cares and burdens! The One who makes a way out of no way! The One who makes us right with God! Give it up! Lift Him up! Praise Him! Honor Him! Adore Him!
It’s all about Christ because he did what he said he would! Praise God! Praise God! Praise God from whom all blessings flow because the Son of Man, The Lion of Judah, The King of kings and Lord of lords, Prince of Peace, The Counselor, The Holy One… he did what he said he was going to do!
Worship him! Worship him for he is worthy of all honor glory and praise! Lift up your hands! Lift up your hearts! Lift up your lives because he did something that we couldn’t do, and the gift of salvation is a free gift that you didn’t have to anything for because when he said it is finished….game over! The devil was defeated and we need to just stop doubting and believing because he did what he said he would do!
I just can’t stop praising God for that! Everything was made for him, and he did for what was his! Christ took it to the limit for us because he said he would! And just like he did what he said he would back then, ain’t nothing changed because he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My Lord and my God! We praise you because you did what you said you would! Amen! Amen! Amen!
