The Gospel According to Matthew 28:1-9 [NLTse]
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…
If you type into your internet Browser: “10 Reasons To Believe Christ Rose From The Dead” you’ll get a variety of hits from a variety of different websites. This is a fairly typical list that I found on Radio Bible Class’ website at rbc.org:
10 Reasons To Believe Christ Rose From The Dead
- A pubic execution assured His death.
- In spite of guards, the grave was found empty.
- Many people claimed to have seen Him alive.
- (By the time he wrote 1 Corinthians – about AD55 – the Apostle Paul claims that more than 500 different people had seen the Lord Jesus raised from the dead; 15:5-8 )
- A high official secured the gravesite.
- His apostles were dramatically changed.
- Witnesses were willing to die for their claims.
- Jewish believers changed their day of worship.
- Although it was unexpected, it was clearly predicted.
- It was a fitting climax to a miraculous life.
10.It fits the experience of those who trust Him.
There is probably no event across human history that has been more challenged, researched, debated, and proven than Jesus of Nazareth’s being raised from the dead. And yet many continue to not believe and doubt. I think people reject the facts because if Jesus was raised from the dead then He truly is all that He claimed to be. And if Jesus is truly all that He claimed to be, then all human beings are indeed subject to an almighty Creator, Lover, and Judge; and, that all human beings are indeed sinners deserving of punishment and judgment for our sins. Of course, if Jesus is truly all that He claimed to be, then it’s also true that God is for us and not against us (as some would slander); that Jesus has come and served the death-penalty for our sins; and, that, since He’s saved us in these ways that, He’s set us free to live not in fear or needing to control but at peace with Him, with the Holy Spirit living within us and giving us the power and ability when we need it, to accomplish His good works here on the Earth until Jesus returns to judge and make all things new!
This Resurrection-Easter morning I’d like us to focus on this last “evidence” for believing that Jesus is indeed alive: “That it fits the experience of those who trust Him.” And I’d like to invite Elder NAME to come forward to the Pulpit…
T: Geoffrey; Steve; Doug; Neil
C: Marilyn N.; Donna; Marilyn Y.; Joe
God’s highest purpose for the cross was not merely to forgive us of sin. It was so that, by forgiving us on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, He could invite us back into an intimate, loving relationship with Him, our heavenly Father.
That Jesus Christ is alive is mind-boggling. But we must not be content to read the Scriptures and hear others’ stories and be awed by them. The Scriptures prophesy and these Elders testify to the reality of the close, on-going relationship that God the Father desires to have with us all by His Son, through His Spirit! A relationship He desires for us to pursue and enjoy our whole lives long.
John 1:12 says, “…to all who believed Him and accepted Him, [Jesus] gave the right to become children of God.” Do you believe that? Do you accept that? Do you believe Him? Do you accept Him?