Messiah Is Risen!
Text: Matt. 27:62-28:15
Introduction
1. Illustration: All but four of the major world religions are based on mere philosophical propositions. Of the four that are based on personalities rather than philosophies, only Christianity claims an empty tomb for its founder. In 1900 B.C. Judaism’s Father Abraham died. In 483 B.C. Buddhist writings say Buddha died "with that utter passing away in which nothing whatever remains behind." June 6, 632 A.D. Mohammed died. . In 33 A.D. Jesus died but came back to life appearing to 500 people over a period of 40 days. "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." (I Corinthians, 15:14). (McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands a Verdict. 180).
2. There are Three Important Truths About the Resurrection I want to explore this morning...
a. They tried to prevent it.
b. They tried to explain it away.
c. But Jesus did it anyway.
3. Let's all stand together as we read Matt. 27:62-28:15
Proposition: Some people may not understand it, and some people may not want to hear it, but Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!
Transition: The first thing we will consider is that the religious leaders...
I. Tried To Prevent It (27:62-66).
A. Leading Priests and the Pharisees
1. The dictionary defines the word arrogance as "having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities."
a. As you might remember from last week's sermon, the religious leaders of Jesus day were feeling and acting pretty arrogant while Jesus was hanging on the cross.
b. They said things like, "so you are going to destroy the temple and raise it up again in three days! Well, let's see you get yourself out of this mess Jesus!"
c. However, one day later, these same arrogant men when awfully nervous!
2. Matthew tells us, "The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate."
a. The day after the crucifixion a delegation from the leading priests and the Pharisees, two groups normally at odds with one another, went to see Pilate.
b. They were aware that he had given Jesus' body to Joseph of Arimathea.
c. They felt as if this turn of events, which they had not foreseen, took circumstances out of their control. (Horton, 643).
d. Not satisfied with Jesus' execution and burial, the chief priests and the Pharisees go to Pilate to make certain that the dead man does not rouse more support even after his death.
e. Despite the Sabbath and the other celebrations associated with the Passover, the Jewish officials obtain an audience with Pilate because of the threat of Jesus' followers (Wilkins).
3. When they got there they said, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
a. Notice how they kiss up to Pilate by calling him "Sir," but they disrespectfully refer to Jesus as "that deceiver."
b. They were concerned because they remembered what Jesus had said about rising from the dead on the third day, and they wanted to do whatever they could to prevent it.
c. On at least one occasion Jesus specifically predicted to the Pharisees that he would rise in three days. They have not forgotten.
d. What they understood by Jesus' declaration is unknown, but they assume Jesus' followers will come to their senses and gain courage to continue the movement by perpetuating Jesus' deception (Wilkins).
e. It is interesting, however, that they remembered what Jesus said, even though they didn't believe it, but his disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about (Horton, 643).
4. Everything went just as they had hoped it would for "Pilate replied, 'Take guards and secure it the best you can.' 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it."
a. Pilate says more than he realized when he said, "secure it the best you can."
b. This ought to go in the dictionary as the definition of "futile attempt."
c. They not only had this huge stone, which took several strong men to move, but they also had the guard plus a seal on the stone.
d. The seal was done by taking a piece of rope and stretching it over the stone and then fastening it by a wax seal.
e. They must have thought to themselves, "We have him now. Let's see him pull this one off."
f. Little did they know...
B. Don't Mess With Jesus
1. Illustration: In his song, You Don't Mess Around With Jim, song writer Jim Croce said, "You tug on Superman's cape. You don't spit into the wind. You don't pull the mask off of that old Lone Ranger, and you don't mess around with Jim." Well I think he should have written, "You don't mess around with Jesus!"
2. They couldn't prevent the resurrection because Jesus is all powerful.
a. Jude 1:25 (NLT)
All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
b. A huge stone wasn't strong enough to stop him.
c. An armed guard wasn't strong enough to stop him.
d. A seal wasn't strong enough to stop him.
e. All power's of hell were not strong enough to stop.
f. Because he is El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty! He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Nothing in all the universe is strong enough to stop him!
3. They couldn't prevent the resurrection because Jesus is the King of Kings.
a. Revelation 17:14 (NLT)
Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”
b. The religious leaders couldn't stop him.
c. The Roman Governor Pilate couldn't stop him.
d. Caesar couldn’t stop him.
e. He promised that in three days he would rise from the dead, and he has never broken a promise.
Transition: They couldn't prevent it so they...
II. Tried To Explain It Away (28:11-15).
A. You Must Say
1. What we are going to look at first is what happens after the resurrection.
a. After realizing what had taken place the religious leaders knew they had to do damage control.
b. They had to come to grips with the fact that their entire plan was beginning to unravel.
2. Matthew tells us, "As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened."
a. While the women were on their way some of the soldiers that had been guarding the tomb came into the city.
b. Notice that they ran and told the priests and not their commanding officers. This will be important later (Horton, 653).
c. Their report presumably includes what transpired up to the point when they fainted away - the earthquake, the stone being rolled back, the appearance of the brilliance of the angel, and the empty tomb.
d. They apparently did not see the risen Jesus, only the results of his resurrection.
e. But they know that they have failed their orders to secure the burial scene, because the tomb is empty (Wilkins).
3. The news began to spread and, "A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe."
a. As soon as the chief priests hear the guards' report, they gather together with the elders for an immediate attempt at damage control.
b. They must account for the empty tomb. Once again the religious leadership conspires to rid themselves of Jesus' ministry (Wilkins).
c. After they had failed to prevent Jesus' body from disappearing by having a guard placed over the tomb, they tried to find another way.
d. So they concocted a lie for the soldiers to tell, and they even offered the soldiers a bribe to go along with the plan.
e. No price was too high for them to convince people that Jesus hadn't risen from the dead.
4. So "they told the soldiers, 'You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.'”
a. The lie they came up with was that Jesus' disciples had come during the night and stolen the body of Jesus from the grave.
b. This was very dangerous thing for the soldiers to consider.
c. Guards faced serious consequences for falling asleep on the job (indeed, Roman guards could be executed), including jobs guarding the corpses of crucifixion victims.
d. But the priestly aristocracy had enough influence to protect their own interests (Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
e. This is an extremely dubious story. It is unlikely that all of the guards would have been asleep on guard duty, because the penalty for falling asleep while on duty could be execution.
f. Further, would not rolling the stone away have awakened at least some of them? And if they were asleep, how do they know the disciples have stolen the body?
g. Besides, the disciples did not have sufficient courage to attend the crucifixion and even denied Jesus. Would they have mounted up a plot to steal his body from a well-guarded tomb (Wilkins)?
5. Consequently, "the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today."
a. They accepted the bribe because without the lie they would be held accountable for dereliction of duty.
b. This lie was circulated widely among the Jewish people even up until the time that Matthew wrote his gospel which was some thirty years later.
c. One of the early church fathers, a man named Justin Martyr, who lived in the Second Century A.D., said that the lie was current in his day all over the known world (Horton, 655).
d. This lie has even survived unto our day, but this lie doesn't change the facts of the resurrection of Jesus.
B. Excuses, Excuses
1. Illustration: What if we had each person that witnessed the resurrected Lord come up here this morning and talk for 15 minutes giving a testimony to what they saw. If we listened to the testimony of all the people that Jesus appeared to, we would be here all day, and all night, and Monday and Monday night and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and sometime early Friday morning they would just be wrapping up the testimony.
2. Our world we do whatever it can to reject the truth of the Resurrection.
a. Psalm 2:1-2 (NLT)
Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.
b. Those in the educational system look for ways to excuse away the Resurrection.
c. Those in the media look for ways to excuse away the Resurrection.
d. Liberal theologians look for ways to excuse away the Resurrection.
e. But the evidence for the Resurrection is so overwhelming that all their excuses are exposed for the lies that they are.
3. Try as they will, you cannot excuse away an eyewitness.
a. 1 Corinthians 15:4-7 (NLT)
He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.
b. Over 500 of His followers saw Him alive.
c. His disciples saw Him alive.
d. His half brother James saw him alive.
e. Paul himself saw Jesus alive.
f. Jesus is alive...case closed!
Transition: They tried to prevent it, and they tried to excuse it away...
III. But Jesus Did It Anyway (28:1-10)!
A. As the New Day Was Dawning
1. Matthew begins his description of the Resurrection with great literary irony.
2. He said, "Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb."
a. The different Gospel writers all had there own slant on the Resurrection.
b. Sometimes there was one angel seen, sometimes two.
c. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, looking forward to what was going to happen, indicated that it happened at dawn, while John indicated that it was still dark.
d. It was the start of the greatest day in the history of the world.
e. Their differences add to the proof of the resurrection in that it shows that no one deliberately sat down and made up a story of the Resurrection.
f. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring out different aspects of the event, containing the kind of differences that can be expected of eyewitness accounts, as seen by different people at slightly different times (Horton, 645).
g. But you have to love they way Matthew starts his report, "as the new day was dawning..."
h. I don't believe that this is coincidence. Matthew wanted us to know that there was a new day coming.
i. A day of hope, life, and peace
j. This day was going to change everything!
3. Then Matthew says, "Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it."
a. The word "suddenly" illustrates that something unexpected happened, and in this case it was a "great earthquake."
b. The word "for" introduces a subordinate clause that shows that the three events (the earthquake, the appearance of the angel, and the stone being moved) were all divine acts of God.
c. The reason the angel came was not to let Jesus out, but rather to move the stone for the women so that they could see that the tomb was empty (Horton, 647).
4. Then look what Matthew says, "The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint."
a. The guards were so afraid of the angel that they began to tremble in fear.
b. In fact that verb form of the word that is used for earthquake is used here.
c. These tough and hardened soldiers trembled with fear and fell down as if they were dead.
d. The ones who were supposed to be standing guard over a corpse became as corpses themselves.
e. Shortly afterwards they ran away, which for a Roman soldier was an offense punishable by death (Horton, 647).
f. These guards are battle-hardened veterans, used to facing fearful situations. But nothing has prepared them for this encounter.
g. After the angel speaks to the women, the guards hurriedly go into the city to report to the chief priests (Wilkins).
5. The angel turns his attention to the women saying, “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.”
a. The angel tells the women not to be afraid. His statement is intended to contrast the fear of the soldiers.
b. For these women, and those like them who seek after Jesus, there is no reason for fear, but for joy, because Jesus who was crucified, is risen from the dead (Horton, 649)!
c. Not the time but the fact of the Resurrection is revealed to the women.
d. The force of the phrase, "He is risen," carries with it the idea of "it has happened once for all."
e. The angel confirmed his message by pointing to two things. First, he reminds them of the words of Jesus who promised that he would rise from the dead.
f. Second, he points to the empty tomb. In other words, he was saying compare what he said to what they can plainly see. Jesus kept his promise (Horton, 649)!
6. After hearing the angel, " 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."
a. Notice the immediate obedience of the women to the angel's instructions. They didn't just leave, but they ran to bring the good news to the disciples.
b. They were so overjoyed that they could not wait to tell the disciples. Oh that we should act as these two women did in sharing the Good News with the world (Horton, 649).
c. They came to the tomb expecting to find the death of their hopes, but now everything is turned upside down, and even their wildest dreams pale beside the astonishing message that Jesus has been raised.
d. Their reaction is one of "fear," but yet of "great joy." Something deep within them is beginning to recognize that all they hoped for in Jesus is actually beginning to come true.
e. These women know just enough of what the future now may hold, for the prediction of Jesus' resurrection has been fulfilled. Jesus is alive.
f. Their future now includes the risen Jesus, the long-anticipated and now fully realized Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. (Wilkins).
7. As they are running to tell the disciples, "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.”
a. As the women go, the risen Jesus meets them to confirm the reality of their hopes.
b. He "suddenly" appears and gives an ordinary greeting, one they must have heard him utter on many occasions but which now prompts them to fall at his feet to "worship" him.
c. The presence of the risen Jesus turns their fear into worship.
d. By mentioning that they "clasped his feet," Matthew subtly emphasizes that this is no mere spiritual vision but a physical resurrection (Wilkins).
e. Jesus is using the same words here that the angel used in verse 5. However, what is more important here is his appearance.
f. He wanted to convince the women that he was the same Lord who had died and was buried. For them this was the third confirmation that Jesus was truly alive.
g. In telling them to not be afraid he was insuring that his resurrection was to be a time of rejoicing and not a time of fear. The time for fear was gone.
h. The word "go" here is emphatic, "depart, withdraw, leave me," because they were still holding on to him. He didn't want them to hold on to him because he had work for them to do (Horton, 651).
B. Messiah Is Alive!
1. Illustration: A Muslim in Africa became a Christian and some of his friends asked him, "Why have you done such a thing?" He answered, "Well, its like this: Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions. You didn’t know which way to go; and there at the fork were two men—one dead, and one alive—which one would you ask to show you the way?"
2. The Resurrection gives us the promise of new life.
a. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NLT)
So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
b. The Resurrection says that we can be born again.
c. The Resurrection says that we can be set free.
d. The Resurrection says that old things have passed away and all things have become new.
e. The Resurrection says that a new day is dawning!
3. The Resurrection gives us the promise of Grace.
a. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
b. Because of the Resurrection once we were lost but now we are found.
c. Because of the Resurrection once we were blind but now we can see.
d. Because of the Resurrection once we were dead but now we are alive!
Transition: Do you want to know Jesus and the power of the Resurrection today?
Conclusion
1. There are Three Important Truths About the Resurrection we want to explored this morning...
a. They tried to prevent it
b. They tried to explain it away
c. But Jesus did it anyway
2. My Jesus is not in the grave, but He is alive forevermore.
3. Do you want to know my Jesus today?
