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.
Listen to how Jesus later described his cousin John the Baptizer. “Of those born of a woman (not a virgin birth), there is no one greater.” But after John was arrested and imprisoned because he wouldn’t stop preaching about Jesus, he sent word to Jesus, asking, “Are you really the Messiah we’ve been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3 NLT). You see, when life got really hard, even the great prophet John the Baptist started battling doubts about whether or not he got it right when it came to Jesus.
And the message of Easter reminds us that from the very beginning of Jesus’ arrival in human form, God is not turned off by our doubts. While many of you have participated in this series for many months, I realize that some of you may be joining us for the first time in this series, so let me give you the quick Cliff Notes as to how we got to this place. Jesus had caused a lot of trouble for the leaders in Jerusalem. So much trouble, in fact, that they were worried his disciples would continue that trouble by stealing his body and claiming that he rose from the dead. So what did the leaders do? They put a massive stone in front of the grave that Jesus was put in, they sealed it to ensure that no one would tamper with it, and they placed guards at the tomb for three days. Why? Because Jesus had claimed that He would rise from the dead. They didn’t believe He would but wanted to make sure no one faked it on Jesus’s behalf.
Several times, Jesus had given His followers a glimpse of what God was doing in the Upper Story of redemptive history. God had sent Jesus to provide forgiveness for the world. He was going to do this through living a perfect and sinless life and then being sacrificed on a cross for the sins of the world. Jesus had also told His followers that this death was not forever…that He would rise after 3 days. If God’s plan for Redemptive history is an Upper Story, then what’s happening here in our lives on Earth is the Lower Story. And as we study the Bible, what we will see over and over is that God’s Upper Story plan is going to play out regardless of the choices we make in our Lower Story. God is going to do what He said He was going to do.
But what I have discovered is that at many points, that truth (that God is going to do what He said He would do) gets lost in the daily lives and the spiritual amnesia of the people we meet in the Bible. Doubt, grief, and fear would often fog up their hearts and minds. And the death of Jesus was the culmination of those doubts and fears. Because this was the point of NO RETURN – would Jesus rise from the dead, or had they lived their life for a lie?
Maybe some of you have felt that tension…how many of you have ever promised someone that you would deliver on something only to come to a point where you started to panic because you reached a point in the execution where it looked like the whole thing was going to fall apart? Raise you’re hand if you’ve ever felt the tension that comes with not being able to follow through on what you promised! If your hand is not raised, no one likes you and don’t be surprised if your pants burst into flames. We’ve ALL felt that panic. Now, to the best of your abilities, imagine if all of heaven and hell for all of humanity was counting on you to do what you said you were going to do. That’s what’s playing out here…so what happens?
Matthew 28 begins by telling us that there was a great earthquake and that an angel that was as bright as lightning came down and rolled the stone back and sat on it. The guards were so scared that they were like dead men…frozen. In the very next part of this passage, verses 11-15 tell us that the guards ran off and told the chief priests what had happened…that angels came and rolled the stone away and that Jesus had been raised to life. The chief priests paid them and told them NOT to tell anyone the truth. Instead, they said to tell people that Jesus’s disciples came and stole His body. They were bribed so they stuck with that story. Know how we know? Because Jewish writings later confirmed this. They said Jesus’s body was stolen by His disciples. That’s why Matthew could confidently say in verse 15, “And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”
Let me tell you why it’s actually a good thing that they say that. A “stolen” body means that there was definitely an EMPTY tomb. The only reason they would have had to say “Jesus’s body was stolen” was because they had an empty tomb they needed to explain away. Even the great doubters of human history AGREE that the tomb was empty…they just DISAGREE on WHY it was empty.
The massive stone would have been rolled into a small channel that sloped upwards away from the stone, so anyone that moved it would LITERALLY have to roll it uphill to accomplish such a heist. This was an impossible feat. AND, they would have had to do it in such a way that they were so quiet, that despite moving a multi-ton stone around, they could not have awakened the Roman guards who knew that to fail in their duty would result in their execution.
So the empty tomb is without question empty. But even HOW the tomb got empty comes up with stories that honestly require an incredible amount of faith from people who doubted the real truth of the resurrection. Just think about the theory that the chief priests were pedaling – that the disciples stole the body. If that were true, then the disciples would have known that the resurrection was a lie. But let me ask you a question (and remember, the disciples were ordinary people just like you and me). Would you die a tortuous death for a lie? If we’re honest, we would be more likely to lie about something we knew was true. But no sane person is dying for a lie they made up.
Listen to how history records the deaths of the disciples. Peter was crucified upside-down. Andrew was crucified similar to Jesus. James was killed by the sword. John was boiled in oil in an attempted execution but miraculously survived…but was instead exiled to a deserted island (he’s the only one who didn’t die for his faith). Philip was either stoned to death or beheaded. Bartholomew was flayed…you heard that right. His was skinned alive…again, who is going to die like that for a known lie? Matthew, the writer of this Gospel, also died for His faith.
There’s another one I want to mention though…Thomas. Many in the church refer to him as Doubting-Thomas. Why? Because in John 20, Jesus appeared to His disciples after his resurrection…but Thomas wasn’t there. So he comes into the room and they’re all telling him, “We saw Jesus! Seriously!” But Thomas says in John 20:25, “unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the marks of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
And at some point, everyone in this room will battle doubt at some level. Some will battle it to the point of unbelief. Some will not doubt the truth of the resurrection in history, but they WILL doubt God’s work in their life in the present. And yet others have not started following Jesus because they doubt that the life He offers them will be more satisfying that the one they are pursuing. And maybe you have bought into the false notion that if you have doubts, you are not welcome at the table of faith. But I want to clear up some confusion this morning as it relates to doubt. If you’re listening, smack your neighbor and say WAKE UP! You see, God. Loves. Skeptics. It is okay to have doubts and questions. But there is a difference between doubt/skepticism and outright unbelief.
Doubt says, “I CAN’T believe.” Unbelief says, “I WON’T believe.” Skepticism is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness. Doubt is honesty. Unbelief is stubbornness. A skeptic is open to truth. An unbeliever is not. You see, someone that stubbornly displays unbelief has no intention of changing or believing. They will offer the well-worn excuses, but the fact of the matter is, even when confronted with the evidence to refute their nonbelief, they will reject it out of hand because they don’t WANT to believe. On the other hand, an honest skeptic, when presented with the facts, will change. That’s because they have truthful and heartfelt questions about God and His Word, and they’re looking to know the answers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If there were no doubts, we would not have to exercise faith. And the REAL question is whether or not it is a RATIONAL faith…and the evidence says that it is. Listen to me carefully this morning – Easter is for doubters.
I have been a member of this church for nearly 20 years. I have been a pastor for 10 years. I have two theology degrees. And while I settled my doubts about the resurrection 42 years ago, I battle doubt every time I think I cannot trust God with the outcome of a situation I am in…as evidenced by the fact that I try to take control of the situation and engineer the outcome I think is best. I’m a doubter and if you’re all honest this morning, you’re probably a doubter too. But Jesus welcomes doubters at the table of faith. But don’t take my word for it…remember old Doubting Thomas? Listen to how that story ends.
John 20:26-28
Eight days later, Jesus’ disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus didn’t condemn Thomas for His previous doubts. He offered him forgiveness in the MIDST of his doubts. And I think that’s pretty good news that Jesus welcomes doubters. That would have been a good place for an AMEN (don’t say it now, you’re too late). Well that’s not the only good word that Easter offers…
2. JESUS WELCOMES DISAPPOINTERS
So John 20 ends with Thomas confessing Christ and we turn the page to chapter 21 to see another redemption story. Only days earlier, Peter was sitting with Jesus as the last supper before the crucifixion. And as He led them in eating the bread and drinking the wine, Jesus told them that He would be betrayed by Judas and that all the rest of them would abandon Him. Peter took issue with that and basically said, said, “I would never do that!” Jesus, though, said, “before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” In other words, “If you think you’re faithful, just wait until you start to fear for your life.” That’s exactly what Peter did. The heat got turned up and Peter made sure that no one associated HIM with Jesus. So what happens after that in the Easter narrative? Let’s turn over to John 21. Fast forward…Jesus has now risen. He has shown Himself to the disciples and to the men and women who followed Him.
We’re about to see just how powerful this reconciliation is for a man who disappointed Jesus with his open denial. John 21 beginning in verse 15 (and I would feel spiritually irresponsible for not pointing out that one of the first things Jesus did after being raised from the dead was to head to the beach). Such wisdom, AMEN? So previous to this, Jesus had shown up before the disciples without Thomas, again WITH Thomas and the others, and now they got to see Him again. This time, it was breakfast on the beach.
John 21:15-19
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
So Jesus meets His disciples again at the Sea of Galilee…the same place that Jesus had called Peter to be a disciple along with his brother Andrew, and James & John. Jesus has them back where it all started as if to say, “Remember where you were a few years ago? Remember what I called you out of? It’s time to follow me for good.” And then Jesus questions Peter about His love for Him. He is reminding Peter of his own words when Jesus said “you will deny me three times.” Peter burst out saying, “no, no, no…even if everyone else abandons you, I won’t!” Peter was, in that moment, saying “I love you more than anyone else does.” So Jesus calls that back to Peter’s mind and, in a similar setting, gives Peter a chance to make it all right…three different times. In between being raised from the dead and His ascension back into heaven, Jesus goes out of His way to prove to Peter (and to ALL who have come after him) that there is grace available to people who have disappointed him.
Everyone in this room has a relationship that we haven’t reconciled or have been unwilling to reconcile. Things have been said about you, done to you, or not done for you that you simply cannot forgive. If you’ve been here the last several weeks, that’s been the subject of many of our sermons. Someone smarter than me once said that forgiveness is often the gift that everyone likes to receive but no one likes to give. But guess what we see in John 21. That Jesus forgives and restores better than anyone else you know. And nothing you have done is bigger than the grace and mercy He offers. You cannot out-sin His forgiveness. Know how I know? Because of how He treated Peter here. Peter had stabbed Him in the back…denied even knowing Him in His most desperate hour. But Jesus offers reconciliation for repentant people. And in a world being dominated by a cancel-culture, I don’t know of a more needed reminder that God doesn’t cancel those who confess…instead He restores them to usefulness.
God offers mercy and if we would keep reading about Peter, we would learn that God used him in incredible ways in the early church. Don’t skip over that – not only did God forgive his past denial, He did not penalize him for the future. God didn’t cancel Peter – He restored Him. And this Easter, He will do the same thing for you that He did for Peter shortly after the FIRST Easter, if you will humble yourself, confess and turn from your sins, and turn to Jesus to receive forgiveness and mercy.
Let me wrap up by asking a question that was asked to the women when they arrived at the tomb on that first Easter morning. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” The reality is that some of you are doing the same thing today and you don’t even realize it. You’re searching for life in things that don’t offer it. It’s like running to a graveyard and trying to find love and friendship.
Here’s what I mean by that…you are searching for ultimate fulfillment in THINGS that cannot offer it. C.S. Lewis once said, “Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” You are running full speed down a dead-end road that leads to a graveyard. If you are pursuing a life of pleasurable experiences, how is that going to serve you when you are in the nursing home? If you are pursuing money, how is that going to serve you when you give it all away at death whether you want to or not? If you are pursuing business, what will your identity be when you retire and are replaced? If you are leveraging your life for the here and now, how is that going to serve you in the life to come? Let me ask this another way…what’s your 100-year plan?
You see, God has a 100-year plan for doubters and disappointers and it’s called Easter. In Easter, God raised Jesus from the dead and in doing so, He defeated sin, death, and hell. But listen to me carefully…Jesus is not offered to those who repeat a prayer and go on with the same old life. You see, Jesus is not a vaccine against Hell. Jesus’ offer to Peter and Thomas and everyone since them is to be willing to abandon the life they are living to follow Jesus BECAUSE when we die to self, we find life in Him. And if you repent of your sins and choose to follow Jesus, then at the end of your life’s race, you won’t find a graveyard, you will find a tomb that is absent of a body, and yet filled with love.
The Father planned it,
the prophets foretold it,
the disciples doubted it,
the soldiers denied it,
the empty tomb proved it,
and the angels proclaimed it,
JESUS IS RISEN
