Matthew Ch27v55-Ch28v15 - Jesus Lives

55. Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee

to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,

and the mother of Zebedee's sons. As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea

named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus'

body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean

linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone

in front of the entrance to the tomb, and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting

there opposite the tomb. The next day, the one after preparation day, the chief priests and the

Pharisees went to Pilate. Sir, they said, we remember that while he was still alive, that deceiver said,

after three days I will rise again. So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day,

otherwise his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he had been raised from the

dead. This last deception will be worse than the first. Take a guard, Pilate answered. Go make the tomb

as secure as you know how. So they went and they made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone

and posting the guard. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, so it's a Sunday morning,

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake for an angel

of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him

that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the woman, do not be afraid,

for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen,

just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples,

he has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you.

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, he said. They came to him, clasped his feet, and worshipped him.

Then Jesus said to them, do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see me.

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city to report to the chief priests

everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan,

they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them,

you are to say, his disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.

If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.

So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.

And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Well, over the month of April, we've been looking together at the Easter account.

That is, the events surrounding the death and the resurrection of Jesus.

We've been looking at his trial, his crucifixion, and last week his death.

And today, we're going to see the resurrection.

And in particular, we're going to look at the resurrection account from the perspective of the women.

Because throughout Matthew's Gospel, and particularly in this instance,

the women play a central role.

So we're going to look at three simple things.

We're going to look at the witness to the resurrection,

the challenge to the resurrection,

and the meaning of the resurrection.

So three things.

Witness, meaning, and challenge.

Here's the first.

The witness to the resurrection.

Now this is really important because Christianity

is built on the foundation of the resurrection.

If there is no risen Jesus, there is no Christianity.

We're simply living a lie.

We might as well all pack our bags right now

and go home because we're wasting our time.

So it's crucial that we know that the resurrection is actually true.

And Matthew's account provides us with the first eyewitnesses to the resurrection.

We're introduced to them in verse 55.

Many women were there watching from a distance.

Verse 56.

Among them were Mary Magdalene,

Mary the mother of James and Joseph,

and the mother of Sebedee's sons.

Now we don't know a lot about them.

We're not given much information,

but we're given a little bit,

which obviously suggests that their identities

are known by the people who first read this account.

They knew who Mary was,

and the other Mary,

and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

And at least two of these women,

the two Marys,

were eyewitnesses to all that had happened.

They're present throughout this account.

Now the fact that Matthew records women

as the first eyewitnesses

is really significant.

Because at that time,

back in the first century,

a woman's testimony

was not considered trustworthy.

In the court of law,

their words were not counted as credible.

You never had a woman stand up and give witness.

It just simply wasn't counted.

So if Matthew was making up a story

of the risen Jesus,

you would never include women in your account.

Because it would be counterintuitive.

It would undermine your purpose

for what you're writing.

The only reason why Matthew would include women

and have as his eyewitnesses

would be if it was true.

So what did these women see

as the first eyewitnesses?

First, they saw Jesus die.

Again, look at verse 55.

Many women were there watching.

Well, what were they watching?

Well, Matthew's just recorded for us

the events surrounding the death of Jesus.

So they were present as Jesus died.

They were witnesses to his beatings,

to his torture,

to his crucifixion.

They saw Jesus' physical body

get weaker and weaker

as he struggled to draw in breath.

They heard his cry of agony

and they saw as he breathed out his last.

Now, lots of people today

will claim that Jesus didn't die.

That while he was on the cross,

he only passed out or he fainted.

Is it true?

Well, let's remember that these soldiers

were experienced,

expert, executioners.

It was their job to ensure people died.

And if people didn't die,

well, more than likely,

they would die themselves.

So there's no reason for us to think

that Jesus did not die.

According to the women who are present

and watching,

well, Jesus died.

And second,

they saw Jesus buried.

Joseph, a disciple of Jesus,

verse 57,

went and asked Pilate

for the body of Jesus.

It was important in Jewish tradition

that the body would be buried

before Sabbath the following day,

before sundown.

So he goes to Pilate

and asks for the body,

verse 59.

Joseph took the body

and wrapped it in clean linen cloth.

So the burial clothes,

wrapped from toe to head

all the way around.

So if there was any notion

of Jesus still being alive,

he would surely be suffocated.

Joseph took the body,

wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

placed it in his own new tomb,

so people weren't buried underground.

It was a hole in the rock

and inside the rock

they would chisel out

or cut out a shelf

into the rock area.

And then a big stone

was rolled in the front

of the entrance to the tomb

and went away.

And usually they put the stone in front

to stop any wild animals

getting in.

But look who's present.

Matthew gives us this information.

But look who's there.

Verse 61.

Mary Magdalene

and the other Mary

were sitting there

opposite the tomb.

The two Marys

who had witnessed

the death of Jesus

now witness

the burial of Jesus.

They see him being placed

into the tomb

and it all being sealed up.

Third,

they saw Jesus raised.

Chapter 28, verse 1.

After the Sabbath.

So,

Jesus had died

on Friday afternoon,

was buried

before sundown on Friday,

so before 6pm.

he remains in the tomb

all of Saturday,

which is called

the Sabbath.

So,

after the Sabbath,

at dawn,

on the first day of the week,

which would be Sunday,

Mary Magdalene

and the other Mary

went to look

at the tomb.

So,

here we have

the two Marys

again.

And what they witnessed

is incredible,

isn't it?

Earthquakes,

an angel.

Well,

you say,

that's just going

a bit too far now.

I mean,

one thing to claim

a resurrection,

but all this business

of earthquakes

and angels?

Well,

they weren't the only ones

to witness

what was going on,

were they?

Look at verse 4.

The guards,

remember,

there were guards

posted

to keep an eye

in the tomb.

The guards

were so afraid

of him

that they shook.

And literally,

the same word

there for shook

is earthquake.

They had their own

little earthquake

of fear.

And they became

like dead men

as the angel

appeared.

You see,

the guards

back up

what the two Marys

claim to have seen.

Jump down

to verse 11.

While the women

were on their way,

some of the guards

went into the city

and reported

to the chief

priests

everything

that had happened.

So,

it wasn't just

the women,

but the guards

also.

This is no

made-up story.

Let's go back

to the women.

Seeing that

there was no body

in the tomb,

the angel

had said,

come and see

where he lay.

No body there.

The angel

then commands

them to go

and tell

the disciples.

Let's pick it up

in verse 8.

So,

the women

hurried away

from the tomb,

afraid,

yet filled

with joy,

and ran

to tell

his disciples.

Suddenly,

Jesus met

them.

Greetings!

Now,

it's a funny

phrase,

this greetings.

It's not how

we kind of,

when we meet

people,

say,

we say,

hi,

hello,

or if Jesus

were from Cork,

he'd probably

say,

how's it going?

It's just a

really natural,

normal,

kind of like,

what are you

so surprised at?

How are you

doing?

Why are you

surprised?

And they

came to him,

verse 9,

and clasped

his feet

and worshipped

him.

Now,

some say,

again,

that they got

over-emotional

and excited,

that the

women didn't

really see

Jesus,

it was just

a vision

or something

like that.

But this is

no vision.

This is the

physical,

bodily

resurrection

of Jesus.

They grasp

a hold of

his feet,

they actually

hold and

touch a

physical body,

the real

Jesus.

And in

visions,

or anything

else,

that doesn't

happen,

you can't

grasp,

you can't

hold on

to.

So,

Matthew is

very,

very clear

to record

the first

eyewitnesses

of the

resurrection.

The women's

testimony

provides

evidence

and

continuity.

They were

present at

his death,

at his

burial,

and

resurrection.

They see,

hear,

and touch

the risen

Jesus.

Jesus.

So,

there's

nothing in

this account

that suggests

that we

should not

believe that

this is

true.

So,

we have

the witness

to the

resurrection.

Second,

the meaning

of the

resurrection.

If this is

all true,

if this is a

historical

fact,

that Jesus

died,

was buried,

and rose

again,

what does

it all

mean?

What difference

does that

make to

you and

me?

Well,

four things

I think

the resurrection

teaches us

here.

Here's the

first.

God does

something

for you.

Now,

most of the

time we

think of

Christianity

like this,

that we

do something

for God,

and God

does something

for me.

We come

to church

like this,

we do

something for

God,

in the hope

that,

well,

we've done

this,

now he's

going to

bless me,

he's going

to do

something

for me.

It's

transactional.

But what

the resurrection

shows us

is,

is that

God

has come

to do

something

for us.

Everything

that happens

tells us

that this

is a

God

intervention.

This is

God's

initiative.

Look at

chapter 28,

verse 2.

There was

a violent

earthquake,

for an

angel of

the Lord

came down

from heaven

and going

to the

tomb,

rolled back

the stone

and sat

on it.

Now,

these aren't

your normal

everyday

today events,

are they?

These things

only happen

when God

is intervening

and God

has something

to tell us.

Angels have

already shown

up in

Matthew.

Do you

remember

right back

at the

very

beginning

when God

intervened

and told

Mary,

you're going

to have

a son

and his

name will

be called

Jesus,

Emmanuel,

God

with us.

It took

an angel,

an intervention

to tell

something

really important.

so God

comes again

through the

angel

and he's

saying to

us,

I have

come

to do

something

for you.

You see,

the story

of Christianity

is not

about what

you can

do for

God,

but it's

all about

what God

has done

for you.

It's a

story of

grace.

It's not

about our

efforts or

our works,

but the

wonderful story

of God's

intervention

into our

lives.

So what

has God

done for

you?

Well,

first,

God

fulfills

our need

in the

risen

Jesus.

God

fulfills

our need

in the

risen

Jesus.

Verse 5,

the angel

said to

the woman,

to these

two

Marys,

do not

be afraid,

for I

know that

you are

looking for

Jesus,

who was

crucified.

Jesus,

the women

are looking

for Jesus,

but they're

looking for

a crucified

Jesus.

They're

coming to

remember a

dead

Jesus.

The best

that they

can hope

for as

they arrive

at the

tomb is

to somehow

keep his

memory

alive,

reminders of

things he

had said

and did

and how

they had

served him.

But now,

instead of

grieving over

a dead

Jesus,

they received

news of

a living

Jesus.

Verse 6,

he is not

here.

He has

risen.

Now,

let's think

about that

for a

minute.

You see,

our problem

is,

our

expectations

are not

high enough.

They're

far too

low.

The women

never expected

a risen

Jesus.

their

expectations

weren't

high enough.

They were

too low.

You see,

unlike them

in some

ways,

we invest

in things

and people.

But the

problem is,

death comes

along and

destroys our

dreams and

steals away

the people

that we

love.

We say to

ourselves as

we invest

in things,

if only I

could have,

what would

you have?

If only I

could have

a mortgage

free house.

Is that

what you

hope for

today?

Or are you

hoping for

better health?

Or maybe

you're just

looking for

that true

and special

friend.

Maybe life

is hectic

and the one

thing you

want is

more time,

more time

to me.

if I

had,

now you

fill in the

blank,

what you

want this

morning,

then if I

had it,

my life

would be

content.

But here's

the problem,

death

ruins

everything.

We either

die or

those we

love die.

And the

things that

we long

for don't

last.

You see,

we set

our expectations

too low.

But there

is someone

who is

better and

greater,

who will

fulfil our

needs.

Rather than

a dead

Jesus,

we're given

a risen

and living

Jesus.

One who's

never going

to disappoint

you,

and one

who's never

ever going

to leave

you.

He can't

be taken

from you,

and you

can't be

taken from

him.

Jesus

will forever

meet us

in our

needs.

well,

how can

we be

so sure?

Well,

we must

believe his

promise.

Look what

the angel

said in

verse 6.

He's not

here,

he has

risen,

just as

he said.

Three times

Matthew records

for us that

Jesus specifically

told them that

he was going

to die

and suffer

and on the

third day

rise again.

Three times.

The women

heard it,

but they

never believed

his words.

And now

as the angel

comes to

him and

says,

he's risen,

he's not

here,

just as

he said,

it all

begins to

click and

make sense.

His words

are true.

I can

trust what

he says.

Jesus

does what

he says.

He will

not fail

you or

forsake you.

He will

provide

sufficient

grace in

your

weakness.

He will

strengthen

you in

every

crisis.

He will

fill you

with peace

in every

anxiety.

He will

comfort you

in your

grief.

He will

be your

rock in

every fear.

He will

be your

joy in

your

suffering.

He will

be your

hope in

death.

He will

fulfill

your need

today,

tomorrow,

and into

the future.

Never

settle for

anything less.

Don't have

your

expectations

down here

in things

and people.

Set your

expectations

in the

risen,

living

Jesus

who has

conquered

death.

So what

has God

done for

you?

He

fulfills

your every

need in

the risen

Jesus.

Second,

he secures

your future

in the

risen

Jesus.

Listen to

what God

said to

the angel.

Verse

7.

Then go

quickly,

tell his

disciples,

he has

risen from

the dead

and is

going ahead

of you

into

Galilee.

There

you will

see him.

Again,

another

promise.

Jesus

is risen,

go,

you will

see him.

Can they

trust the

promise?

Well,

again,

look at

verse 8.

The women

hurried

away from

the tomb,

afraid,

yet filled

with joy,

and ran

to tell

his disciples.

Suddenly,

Jesus

met them.

Greetings.

They

came to

him,

glass,

clasped

his feet,

and worshipped

him.

Now,

what happens

at that

moment?

What the

women heard

and experienced

as they

heard the

angel's

voice,

and as

they saw

and touched

the risen

Jesus,

shows us

what we

too can

expect.

You see,

God is

telling us

the same

thing.

Jesus

has gone

ahead of

you.

He has

died,

he is

risen,

and you

will see

him.

It's what

gives us

sure and

certain hope.

The same

words that

are spoken

to the

women are

spoken to

us today.

He's gone

ahead of

you.

He's

risen.

You

will see

him.

How do

we know?

Well,

have a

look at

1 Peter

with me

in your

Bibles.

1 Peter.

Somebody's

got a

page number.

I'm

sorry I

haven't

been

prepared

there and

got it

ready.

1 Peter

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1,

if anyone

has it.

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

Peter

chapter 1.

Here the

New Testament

authors

explain

for us

what the

resurrection

means,

how they

understood

Jesus'

promises

of great

hope.

Let's

read it.

1 Peter

1 Peter 1:3

chapter 1

verse 3.

praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

in his great mercy

he has given us new birth

into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

and look

and into an inheritance

that can never perish

spoil or fade

this inheritance is kept in heaven

for you

who through faith

are shielded by God's power

until the coming of the salvation

let's go back to chapter 28

Matthew

you see the resurrection of Jesus secures our future

did you see what it said

we are kept for heaven

and heaven is kept for us

a double security

by faith in the promises of Jesus

his life becomes our life

where Jesus is gone

we will follow

Jesus is risen from the dead

he's gone ahead of you

you will see him

that will be true for you and for me

as we trust in him

our death

is not the end

it is only a step

through the door

into his eternal kingdom

forever and forever

so he fulfills our need

he secures our future

and he gives us

a purpose

listen to what Jesus says

to the women

verse 10

Jesus said to them

do not be afraid

go and tell my brothers

to go to Galilee

there they will see me

the women have been commissioned

with the greatest news ever

go tell the disciples

they think I'm dead

they don't think I'm going to rise

but go tell them

that they're going to see me

tell them that I've been raised

from the dead

tell them that God

has done something for you

that he fulfills your need

and secures your future

you see rather than

their serving coming to an end

they've been given a new purpose

in life

to announce the sure and certain

hope of the resurrection

you see all of us here today

so desperately want our lives

to matter

we want what we do

to count

that somehow

when I die

that what I gave my life to

will mean something

that we want to leave

our children

an inheritance

or we want to be known to

everybody as a good neighbour

we want to leave the world

a better place

fairer

and more equal

and it's all very noble

to want these things

but the problem is

within a few years

of our death

our life will be forgotten

who we are

and what we do

will not be remembered

we will be replaced

by someone else

or something else

and in fact

the Bible tells us

this world

that we live in today

is all going to come

to an end

but the risen Jesus

comes and he gives us

a new purpose

he calls us

to invest

our life

in his resurrection

to tell the story

of the resurrection

because what God

has done in Jesus

has an eternal effect

it lasts forever

and forever

our life is not about

becoming the best person

or the best anything

the greatest legacy

that we could ever

leave our family

the greatest thing

we could ever do

for our neighbour

anything that we could do

is to share the certain hope

of the resurrection

and that's what the women

have been called to do

and if we are Christians today

this is our purpose

as we go to work

as we go about our life

to declare and proclaim

that Jesus

is risen

so the resurrection

tells us

that God has done

something for you

he fulfills

your needs

he secures

your future

and he gives you

a purpose

so we look at the witness

we've looked at the meaning

but what about

this whole business

of the religious leaders

and the guards

that we read about

in the text

because it seems like

that some people

just don't want

the resurrection

to be true

look at the religious leaders

here with me

they remember

what Jesus had said

before his death

of course they don't believe it

they're just really concerned

of what might happen

if the body of Jesus

goes missing

so they go to Pilate

don't they

look at verse 63

chapter 27

verse 63

so they said

we remember

that while Jesus

was still alive

that deceiver said

after three days

I will rise again

so give the order

for the tomb

to be made secure

until the third day

otherwise

his disciples

may come

steal the body

and tell the people

that he's been raised

from the dead

this deception

will be the worst

than the first

so Pilate

gives the orders

he sends some guards

there's more than

one guard here

he sends their guard

they seal up

the tomb

as best that they can

everybody's in

place

case closed

there can be no

resurrection story

but what happens

Jesus does rise

and the guards

as we saw

in chapter 28

verse 4

are witnesses

to the fact

that it did happen

and what do they do

look at verse 11

while the women

were on their way

some of the guards

went into the city

and reported

to the chief

priest

everything that

had happened

you wouldn't

believe it

we were on guard

and an angel

appeared

and he rolled

back this tomb

and the body

there was no body

verse 12

when the chief

priests

had met

with the elders

and devised a plan

because they

couldn't have

arisen Jesus

could they

they gave

the soldiers

a large sum

of money

telling them

you are to say

his disciples

came during

the night

and stole

him away

while we

were asleep

the thing is

they know

it's true

so why do

they tell

the lies

why the

cover up

why bribe

the soldiers

who are

witnesses

why do

the religious

leaders

not want

the resurrection

to be true

and why is it

today

that people

do not want

the resurrection

to be true

why do people

come up with

all crazy ideas

he didn't die

they went to

the wrong tomb

the body

was stolen

no it wasn't

stolen

they made it

up

why do people

not want the

resurrection

to be true

well let me

give you one

reason

Jesus is

God

do you see

what it says

at the end

of verse

64

they said

the last

deception

will be worse

than the first

Jesus'

claim

all through

his ministry

was that

he was

God

that he was

God's

Messiah

God

man

and they

can't cope

with that

they can't

cope

that Jesus

is God

so if the

resurrection

is true

it proves

that what

Jesus claimed

about himself

is true

that he is

God

his resurrection

proves

that he's the

son of God

with absolute

power

and supreme

authority

and we

struggle

with that

just as the

religious leaders

does

because it

challenges

our desire

to rule

our own

lives

you see

we prefer

a dead

Jesus

who has

no claim

over our

life

than a

living

Jesus

who commands

our devotion

and allegiance

we much

prefer a

dead

Jesus

that has

no claim

over our

life

than a

living

Jesus

who commands

our devotion

and allegiance

you see

if the

resurrection

is true

then it

confronts

our challenge

it confronts

us and

challenges

us

over our

desire

to rule

my

life

that's

why people

don't want

the resurrection

to be true

in contrast

look at the

women

verse 9

suddenly

Jesus

met them

and they

clasped

his feet

and worshipped

him

their actions

reflect

what's in

their heart

they bow

before

Jesus

they grasp

his feet

it's an

action of

worship

it's both

one of

submission

they are

saying to

Jesus

all my

life belongs

to you

and one

of devotion

I will

love you

above all

else

I'll give

my life

to you

and I

will love

you

submission

and devotion

the

resurrection

proves

Jesus

is God

and they

worship

him

the challenge

to us

is

do we

worship

the risen

Jesus

do we

submit to

him

do we

devote our

lives to

him

do we

bow before

him and

say

my life

is yours

I will

love you

above all

else

he's the

risen one

let's

worship

let's pray

our father

god we

thank you

for this

account in

matthew

this true

story

this true

event

of jesus

risen from

the dead

fulfilling

our needs

securing

our future

giving us

life today

purpose

and meaning

thank you

for all

that you

have done

and we

pray

and ask

that we

would be

a people

who worship

you

with all

of our

life

in jesus

name

amen

we're going

to sing

together

for some

people it

might be

new

what is

our hope

in life

and death

christ

alone

christ

alone

let's

stand

together

as we

sing

to

hear

Thank you.