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.
2. Sorrows Turned To Joy. Matt 28:5-7…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.”
The angel said, “I have got good news! I know why you are here and who you are looking for.” He is not here, he has risen as he said. The thing that separates Jesus from all the prophets, kings and priest of the world is that He rose just as he said. Many brag about their special birth rights, sacrificial lives, miracle working ability, but none but Jesus predicted his death and set the time of his resurrection. He has risen as he said. He said in three days, I will rise again! Examining the evidence turn their sorrow into joy. The women saw the empty tomb, the grave clothes, the angelic witness and a message to tell. Sorrow can only be turned into joy if the evidence is convincing. The resurrection of Jesus is a historical fact. Their new found joy could not be contained, They went quickly to spread the joy of the resurrection of Jesus. It still takes the knowledge of Jesus’s resurrection to turn our sorrows into joy. For many, I know it is easier not to believe or to claim confusion, because if Jesus rose from the dead as he said, then he is who he claimed to be, when where he said and is coming again as he promised. That day expectations were exceeded, sorrows turned Joy and finally, fear was transformed to faith.
3. Fear Was Transformed into Faith. Matthew 28:8 “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.”
The resurrection is the central message of the Christian faith. Jesus resurrection demonstrates His triumph over death, hell and the grave. For those who seek will find their expectations to be exceeded, their sorrows will be turned Joy and will find their fears transformed into a living faith because of what he said, what he did and what he will do. Believers can be confident that He will accomplish every promise He has made. Believers can be confident that death is not the end of His kingdom influence. Every other earthly kingdom influence must stop at the grave.
In Mt 16:18, Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The word “hell” in this verse translates “grave” in the Greek. It means that His kingdom alone continues beyond the grave. Death is not the end for the believer. There is hope for the future. Because he lives, we will live also. The believer can face the future with faith instead of fear.
Because of His Resurrection, the disciples moved beyond their fear to courageous faith. They moved from unbelief and doubt to bold witness of Jesus’ resurrection. They moved from the despair of death to the promise of eternal life. Their hearts were discourage, their eyes were blind, and their hopes were dashed, but one word from Jesus changed everything! In a moment their eyes were opened, their hearts full of joy and their mouths opened with a bold witness. A new day had dawned. Anyone who seeks Him will find Him, anyone who accepts Him will be changed by Him.
So, Matthew does not leave us mourning the death of a great king, he invites us to a great coronation. We are even allowed to hear his coronation speech. Mt 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
The songwriter says it this way: “I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He's always near He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart...In all the world around me I see His loving care, And though my heart grows weary I never will despair I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast The day of His appearing will come at last, He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with me and talks with me. Along life's narrow way He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart...Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing, Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find None other is so loving, so good and kind, He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way, He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart, You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!
It was the dawning of a new Day because expectations were exceeded; sorrow turned to Joy; and fear was transformed into faith! Have you been seeking Him? Have you found him yet? He will be found by all who seek him. Amen.
