2025.11.16 Sermon Notes. THE RISEN KING – MATTHEW 28:1–20
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: The resurrection of JESUS CHRIST is the ultimate proof of HIS Divinity and Victory over Death. The same POWER that raised HIM from the dead now lives in every believer. The tomb is empty, but the mission is full …Go and proclaim the RISEN KING!
KEY WORD LIST
RISEN KING, Resurrection, Empty Tomb, Angel, Fear, Faith, Witness, Truth, Commission, Authority, Power, Presence, Victory.
SCRIPTURES: Matthew 28:1-20, Luke 24:1-8, John 11:25-26, John 20:16-18, John 20:21-22, Romans 1:4, Romans 10:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 8:11, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:10-12, 2 Timothy 2:8-9, Mark 16:15-18, Psalm 2:1-4, John 8:32, Matthew 18:20
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
I. THE EMPTY TOMB (vv. 1–7)
HE IS RISEN
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came 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 from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and 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 is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
KEY VERSE: 1 “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb…”
POINTS
• The two Marys came expecting to anoint a dead body, but instead witnessed a miracle. A violent earthquake occurred, the stone was rolled away, and the angel of the Lord appeared, shining with heavenly glory.
• His message: “Do not be afraid… He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.”
• The resurrection validated every promise JESUS made. The angel invited them to “Come, see” — to witness evidence of divine truth — and then to “Go, quickly tell” the good news.
REFLECTION:
• Am I still looking for life among the dead, trying to find hope in worldly places?
• The angel said, “Do not be afraid.” What fears keep me from believing that JESUS has already won?
• GOD invites me to see His power, but also to share His message.
SCRIPTURE SUPPORT:
• Luke 24:1-8
• John 11:25-26 25 JESUS said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
• Romans 1:4 …declared to be the Son of GOD with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
II. THE FIRST WITNESSES (vv. 8–10)
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
THE WOMEN WORSHIP THE RISEN LORD
9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, JESUS met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then JESUS said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
KEY VERSE: 8 “So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”
POINTS
• The women became the first evangelists of the resurrection. As they ran to tell the disciples, JESUS Himself met them on the way, saying, “Rejoice!”.
• They fell at His feet and worshiped Him; proof that He was not a vision, but truly alive.
• JESUS comforted them: “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
• The women, first to see the Resurrected JESUS, to witness the fulfillment of the reversal of the first sin, by woman, Eve, in the garden.
REFLECTION:
• True worship begins when we encounter the living CHRIST.
• JESUS chose faithful, humble women to first declare His victory. Am I willing to be His messenger?
• “Go and tell” is still the mission of the Church today.
SCRIPTURE SUPPORT:
• Mark 16:9-11 9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
• Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
• John 20:16-18 16 JESUS said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 JESUS said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My GOD and your GOD.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
• 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of GOD and not of us.
• Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
III. THE COVER-UP (vv. 11–15)
THE SOLDIERS ARE BRIBED
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
KEY VERSE: 13 “His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept…”
POINTS
• Even in the face of truth, the religious leaders tried to suppress it. They bribed the guards to spread a false report, turning truth into deception.
• Yet their lies only further confirmed that the tomb was indeed empty.
• The enemy has always tried to cover up GOD’s power, but truth cannot be buried.
REFLECTION:
• The world still tries to rewrite the resurrection story. Do I boldly stand for the truth?
• Lies may be loud, but GOD’s truth endures.
• Every attempt to hide CHRIST only magnifies His glory.
SCRIPTURE SUPPORT:
• Psalm 2:1-4
• John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
• Acts 4:10-12 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom GOD raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• 2 Timothy 2:8-9 8 Remember that JESUS CHRIST, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of GOD is not chained.
• Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
• SAME SPIRIT, SAME POWER – TO EVERY BELIEVER!
IV. THE GREAT COMMISSION (vv. 16–20)
THE GREAT COMMISSION (Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:6-8)
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which JESUS had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And JESUS came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
KEY VERSE: 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”
POINTS
• The resurrected KING appeared to His disciples on a mountain in Galilee.
• He declared, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
• From that authority flows our mission: to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach.
• His final promise assures us of His presence; “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
REFLECTION:
• The resurrection empowers the mission. Am I going where JESUS sends me?
• Discipleship means more than belief, It means obedience, growth, and multiplication.
• His authority covers heaven and earth; His presence covers all time.
SCRIPTURE SUPPORT:
• Mark 16:15-18 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
• Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
• John 20:21-22 21 So JESUS said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
• Romans 10:14-15 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
CLOSING THOUGHTS
• The grave could not hold Him.
• The guards could not stop Him.
• The lies could not silence Him.
• The RISEN KING reigns forever…
…And because He lives, we live also.
The MESSAGE is Clear: Go and tell the world that JESUS is alive!
PRAYER
RISEN SAVIOR,
We praise You for conquering death and the grave. Thank You for the assurance that You are alive and that Your Spirit lives within us. Give us boldness to share Your gospel, strength to walk in obedience, and faith to trust in Your presence until You return in glory.
In Your victorious name, Yeshua, JESUS, we pray, Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
HYMNS
79 Low in the Grave He Lay (Up from the Grave He Arose)
77 CHRIST the Lord Is Risen Today
257 He Lives-I Serve a RISEN SAVIOR
