Good News From The Grave
Matthew 28:1-10 "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men]. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."
Is the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ fact or fiction? Is the central tenant of the Christian faith an authentic and validated belief or is a fanciful figment of the imagination of those who yearn for immortality? If it is, then not only is the reason for this season a sham and charade, but those who are deluded by the grand hoax are of all people the most miserable.
Paul sums up the result of such a gigantic hoax in these words: "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Cor. 15:13-19)
The rest of this resurrection chapter is a triumphant affirmation of the resurrection. When the extent of the precautions taken by both the friends and enemies of Jesus to insure His body could not be stolen are considered, the resurrection is the most logical explanation for the empty tomb. To advocate that such a deceitful plot could have been successfully planned and executed is unrealistic. The manipulation, timing and intricate detail involved would have entailed a logistical nightmare. The direction and control of the dozens of people necessarily involved in such a continuing cover-up, defies what is commonly known about human nature.
The appearances of Jesus Christ in a resurrection body is an irrefutable evidence of the validity of His bodily resurrection. In the forty days that followed His resurrection, His appearances to His disciples followed the following approximate chronological order: Certain women returning from the sepulchre, Mary Magdalene at the tomb, Peter before the evening of the resurrection day, Cleopas and his companion on Sunday afternoon, ten disciples at their evening meal, all eleven disciples a week later, a number of disciples while fishing on Galilee, the apostles and over five hundred others on a mountain, James and last of all the apostles before His ascension. If the resurrection did not occur, is it reasonable the Four Gospels, the book of Acts and the First Corinthian letter, all giving these appearances as historical and indisputable fact, would be written and published in the lifetime of many of the witnesses mentioned, without a record of a dissenting voice being raised?
The beginning and very existence of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ could only be reasonably explained by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. "The Church rests on the resurrection of its Founder. Without this fact the church could never have been born, or if born, would soon have died a natural death. The miracle of the resurrection and the existence of Christianity are so closely connected that they must stand or fall together. If Christ was raised from the dead then all His miracles are sure, and our faith is not in vain. It is only His resurrection that made His death available for our atonement, justification and salvation; without the resurrection His death would be the grave of our sins. A gospel of a dead Saviour would be a contradiction and a wretched delusion. This is the reasoning of Paul and its force is irresistible." (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church)
The English word, gospel, comes from the Greek word, Evangelion. The term originally denoted a reward for good tidings. Later, the idea of reward was dropped and the word came to merely mean good news. We do not need to speculate what good tidings or is meant in New Testament usage of the word. It always speaks of the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation that comes through faith in Him. (See I Cor. 15:1-3)
The first proclamation of this good news in a New Testament sense, was technically given by an angel near the little town of Bethlehem on the night our Savior was born. An angel preacher brought the message directly from the heavenly throne room of God. The message was short and sweet, superbly and succinctly expressed by these simple words, "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)
The first resurrection proclamation was also testified by an angel as we see in verse five of this passage. It could well have been the same angel, with the same instructions, who had previously spoken to Mary and to the shepherds. The same reassuring and rejoicing salutation is used on all three occasions. "Fear not . . good tidings..."
If there was ever an occasion that called for good news, this was such a time. The followers of Jesus were obviously disturbed, downcast and dejected at the perceived loss of their Savior. They were clearly doubting and despairing of their destiny without Him. The proclamation of the angel would change all this. Earth’s darkest night had been turned into its brightest day when the angel had rolled back the stone and Jesus had burst forth in His new body. He emergence from the empty tomb had turned earth’s apparent greatest tragedy into heaven’s greatest triumph. All that remained was for his followers, and subsequently all who would believe in the future, to be told the marvelous good news of His resurrection’s confirmation of His words and of all the promises of the prophets.
Behind every triumphant headline lies the rest of the story. Just what are the details behind this heavenly proclamation? What are the eternal benefits that will flow from this greatest of all historical event? What does it all mean to all those who stand within the marvelous glow of that empty tomb on that wonderful resurrection morning? What does it mean to all who have by faith believed in their heart this great resurrection story? What does the Good News From the Grave mean to us today?
GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVE BROUGHT BLESSINGS FOR THE BEREAVED. The came sorrowfully to see a sad sepulchre where their lifeless Saviour lay. They left gladly to share the good news of a empty tomb from which a living Saviour had risen. Three grief-stricken women came very early with a burden of bereavement. " And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun." (Mark 16:1-2) In the haste to place Him in the borrowed tomb before the beginning of the Sabbath, the customary embalming processes had not been completed. The came to embalm Him, and left to enthrone Him in their hearts forever.
The came bereft of the presence of their beloved and left with the blessed assurance of His eternal fellowship. He had told them that He would rise on the third day, but they had not understood. He had told them their hearts should not be troubled, but they could not really find faith to believe all was still well. He had said "I am the resurrection and the life," but they had forgotten His words. He had told them that death is not the end of life, but only a door along the road of everlasting life. He had told them that because He lived, the would live, eternally, but they did not yet comprehend the full import of His words.
They left with the angel’s blessed words ringing in their ears, "Fear not, He is Risen! . . . Come see . . .. Go tell . . " Can you imagine their excitement and joy? Can get a sense of the thrill involved? They couldn’t wait to rush away and share the good news with others.
It’s worth noting that Mary Magdelene evidently returns later alone and lingers for a blessing. She is then rewarded for her seeking by being the first to see the risen Lord. She would also hurry to share with the other disciples the words of her blessed Lord. (John 20:15-18)
These words should also ring in our ears today as we approach the empty tomb. It is not enough to peer into the tomb and rejoice at its emptiness. We are also challenged to see and be gripped by the real significance of these glad tidings and go and joyfully tell others also. We are just as surely witnesses of that resurrection as were these on that glad morning.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVE FURNISHES FAITH FOR THE FRETFUL AND FEARFUL. He had spoken many words to prepare them for their time of tragedy and testing. Again and again He had spoken of His eternality. The night before His passion on the cross He had told them He was the way, truth and the life. He had reassured them that the coming hours would be just a prelude to greater things. Yet they had been petrified with fretting and fearfulness. They had fled and forsaken Him as He entered the fiery furnace of His trial and agony on the cross, "And they all forsook him, and fled." (Mark 14:50)
But who are we to judge these fearful and fretting disciples? We have the whole record of all the events of that great day. Yet, we often imprison ourselves in tragedies of our own imaginings and are petrified by fears of an uncertain future. We shut ourselves off from the blessings available for those who will walk by faith with a living Saviour. Someone has counted 365 "fear nots" in the Bible. That means one for every day of the year. It is up to us to appropriate them by faith. The presence and power of a risen, living Christ can banish our self-imposed anxieties and break the shackles of our fears.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVE GIVES DARING TO THE DOUBTING AND DEJECTED. The story of Thomas has come to personify doubting in every age. (John 20:24-29) Doubt and fear are two sides of the same coin. If we allow doubts to find fertile ground and multiply, fear will always follow. We can’t keep the birds of doubt from flying over our heads, but we do not have to allow them to nest there.
Jesus said at the resurrection of Lazarus, "If thou believest, thou shalt see the glory of God.." (John 11:40) He is clearly teaching that doubt and lack of faith will withold blessings from us, But He is also assuring us that faith will dispel doubt. In the realm of the natural, seeing is believing. In the realm of the spiritual, believing is seeing.
In the great roll call of the faithful in Hebrews Chapter Eleven, it is made evident that their common characteristic was their ability to see by faith beyond their present circumstance. Their daring deeds were only made possible faith. The writer of the letter summarizes their record in these words: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,..." (Heb. 11:33-39)
Augustine said, "Faith is to believe what we do not see and the reward of faith is to see what we believe."
Someone else said, "Doubt sees the obstacles, faith sees the way! Doubt sees the darkest night, faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take a step, faith soars on high. Doubt questions, "Who believes?" Faith answers, "I".
GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVE BRINGS JOY TO THE JOYLESS. The sorrow and sadness of those who came to embalm an dead man is obvious. All their hopes and dreams had been dashed by the apparent disaster of the cross. They were clearly in shock and awe of a dreary and dark future. The dark cloud of sorrow extended beyond to envelope all those who had been disappointed by their Saviour’s meek submission to will of the Father and His crucifixion. Their joyless state is made clear in His encounter with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. But their sad hearts are made to burn with joy when the risen and living Saviour reveals Himself, walks with them in the way and fellowships with them in the Word. (Luke 24:14-34)
Those who walk with the risen Saviour today can have the same joy. The joy He promised to those who will receive His word. "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full." (John 15:11) The joy that has no relationship to outward circumstance or influences. The joy that defies description and is beyond the understanding of the mind of unregenerate man. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls." (I Peter 1:8-9)
I remember reading a few years back of a film star’s seventh marriage. She said, "I have found happiness at last..." Sadly, I wondered if she had not said the same thing the first six times she had walked down the aisle. It would seem true joy and happiness needs definition in the world in which we live.
What is happiness anyway? That elusive element and elixir of life? That essence of all worthwhile existence? Man longs for it, plans for it, pleads for it and pursues it with all his might. After all, isn’t life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness the natural birthright of all free men? But every time man seems to have happiness in his hand, it seems to vanish like an elusive soap bubble from a child’s eager grasp. But we Christians should know that happiness can only be life as God intended. Only God and Jesus, the Son of God, can guarantee abundant and fulfilling life. But even Christ does not promise us a rose garden or to bear us to heaven on beds of flowery ease. But He does offer His power to remove the guilt of sin and His presence to share the joys and trials of life and give true happiness. The world pursues happiness but happiness pursues those who walk with a risen and living Saviour.
We who know this joy should not hesitate to reflect it outwardly to the world around us. Sometimes we could not blame the world for wonder if it Is really a blessing to be a Christian. Especially when they see all the long-faced Christians that seem so common in the world around us. And none of us seem to be immune from the affliction. The world’s oft-portrayed view of the doom-saying Christian marching up and down the street under a dark cloud of gloom crying, "Repent or perish," all too often seems to have some basis in reality.
But that is not the sort of joyful Christian our Savior describes. But one would never know it if the countenance and conduct of some Christians were the only clues to the kind of character Christ concludes should characterize our walk in the world. Is it any wonder so much of the world lies in darkness if it depends upon the brightness our Christian countenance to reflect the gospel into the recesses of sin all around us? We should all remember it is said that it takes 64 facial muscles to frown and only 13 to smile. An empty tomb and a living Saviour should be enough to bring joy to any downcast heart.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVE PROCLAIMS PEACE TO THE PERTURBED. Just imagine the agitation and turmoil in the hearts of those who approached the tomb that day. Their whole world had exploded around them. Their dreams had been shattered and the house of their future had come tumbling down as a house of cards. A terrible storm of destruction and washed away the castles they had built in the sand of their doubting hearts.
The empty tomb and a living Saviour spoke peace to their distraught hearts. "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them [his] hands and [his] feet."
We are prone to like passions. The storms of life beat upon our little bark and we wonder if we will weather the storm. The wind blows, the waves roll, the lightning flashes and the thunder claps and we shiver and shake in fear.
An artist commissioned to present the concept of peace, painted a terrifying scene of a storm-lashed cliff side overlooking a raging sea. Dark and lowering clouds hung low and filled the sky. Lightning zigzagged and illuminated the landscape. Why would the artist entitle this violent and turbulent scene, "Peace"? In a crevice of a rock projecting from the cliff, sheltered by an overhanging boulder, a small mother bird sat calmly upon her nest. Protruding from beneath her sheltering wings were the heads of her obviously contented small fledglings.
In such a peace possible in a world of war and turmoil? Jesus said His mission to earth was to establish a basis for such peace. He said, "My peace I give unto you .. leave unto you .. not as men give peace." Paul speaks of a peace that surpasses man’s understanding. But he doesn’t characterize a pie in the sky by and by sort of peace, but a peace we not only can, but should, experience in the here and now. He said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
For those who have it, such peace is not easily explained. It cannot be proven scientifically or mathematically. Such real peace can only be experienced. His peace is not confined to a time and place, but is a peace equally at home beside the still waters of His powerful presence as it is on the stormy seas of life. Perhaps this peace is the sort of peace the artist sought to portray. It’s obvious that such peace must come from the master peacemaker, Jesus Christ. We who know Him know that either in storm or calm, "He is our Peace!"
GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVE BROUGHT HEALING FOR THE HELPLESS AND HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS. The two despondent strangers trudging wearily homeward to Emmaus were hopeless. One of them was Cleopas. His wife could have been the one who witnessed the crucifixion. (John 19:25) They were in despair, reviewing and reliving the shattering events of the week that had passed into history. Their helplessness and hopelessness was banished when Jesus walked with them and fellowshipped with them as they broke bread together.
The dramatic life-change of the disciples is convincing evidence of the authenticity of the resurrection story. Their helplessness and hopelessness was replaced by the power and boldness of the Spirit of a risen Saviour. They had seen Jesus cruelly crucified and had fled and gone into hiding in fear for their lives. The Peter who had cursed and denied Christ three times, after the resurrection, stood up and fearlessly preached Christ crucified to many of the same mob that had made him cringe in terror on that night.
The same disciples that had gone into hiding in an upper room "for fear of the Jews" went out in the power of the Holy Spirit to "turn the world upside down"; after meeting and talking with the resurrected Christ. Many courageously and joyously died the most horrendous martyrs death imaginable. These transformations happened even though the disciples evidently did not initially expect Jesus to rise from the dead.. How could self-deluded or deceitful men maintain such a dedication to a false cause in the face of such fierce persecution? Add to this the radical transformation of the life of the apostle Paul, fledgling Christianity’s most rabid persecutor, and who could possible deny the marvel of it all?
The resurrected Christ brings the same hope to our hopeless world today. His power can just as surely turn our tragedies into triumphs. He can change our cringing into courage. He can empower us to turn our world upside down for the sake of the gospel as well.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVE GIVES GRACE TO THE GUILTY. Peter had shamefully denied His Lord. When His loving Saviour brought him face to face with the fact of his failure he went out and wept bitterly. " And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:61-62) Could he have remembered the earlier words of Jesus, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:33) We could not blame Peter at this point for wondering if he could ever be restored to a right relationship with his beloved Saviour.
But the grace of God is brought to bear by the risen Saviour. Jesus had His messenger to send special word to Peter. It would seem he went to extraordinary length to reassure him of the grace of God that is greater than all our sin. "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." (Mark 16:7) The beautiful account of His restoration dialogue in John 21 is very familiar to all of us who have needed the healing and restoring grace of God in our own lives.
The Jews who clamored for His crucifixion were also given grace at Pentecost - and Peter was the preacher who announced the good news of the grace of God to them! The imaginary story is told of Peter’s calling to preach that inaugural message on Pentecost. It imagines that when Christ called Peter to the task, he asked, "You mean to all the Jews in Jerusalem? Even those who cried out for your blood and in effect nailed you to your cross?" Christ supposedly replied, "Yes, Peter. Especially them."
The greatest good news of all is that the same grace of God is extended to all who will believe today. He stands ready to give grace to every guilty sinner who will receive Him by true repentance and faith.
