The Resurrection
Matthew 28:1-10
Main Idea: The resurrection of Christ is an invitation to courageous hope in place of fear.
I. The Eyewitnesses (28:1-4)
The disciples are noticeably absent from the tomb on Sunday morning; even though Jesus had directly told them three times that he would be raised, they did not have the ability to comprehend and they are hiding in fear.
Those who were at the tomb include:
Mary Magdalene & the “other” Mary, who are coming to visit the tomb & anoint Jesus’ body for burial (cf. Mk. 16:1)
An angel, accompanied by an earthquake, rolls back the stone; the symbol of death is now merely a seat for the warrior-messenger of God.
Roman guards placed there by Pilate (27:55-56); though they were supposed to be guarding a dead man’s tomb, they themselves “become like dead men”
Acts 2:24: God raised [Jesus] up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
No one was expecting the resurrection of Jesus, but in the midst of what was likely a quiet, ordinary Sunday morning outside of Jerusalem, everything was being changed.
II. The Empty Tomb (28:5-7)
The angel encourages the women (“Do not be afraid”), reflecting the gracious and sympathetic heart of God toward sufferers & sinners. The empty tomb is an invitation to a new life and a new hope instead of fear.
3 realities of the empty tomb:
1. He is risen “as he said” (28:6a)
The resurrection is the validation & authentication of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
John 10:17–18: For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”
1 Corinthians 15:3–4: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
2 Corinthians 1:20: For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
“The truest fact of the universe is an empty tomb. The Resurrection is the only evidence that love triumphs over death, weakness prevails over strength, and beauty outlives ashes. If Jesus is risen in actual history, with all the palpability of flesh, fingers, bone, and blood, there is hope that our mourning will be comforted, and that death will not have the final word.” ~ Tish Harrison Warren
2. We are invited to “come and see” (28:6b)
“The reason the stone was rolled away on Jesus's tomb was not so that Jesus could get out, but so that we could get in.” ~ Tim Keller
3. We are commissioned & compelled to “go and tell” (28:7)
Even though women were not considered valid eyewitnesses in a courtroom during this time period, they are the first to receive the commissioning to bear witness to the greatest news the world has ever heard.
III. The Experience of Easter (28:8-10)
As the women depart from the tomb they are full of “fear” mixed with “great joy” (lit. ‘mega’ joy). Suddenly, Jesus meets them on their way and these women become the first people to encounter the risen Christ. They grab hold of his feet, which were pierced for their and for our forgiveness, in worship.
“These men he calls ‘brothers’ were at that very moment sniveling cowards at best and insurrectionists at worst. They were hiding in a room somewhere, listening for the sound of soldiers’ feet. They had walked away from Christ & him crucified. They were ashamed of the gospel. But he wasn’t ashamed of them.” ~ Russell Moore
The invitation to meet the risen Christ is extended to each of us today; because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, he beckons us right now to come to him in faith & repentance. As we come to him, we are invited to a life of courageous hope and faith in place of our fears.
1 Peter 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
