Restoring Hope

Matthew 28:1-10

Introduction:

• There are many things that we can live without, but hope isn’t one of them.

o Nothing can plunge us into the depths of despair quicker than losing all sense of hope.

o Hope gives us a reason to get up in the morning and the ability to keep moving ahead when life gets complicated.

• The disciples must have felt hopeless during the Crucifixion.

o They had poured everything into following Jesus because they thought He was the Messiah, the “Hope of Israel.”

o They left their jobs and families to be this man’s disciples.

o Now, they feel the pain of seeing all their hopes and dreams nailed to a Roman cross.

• The Resurrection “Restored Hope!”

o With the dawning of the first day of the week, everything is about to change.

o Not only will the events of this day restore the disciples’ hope, but it will leave them changed forever.

• God used this event (The Resurrection) to impact humanity with hope for the past and the future! – The resurrection is the central event of all Christian history.

o Upon this fact, the church is built, and our promise of salvation is dependent.

o Without the Resurrection, there would be no hope!

I. Understanding why “The Resurrection” was so unexpected.

A. There is no reason to expect things not to follow the normal progression of events.

1. Since Jesus was crucified on the day before the Sabbath, burial preparation would have been hurried and not finalized.

2. Jewish and pagan mourners would generally go to the tomb on the third day.

a. They would go to make sure that their relative was really dead.

b. They would go to complete the burial preparations.

c. When one considers the nature of crucifixion, there was no reason for any such optimism.

3. The Sabbath ended at sundown on Saturday, so the women would have been on their way to the tomb to complete preparations as soon as there was enough light to see.

4. Mark, in chapter 16 of his gospel account, explains why the women decided to go to the tomb.

a. They intended to finish the final preparations for burial since they did not have the time before the Sabbath.

b. They had with them the necessary spices, oils, and perfumes to finish these preparations.

5. There is no expectation in the women that the body would not be found in the tomb when they arrived.

B. Nothing could have prepared the women for what they would find when they arrived at the tomb.

1. A violent earthquake occurs before the women arrive as an angel rolls the approximately 4,000 lbs. stones away from the entrance to the tomb.

2. The guards were surprised as events began to no longer follow the regular order of progression.

3. Scripture does not fill us in on the details of the resurrection since the guards had passed out from fear no one witnessed Jesus actually exiting the tomb.

4. As the women arrive, the angel is sitting on the stone as a symbol of God’s spectacular victory.

5. Max Lucado writes, "The stone was moved - not for Jesus - but for the women. Not so Jesus could come out, but so the women could see in." Our God is a God of surprises. When we think nothing is going to happen, God surprises us. And it’s generally a pleasant surprise. He rolls the stone away so we can see, behold, and rejoice!

C. The improbable event will begin to restore the hope that was lost.

1. The women had more questions than answers as they saw the angel and the empty tomb.

2. The angel quickly calms their fears, explains everything that has taken place, and invites the women to examine the evidence themselves.

3. Hope begins to be reborn as the angel's words fill them with the anticipation of seeing Jesus again.

4. Uncertainty gives way to excitement as the women encounter Jesus alive again.

II. Understanding why “The Resurrection” is so important.

A. It gives undisputable evidence that Jesus is the Son of God.

1. The words spoken by the prophets concerning the Messiah were confirmed by the resurrection.

2. The resurrection confirmed the authority that Jesus said He had.

3. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18—NIV 2011)

B. It establishes the credibility of Scripture.

1. The resurrection of Jesus is clearly taught in both the Old and New Testaments.