Too Good (or bad) to be true

Good morning, everyone. Today's Bible reading is from Matthew chapter 27, starting at verse 55.

Matthew 27 · chapter mention

! And while you're looking for that passage, I just say it's great to see you all after a year in Sydney.

And this passage, my housemaid in Sydney had to preach on the burial of Jesus from Matthew 27.

We spent a long time talking about why is it important that we have this record of Jesus being buried,

and what does it mean for us today. But yes, our reading is from Matthew chapter 27, verse 55.

Matthew 27:55

There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee,

ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,

and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.

He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him, and Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud

and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock.

And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The next day, that is, after the day of preparation,

the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said,

Sir, we remember how that imposter said while he was still alive,

After three days I will rise.

Therefore, order the tomb to be made secure until the third day,

lest his disciples go and steal him away,

and tell the people,

He has risen from the dead,

and the last fraud will be worse than the first.

Pilate said to them,

You have a guard of soldiers.

Go, make it as secure as you can.

So they went and made the tomb secure

by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

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.

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.

His appearance was like lightning,

and his clothing white as snow.

And for fear of him,

the guards trembled and became like dead men.

But the angel said to the women,

Do not be afraid.

For I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here,

for he has risen,

as he said.

Come,

see the place where he lay.

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.

So they departed quickly from the tomb

with fear and great joy

and ran to tell his disciples.

And behold,

Jesus met them and said,

Greetings.

And they came up and took hold of his feet

and worshipped him.

Then Jesus said to them,

Don't be afraid.

Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee,

and there they will see me.

While they were going,

behold,

some of the guards

that went into the city

and told the chief priests

all that had taken place.

And when they had assembled

with the elders

and taken counsel,

they gave a sufficient sum of money

to the soldiers

and said,

Tell people.

His disciples came by night

and stole him away

while we were asleep.

And if this comes

to the governor's ears,

we will satisfy him

and keep you out of trouble.

So they took the money

and did as they were directed.

And this story

has been spread

among the Jews

to this day.

Good morning.

My name is Bo.

I'm one of the elders

of the church.

We are going through

the book of Matthew

and this is the second last

of the sermons.

And next week,

Calvin will give us

the last sermon.

Let us pray first

before we start.

Almighty God,

we come before you

asking that you might

have mercy on us

that we

will see your glory

this morning

as we sing,

as we listen to your word,

as we take part

in the Lord's Supper.

Lord.

Thank you, Lord.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Welcome back to

John and Catherine.

Good to see you, guys.

Well, in two days' time,

something is going to happen

in Australia

for the first time.

According to the government,

the world's first policy.

if you know why it is,

it is the banning

of the under-16s

on social media.

So all the social media

companies

will need to

make sure

that they will take

reasonable steps

to exclude

all the children

who are under-16s

to be part

of their platform.

I mean,

it's not all,

but all the most

common

or popular ones,

the 10 companies.

The government

realized that

this social media

is taking up

a lot of time

from the children.

So they were

hoping that the children

would use their time

to learn

a musical instrument

or help out

to do house chores

or do something

that is useful.

Now,

for some parents,

this is

a news

that is too good

to be true

because

to ban

anything online

is very difficult.

I mean,

looking at China,

even they are

so strict

on banning

Facebook

from everyone,

but

there are so many

people in China

that are on Facebook

as well.

I think

the Malaysia

government

did plan

to ban

Facebook

as well

a few years

ago,

but it wasn't

successful.

We are only

hearing children

under 16

change their

platform

to the

lesser-known

companies.

So we are not

sure how

this would work.

But for some

parents,

it could be

too bad

to be true

as well

because

in particular

it's school

holiday time

and if the

parents are

not used

to entertain

their children

or help

them to use

their time,

what are they

going to do

if their

children are

not on

Facebook

or YouTube

or anything

like that?

And so

we don't

know how

this would

turn out.

Only time

will tell.

As we

consider that

we,

in the Bible

today,

there's a

news that

is far

more important

than the

social media

ban that

is the

resurrection

of Jesus

Christ.

This is

also the

first time

ever happened

in the

world.

I say

the first

time,

I mean,

we know

that there

were people

who were

raised from

dead before

Jesus'

time,

like

Lazarus,

but there's

a very big

difference.

Those before

Jesus'

time,

they were

raised to

the same

physical

body and

they will

die again.

But the

resurrection of

Jesus is

different.

He's rising

to an

imperishable

body which

will never

die again.

That is

the first

time.

Even though

it's 2,000

years ago,

until today,

I mean,

there are still

many people

who do not

believe that

this is

true,

or do not

even know

about it,

not to

say to

believe.

So today,

we will

consider from

the words

to see

what were

the reactions

or perceptions

of people

during

Jesus'

time after

his

resurrection

and why

was that

good news

to some

and bad

news to

some and

what is

that to

us.

So that's

what we

are going

to consider.

So I

will mention

five groups

of people

from our

reading.

So the

first group

from 2755

are the

women.

The book

of Matthew

only mentions

two Marys,

but if you

look at

Luke and

other

Gospels,

there are

more than

two of

them,

but just

women as

a whole.

And these

women,

they were

sad.

I mean,

they lost

they really

loved Jesus

and they

lost a

dear friend

and master.

And these

two women,

they were

preparing

spices to

preserve the

body.

And they

did not

actually believe

in the

resurrection,

even though

they would

have heard

Jesus telling

them about

the resurrection.

resurrection.

In the

Gospel of

John,

in chapter

20,

verse 2,

when they

saw the

tomb was

empty when

they went

there,

and they

saw the

angel,

they

actually

married,

they saw

Jesus,

and they

thought that

there was a

gardener,

and she

was crying,

asking where

they have

moved the

body of

Jesus.

So they

were not,

they didn't

think about

the resurrection

or when

this happened,

the tomb

was empty,

somebody had

stolen the

body,

moved the

body,

and so

they remained

uncertain until

Jesus appeared

to them,

then they

were convinced

about the

resurrection.

So that is

the women.

And then the

second group

of people is

the Joseph

Arimathea,

in chapter

27,

57,

and in

John

19,

39,

we are

told about

Nicodemus as

well.

So at least

there are

two of

them,

the two

secret

followers of

Jesus.

They were

officials,

Pharisees,

or council

members.

They did

not identify

with Jesus

when Jesus

was alive

because they

wanted to

keep their

position in

the leadership.

But after

the death

of Jesus,

somehow they

were moved

to stand

up, to

identify with

Jesus.

I think they

were unhappy

with, or at

least indignant,

with the

decision that

the leadership

made to

murder Jesus

or to

punish Jesus.

they did

not believe

in the

resurrection

either.

They prepared

Jesus'

body,

they buried

him,

and just

now Joe

was mentioning

why the

Bible

mentioned

about the

burial.

Is that so

important?

So that

again tells us

that Jesus

did die,

and Jesus

has left

the world,

not become

part of the

world.

burial,

also reminds

us that

for those

of us

who are in

Christ,

we have

been buried

with him,

we are no

longer part

of the

world system.

So these

are the

officials,

and the

third group

of people

are the

disciples.

Matthew

28-7

only mentions

about the

disciples in

passing,

but if you

go to

Luke 24-11,

there's more

detail,

story about

the disciples.

The disciples

were despondent,

they were in

despair.

Imagine you

follow Jesus

for three

years,

you've been

perfectly

identified with

Jesus,

and now

Jesus has

been killed,

humiliated.

How do you

feel your

leader has

been done

with?

So they

will be

afraid of

the leadership,

if they

wouldn't dare

to go to

the temple,

because the

chief priests

and the

Pharisees

would be

hostile to

them.

And they

would not

be able to,

I mean,

they won't be

able to face

their friends,

even their

peers,

because their

peers would

laugh at

them,

ridicule

them for

following

Jesus for

three years

and coming

up to

nothing.

and they

couldn't

face their

families

either.

I mean,

they left

their family

tray and

did nothing

to help

with the

family,

and now

come up to

be nothing

after these

three years.

And so

for the

disciples,

their future

was grim,

and they

did not

believe in

the

resurrection

either.

even when

the women

came and

told them

about the

resurrection

in Luke

Luke 24:11

24,

verse 11,

it says

that the

words of

the women

seemed to

them an

idle talk,

and they

did not

believe them.

So what

the women,

why didn't

Jesus appear

to the

disciples

sooner?

He said

Jesus appeared

to the

women,

and then

asked the

women to

tell the

disciples.

Jesus could

have just

appeared to

the disciples

and tell

them,

I'm alive.

I suppose

what Jesus

wanted the

disciples to

learn is to

trust his

word.

Jesus already

told the

disciples multiple

times that

he will

become alive

again.

And now

they didn't

believe,

and now

the women

tell them

they saw

Jesus,

and still

they could

not believe.

So it's

very hard

for them

to believe

the fact

that Jesus

came back

to life

again.

The fourth

group of

people are

the chief

priests and

the Pharisees.

Paradoxically,

this group of

people,

even though

they killed

Jesus,

they seem

to believe

what Jesus

said more

than the

disciples.

They didn't

want the

resurrection

to come

true.

They heard

about the

prophecy.

They told

Pilate that

the God

is to

prevent the

disciples from

stealing the

body.

people.

If you

think deeper,

the disciples

were so

afraid that

when Jesus

was arrested,

they were

all scattered.

Peter denied

Jesus three

times.

Would they

have the

courage to

come to

steal the

body?

To the

leadership,

they didn't

actually think

the disciples

could do

anything.

To them,

they were

basically nothing

before Jesus.

And even

if they

did steal

the body,

would they

then have

the courage

to preach

the gospel?

And even

though they

were persecuted,

they were

still

preaching the

gospel.

And so

it's very

unlikely

that this

is a reason

for them

to guard

the tomb.

It's more

likely that

they really

didn't want

the resurrection

to happen.

And lastly

are the

soldiers.

So the

soldiers

were the

people who

were closest

to the

resurrection.

They almost

witnessed it.

I mean,

they would

have seen

the bright

figure,

the angel,

and then

they became

unconscious

after that.

So they

would have

experienced

something

supernatural.

But then

when the

body went

missing,

what they

were thinking

about would

be their

own life.

Because

when you're

guarding

someone as

a soldier

and the

prisoner or

this body

got missing,

you'll be

in big

trouble.

And so

they were

fearful of

their life.

the

chief

priest

convinced

them

just to

say that

the body

was stolen

while they

were asleep.

Think

about this

explanation.

I mean,

first of all,

if you

are asleep,

how would

you know

what happened

to the

body?

The

disciples

stole it.

So it's

not logical

to start

with.

And even

if they

do think

the

disciples

stole the

body,

why didn't

they go

after the

disciples

and look

for the

body?

Nothing

was done,

they just

have an

excuse.

So the

soldiers,

so long as

they don't

get into

trouble,

because the

leadership

said that

they would

talk to

the

governor

and

excuse

them and

give them

a sum

of money,

and so

long they

don't get

into

trouble,

they don't

actually care,

whether the

resurrection

was true

or not.

So we

could see

that the

first three

people,

the women,

the

disciples,

and the

secret

followers of

Jesus,

they thought

that the

resurrection

was too

good to

be true.

The

chief

priests

and the

Pharisees,

the religious

leaders,

thought that

the

resurrection

was too

bad to

be true,

and the

soldiers

didn't

actually care

whether it's

true or

not,

so long

as they

don't get

into trouble.

So why

did the

first three

people think

that it was

too good to

be true?

Because,

I mean,

it never

happened.

Everybody

died,

and nobody

came back

to life.

In general,

however,

they did

witness

Jesus

raising

Lazarus,

and that

should be

enough

to

them

that it's

possible

to come

back alive

again.

But it's

so hard

for us

to believe

and for

them to

believe as

well.

The other

thing would

be they

were so

down,

I mean,

they were

expecting

Jesus to

bring in

a new

world,

a new

kingdom,

a new

life,

but

everything

dashed

to

nothing

when

Jesus

was

killed.

And to

them,

so they

were down,

they were

so depressed

that they

just couldn't

take in

anymore.

They don't

want to

lose hope

again,

because they

were quite

hopeful

during Jesus'

time.

And now

somebody

tells them

Jesus has

come to

a life,

they don't

want to

grasp

onto it,

because

they think

if they

believe and

then it's

not true,

then they

will be

so disappointed

again.

And so

it's too

good to

be true

to them.

If Jesus

did come

back to

their lives,

so what

they were

expecting

would still

be on

track,

that Jesus

would still

be their

leader,

their master,

and bring

them to

a new

world.

And

it's what

they expect.

but

actually

what they

were expecting

is far

less than

what God

was giving

them in

the resurrection.

And

sometimes we

look at

Jesus and

only expect

Jesus to

do things

for us,

our

ambition,

our plan,

our physical

health,

but the

resurrection

means a lot

more.

The disciples

will have to

learn eventually.

The resurrection

of Jesus

means that

that is a

starting of

a new

creation.

Basically,

everything has

been renewed.

Death no

longer have

the final

set,

and death

is no

longer a

threat to

us or

to them.

Everything

is no

longer under

the curse

of God.

And so

it's a big

deal, the

resurrection.

If they

think that

it's too

good to be

true, the

goodness that

they think

of is

actually not

the goodness

that God

intended them

to believe.

It's to

have a new

life in

Christ and

to have

the hope of

resurrection,

to have a

hope of a

new body,

imperishable

body.

All this,

I think,

is too much

for them to

take in at

that time.

and this

is something

that we

benefited from

them, from

their experience

and from

their writing,

and we

can have

this hope

because of

the resurrection.

And so

for us,

I hope it's

not too

good to be

true, but

this is the

truth, and

to know that

we have this

hope in

Christ.

And why

is that too

bad to be

true to the

religious

leaders?

Because if

Jesus became

alive again,

that means

they were

wrong in

the judgment

of Jesus.

They didn't

want to be

wrong.

They wanted

to keep

their reputation.

And they

couldn't afford

to have

Jesus rise

again.

that will

show how

foolish they

are, or

how ignorant

they are, or

how corrupt

they were.

So,

ignorant,

because the

Pharisees and

the priests,

they didn't

actually know

the scripture,

because it's

all written

in the Old

Testament.

Foolish,

because they

did not

actually find

out from

Jesus, what

he was

teaching, what

he was

trying to

do, and

they just

simply have

prejudice against

Jesus and

kill him.

And being

corrupt is

that the

court that

they formed

to judge

Jesus was

not proper.

They basically

make up

accusations and

just ask the

governor to

grant the

permission to

execute Jesus.

And so,

he exposed

them, and

they didn't

want to be

exposed.

But,

if they were

to accept

that Jesus

became alive

again, and

admit that they

were wrong,

they would

have found a

new life in

Christ as

well.

But they

would rather

hold on to

their old

life than

having the

new life.

It's like

somebody

gives us

a check for

a million

dollars, but

we don't

believe in

that person,

so we

just throw

away the

check.

God is

giving the

religious

leaders a

hope that

they could

never achieve

on their

own, but

they throw

them away.

And I

hope that

today we

can, if

we are

not accepting

that we

can think

about this,

and is

it sometimes,

it's always

maybe good

for us to

admit that we

were wrong,

and the way

we live is

not according

to God's

way, and

we offended

God, and

Christ has

risen again,

and we

can come

before him,

and follow

him, and

have a

new life in

Christ.

So if

we like

the

Pharisees

and the

chief

priest,

then we

will keep

living in

the way that

we think

is right,

but eventually

we will

come to

destruction.

resurrection.

Well, there's

the third group

of people,

the soldiers,

they just

didn't think

that they

just,

it's

indifference

to the

news of

resurrection.

Maybe

some of us

are like

this, it

doesn't

concern me,

so long as

I have a

good life,

it doesn't

matter if

Jesus

comes

alive again

or not.

But

God

did not

actually

live us

like that

anything,

it doesn't

give us

a choice

to be

sitting on

the fence

or do

nothing about

this.

Because

in Acts

Acts 17:30

chapter 17

verses 30

and 31,

it says

that the

times of

ignorance

got

overlooked.

The times

of people

not knowing

what God

was about,

not knowing

that they

have offended

God,

so the

times of

ignorance

got

overlooked.

But

now he

commands

all people

everywhere

to repent.

So

he's saying

that God

has not

given us

any

choice.

He commands

either we

follow or

we disobey.

He commands

all people

everywhere

to repent.

Why?

Because he

has fixed

the day

on which

he will

just

the world

in

righteousness

by a

man

whom

he

has

appointed.

And

what

man?

For

this he

has

given

assurance

to all

by raising

him from

the dead.

So it's

quite clear

that we

can't just

ignore this

fact that

Jesus has

risen from

the dead

because

God

has

commanded

us to

repent.

Otherwise

we will

just

face

the

judgment.

So

Jesus is

worthy to

judge

humanity

because

he's

the first

to raise

and the

first of

the new

humanity.

Sometimes

we might

be like

the secret

followers

of

Jesus,

Joseph

or Nicodemus.

We dare

not

show,

reveal

our faith

in the

Lord for

fear of

our peace,

fear of

people

looking down

on us.

If we

are like

that,

we should

consider,

I mean,

from the

time of

apostles

until now,

over the

last 2,000

years,

there are

so many

Christians

who

rather

suffer and

die

than to

deny

the Lord

Jesus

Christ.

Why did

they do

that?

Because of

the

resurrection.

Because they

have a

better life

to look

forward to.

Because they

have this

hope.

And so

even

suffering and

death

cannot

stop them

from

declaring

their

faith in

the

Lord

Jesus

Christ.

And I

hope that

we can,

if we

have been

fearful of

identifying

ourselves with

the Lord

Jesus Christ,

we can

take heart

from these

people who

have went

before us

and to

know that

there's

something

better,

something

more

glorious

to live

for.

I don't

know whether

the social

media ban

would work,

but I do

know that

if we don't

have something

bigger to

live for,

why would

rules and

regulations

not be able

to change

our heart

or change

our behavior

if we,

especially

if parents

they only

live for

to satisfy

their own

flesh,

then how

do they

help their

children

to use

their time

properly?

It's only

if we live

for something

that is

bigger than

us and

greater than

us,

we have

a hope

that is

beyond this

world,

then we

can start

living a

life that

is fruitful

and meaningful

and joyful.

I hope

that this

resurrection

will give

us this

hope that

we know

life that

we live

now is

just temporary

and any

suffering,

any discomfort

is all

temporary and

it's not

worth comparing

to the

glory that

is to

come.

So today

being the

first day

of the

month,

we are

going to

have the

Lord's

Supper.

The Lord's

Supper

reminds us

not only

the death

of Jesus,

it also

reminds us

of the

resurrection

because Jesus

said he

will not

partake this

bread and

the cup

again until

the coming

of the

kingdom of

God.

And it

means that

Jesus is

saying that

he will

rise again,

he will

share this

bread and

cup with

his people

again.

And so

when we

take this,

we will

be reminded

of his

resurrection.

I hope

that we

are not

like the

disciples.

When the

women told

them about

the

resurrection,

they should

be reminded

of what

Jesus

already told

them,

but they

did not

believe.

the

Lord's

Supper

is

reminding

us of

what

Jesus

promised,

that we

can all

have new

life in

him,

and that

this new

life is

real.

It's not

too good to

be true.

It is a

truth.

So every

time we

have the

Lord's

Supper,

it reminds

us of

this truth

and gives

us encouragement

and hope,

so that even

when we are

going through

difficulties in

life,

suffering of

physical

illness,

or financial

hardship,

or anything

else,

if we get

reminded,

then all

these things

are small

things compared

to the hope

that we have

in Christ.

Shall we

pray?