EASTER 2026: JESUS MAKES EVERYTHING DIFFERENT
MATTHEW 28:1-10
#easter2026
READ MATTHEW 28:1-10 (MSG)
“After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.
5-6 The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as He said. Come and look at the place where He was placed. 7 “Now, get on your way quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there.’ That’s the message.” 8-10 The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. “Good morning!” He said. They fell to their knees, embraced His feet, and worshiped Him. Jesus said, “You’re holding on to Me for dear life! Don’t be frightened like that. Go tell My brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.”
Welcome to worship today as we celebrate Easter Sunday because He is Risen!
This is a day when we celebrate the victory of Jesus! On Good Friday, just three days ago, we reflected on the immense cost of our redemption as Jesus bore the weight of our sin on the cross. The cross is a big deal. Jesus’ death is a big deal. What Jesus did on the cross is a big deal. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we have hope for our souls.
The cross, once a symbol of pain, punishment, and shame became the ultimate expression of God’s love and mercy. That total switch for the meaning of the cross got me thinking. The cross went from a symbol of shame to one of hope all because of Jesus. I think ancient folks would be surprised that many of us walk around with a method of execution around our necks or tattooed on our arm. Many folks in the ancient world would wonder why we decorate our places of worship with the ultimate tool of the most excruciating way to die. They would probably think there is something fundamentally wrong with us. They may or may not be correct on that point, but there is one fact that they would need to know…
THREAD: JESUS MAKES EVERYTHING DIFFERENT
Jesus changes and redefines everything!
* Jesus fundamentally changes our relationship with God. Before Jesus, people related to God through law, blood sacrifices, and distance. Through Jesus God becomes our personally close Heavenly Father.
* Jesus redefines power. Our society says power is control, dominance, and winning. Jesus shows us that power is humility, serving, and that victory comes through sacrifice. The cross looks like defeat, but is the greatest victory.
For those that believe and follow Jesus, He defines and redefines all the foundations of our lives so that we live different. We live in God’s direction. We live for Jesus. He live listening to the Holy Spirit. Those are just some initial thoughts I had on how Jesus makes everything different.
TRANSITION
The part of the chapter from Matthew that we just read, Matthew 28, lets us in on many ways Jesus makes a difference. I’d love to share with you this morning how the resurrection of Jesus described in Matthew 28 show how Jesus makes everything different.
THE OUTCOME OF DEATH WAS DIFFERENT
RE-READ MATTHEW 28:1 (ESV)
“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.
Verse 1 in Matthew 28 introduces us to the idea that the outcome of Jesus’ death was different. I don’t know if you know this, but when people die they stay dead. Jesus makes that different. The Mary-Mary Bunch were on their way to the tomb to finish up taking care of Jesus’ dead body. They had done the essentials on Friday, but the Sabbath rest was on them and they could not complete everything needed for Jesus’ burial. They were up early to get to the tomb to finish preparing Jesus’ body for His final resting place.
RE-READ MATTHEW 28:2-4 (ESV)
“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.”
Verse 2 tells us that as the ladies were walking to the tomb an earthquake shook them because an angel of the Lord came and rolled back the stone that was in front of the tomb. If everything was normal, the Marys would have arrived at the tomb and the large tomb stone would have been a problem. If everything was normal, the Marys, if they could get to the tomb open, would have found a hastily wrapped dead body of a carpenter-rabbi from Nazareth Who had been executed just a few ways before. Verses 3-4 tell us that if everything was normal the two Marys and anyone else who came with them would have to deal with the guards that were posted at the tomb.
And yet… the whole outcome of Jesus’ death was different.
* They did not find a tomb sealed with a large stone.
* They did not find alert guards patrolling.
* They did not find a body in the tomb.
Jesus knew this would happen by the way. He shared and predicted it.
READ JOHN 10:17-18 (ESV)
“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
THREAD: JESUS MAKES EVERYTHING DIFFERENT
TRANSITION
We see that the outcome of death was different with Jesus. That leads us to understand that the reason His tomb is famous is also different.
THE TOMB WAS DIFFERENT
The pyramids of Egypt are famous because they contain the mummified bodies of ancient pharaohs with lots of buried treasures. King Tut is famous because we found his tomb in Egypt and it was stuffed with stuff. Westminster Abbey in London, England is renowned because it holds the remains of English nobles and notables like Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, and over 3000+ other people. In Medina, Saudi Arabia, Muhammad's tomb is visited for the stone coffin and bones it contains and is considered a holy place for all Muslims. The Taj Mahal is not only the name of Indian food restaurants and gambling casinos, but stands in India as a memorial to the wife of an Indian emperor. Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC is revered as the honored resting place of many outstanding Americans with over 400,000 graves. All those places are famous because of the people buried there or the number of people buried there.
Yet, the garden tomb of Jesus is different. You can go to Israel today finding places where people think Jesus was buried, but the actual tomb of Jesus is not actually known. There are options for Jesus’ tomb if you go to Israel. The reasons there are options for where Jesus was buried is because the tomb doesn’t matter.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the traditional site where people think Jesus was buried. This place is located within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Archaeological studies indicate that the church was built over a 1st-century Jewish cemetery in an old quarry. It could be.
The Garden Tomb is an alternative site discovered in 1867. This site is favored by many. It features a rock-cut tomb near a cliff that resembles a skull. Archaeologists have dated this tomb to the 700s BC, making it 700 years too early for Jesus' time, but it is still a favorite for people who need to visit and see a tomb possibly used by Jesus.
The Talpiot Tomb was discovered in 1980 in East Jerusalem. This cave contained ossuaries with names like "Yeshua bar Yehosef" (Jesus, son of Joseph). Like I said, there are options for Jesus’ tomb if you go to Israel.
One would think that the earliest Christians would have marked the place their Savior was buried because it was such a holy important site. Nope. It doesn’t matter where Jesus’ tomb was. His tomb was empty. Who cares where it was! It is famous not because of what it contains, but because it is empty! When the women arrive, verses 5-6 share with us that God sent a messenger to let anyone who happened by the garden tomb that Jesus was not there.
They would not find His body.
They would not find His bones.
They would not find anything but empty grave clothes.
RE-READ MATTHEW 28:5-6 (ESV)
“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.”
People who follow Jesus Christ gather for worship on this day because of one simple, yet profound, reason: the grave did not hold Jesus. Nope. After three days, He rose from the dead meaning that He was and is victorious over sin and death. That victory is a forever victory by the way and is offered freely to us.
THREAD: JESUS MAKES EVERYTHING DIFFERENT
TRANSITION
Not only is the outcome of Jesus’ death different and so His tomb is different, but I have to tell you that Jesus acts different once He is resurrected. And by different I mean different than we might expect.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS DIFFERENT
RE-READ MATTHEW 28:7-10 (ESV)
“Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.” 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Why do I say that the resurrection of Jesus is different?
I say that because in this passage Jesus has just come back from the dead… He’s been dead for three days… and we see that He is completely on mission! The angel tells the women to tell the disciples that Jesus is not sticking around the tomb area, but is heading north to Galilee.
I might want a vacation if I’d been dead for a few days. I might want to stop off at Denny’s for a Super Slam. I maybe would want to catch a movie to relax. Nope! Jesus is on mission right away!
Jesus is on mission going ahead of the disciples to prepare the way.
Jesus is on mission readying to appear to them to explain all that happened.
Jesus is on mission to encourage the women not to be afraid.
Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, but He had a few loose ends to tie up before ascending back into heaven and taking His place at the right hand of God.
What mission was Jesus on?
He proved He was alive with multiple appearances
He restored His followers like Simon Peter and Thomas
He explained Scripture like on the Road to Emmaus
He commissioned and commanded the mission with the Great Commission
He promised power from the Holy Spirit
After all of this, Jesus would then take His place at the right hand of God. Is that really where Jesus would end up? Yes!
READ HEBREWS 1:1-3 (ESV)
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed the Heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”
In these verses we see that the resurrection of Jesus was different because He did not come back to life relieved, weakened, or unsure, but we see that the resurrection of Jesus was different because He came back fired up and on mission. I find that comforting and awesome.
TRANSITION
There is one last difference that I noticed in this passage and it has to do with the reactions of the women. I honestly am not sure how I would react if I saw Jesus during this time when I assumed He was dead. I see from the Bible how many people reacted:
Religious leaders bribed soldiers to lie (Matthew 28)
Many did not believe it, doubted, and had hard hearts (Mark 16)
Others had passion burning in their hearts (Luke 24)
THE REACTION TO JESUS IS DIFFERENT
RE-READ MATTHEW 28:7-10 (ESV)
“Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.” 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
The Mary-Mary Bunch are a mix of emotions and reactions to Him.
They rush away from the tomb in verse 8 with fear.
Why? Their fear wasn’t rooted in unbelief, but it was them being overwhelmed. The empty tomb shattered their expectations of what their morning held. Dead people don’t rise. The angel would have been terrifying for sure, but also their entire understanding of what was real was being rewritten by Jesus. This is the kind of fear you feel when you realize: “God is doing something far bigger than I can control or explain.” They reacted in fear.
They rush away from the tomb in verse 8 with joy.
Why? This feels odd given that they also felt fear. Jesus is alive which means all of His promises are true, death has been defeated, and all of the hope they had set on Him is not lost. I can imagine they felt all was lost when He died, but His resurrection brought back all of the hope they had set on Him. There is joy mixed with hope in the resurrection of Jesus even before they meet Him. That joy mixed with hope spills out into worship.
They fall at Jesus’ feet in verse 9 in worship. Why?
The Marys don’t just feel fear and joy, but they recognize Jesus. They grab His feet… because He is actually physically occupying space standing in front of them. They worship Him as Lord. Jesus is worthy of worship because He died and then was alive again. They worship Him as the risen Savior.
THREAD: JESUS MAKES EVERYTHING DIFFERENT
CONCLUSION
It was still dark. Still quiet.
Still heavy with everything Friday had stolen.
They came expecting death. Came prepared for endings.
Came carrying spices… Not hope.
Because that’s what we do, isn’t it?
We show up to sealed tombs
Already believing the story is over.
But then—
The ground starts shaking.
The stone starts moving.
Heaven breaks into earth
And everything… shifts.
An angel speaks,
But it’s not just words—it’s a declaration: “He is not here.”
Not here.
Not dead.
Not defeated.
He is risen.
And in that moment—
Fear collides with joy.
Tears collide with hope.
Death collides with life.
And everything… is different.
The grave is still there, But it doesn’t win anymore.
The cross is still real, But it’s not the end anymore.
Your past is still part of your story, But it doesn’t define you anymore.
Because when Jesus walks out of the tomb,
He doesn’t just leave it empty, He leaves nothing untouched.
Fear?
It doesn’t disappear… But it doesn’t rule anymore.
Shame?
It doesn’t get the final word anymore.
Death?
It still comes… But it no longer keeps.
And then—He meets them.
Not at the end of their faith,
But in the middle of their running.
Not when they have it all figured out,
But while they’re still trembling.
“Greetings,” He says.
And just like that—
The One they buried
Is standing in front of them.
Alive.
Present.
Personal.
And
they
fall
at
His
feet.
Because what else do you do, When you realize
The worst thing you feared, Didn’t win?
So go ahead
Run from the tomb.
Run with the tension of fear and joy.
Run with questions still in your chest.
Run with hope you can’t fully explain.
But don’t miss this: If Jesus walked out of the grave, Then nothing in your life is stuck the way it was.
Not your sin.
Not your story.
Not your future.
Because Jesus doesn’t just change outcomes: He changes everything.
So the tomb is empty. The stone is rolled away. And history is split in two.
Before Him… After Him.
Death was certain.
Now life is.
Hope was fragile.
Now it’s alive.
And because He lives: Everything is different.
PRAYER
INVITATION
