Matthew 28:1-8

1. Intro.
1. the stone was rolled away so that others could see that Jesus was no longer there
2. notice how sinful man trebles with fear at the sight of an angle, what will they do when Christ returns
3. Christianity stands or falls on the truthfulness of the resurrection
2. the presumption of the enemy - Matthew 27:62-66
1. what folly, that man would think they could keep the Son of God in the tomb
1. many times during His earthly ministry, the Jewish leadership demanded that He give them a sign
1. they wanted something miraculous, something supernatural
2. they wanted something that would substantiate His revolutionary teaching and His claim to be Messiah
2. the only sign Jesus spoke of was the sign of the resurrection
1. the sign of Jonah the prophet - Matthew 12:38-40
2. "destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" John 2: 18-19
3. Jesus rebuked them for their persistent demand of a sign - Matthew 12:39
1. His point was clear, to the point, and condemning
2. if they had been true to Moses and the prophets, they would have known who He was
4. the sign that authenticated everything He said and did was the resurrection
1. the genuineness of His message and His sacrificial death was based on the resurrection
2. if Jesus did not rise from the dead, His claims would be false, and His death in vain
3. if He did rise from the dead, then He could forgive sin and bestow eternal life
2. the omnipotent God, who planned the resurrection, could not be hindered by soldiers or a stone rolled into place to seal the tomb
1. there is no power in the universe that could frustrate God’s plan
2. how utterly presumptuous, that man thought they could guard and seal the tomb to prevent the resurrection
3. a perplexing discovery - Matthew 28:5-6 [He is not here]
1. Joseph of Arimathaea had ask Pilot for the body of Jesus, and had laid Him in that tomb - Luke 23:50-55
1. he was not a likely candidate for this task
1. he had not voted to crucify Jesus like the rest of his colleagues - 51
2. he was a secret follower of Jesus - John 19:38
3. he was accompanied by another unlikely candidate (Nicodemus) - John 19:39
2. notice the irony here
1. the disciples who had followed Jesus publicly for three years were in hiding
2. two believers that had followed Jesus secretly, now step forward to lovingly bury Jesus
3. these teachers of Israel finally realized that Jesus was the long promised Lamb of God, whom their prophets had written of
2. early Sunday morning the women come to anoint the body of Jesus for final burial
1. to their amazement, the stone was moved and the tomb was empty
2. though Jesus often spoke of His death and resurrection, no one believed it (not even His closest followers)
4. a glorious victory - Matthew 28:6 [He is risen]
1. the result of this victory
1. light dispelled darkness
2. righteousness bested sin
3. truth destroyed error
4. life conquered death
5. God defeated Satan (the complete fulfillment is still future, but it is certain)
2. before the victory there was much sorrow
1. Calvary caused His followers to plunge to the depths of despair and hopelessness
2. the resurrection lifted them to heights of absolute triumph and exaltation
3. what they thought was the agony of defeat, became the ultimate thrill of victory
3. the disciples had forsaken everything to follow Jesus
1. they were convinced that He was the long awaited Messiah
2. they had good reason for believing this
1. His credentials were impeccable
2. He was born at the right time
3. He was born in the right way (virgin birth - Isaiah 7:14)
4. He was born at the right place (Bethlehem - Micah 5:2
5. He was of the right lineage
6. His message was authoritative [never man spake like this man- John 7:46
3. they were certain that Jesus was Israel’s great deliverer, that would break the yoke of Rome
1. but He was crucified on a Roman cross
2. by the very people the disciples thought He would lead a rebellion against
4. the disciples had lost all hope at the place called Calvary
1. their dreams unfulfilled, their longings unsatisfied
2. but on the third day He arose from the grave (Oh. what a victory)
5. our faith is not vain - I Corinthians 15:14
1. true faith is not belief without evidence
1. it is neither blind nor unreasonable
2. true faith is having confidence in the revealed Word of God
3. Abraham is often set forth as a man of faith [Abraham believed God - Romans 4:3]
2. the leadership of Israel repeatedly ask for a sign, and He promised only one (the resurrection)
3. the grave of Jesus on the third day
1. it should have been sealed and guarded – it wasn’t
2. the stone should have been in place – it wasn’t
3. there was an angel present that said, "the best I can do is show you where He use to be"
4. the grave clothes were neatly wrapped, undisturbed, and in place
5. the form of a man was still there, but Jesus wasn’t
6. in the resurrection body, He passed right through the grave clothes
4. the empty tomb had a message for the disciples, and for us today
1. science and philosophy says explain this event
2. history says repeat this event
3. time tries to blow out this event
4. faith says believe this event
5. for the good of your soul, go to Calvary and then look in the empty tomb,
1. then repent of your sins
2. trust in Christ to save you from your sins
3. only then can you have any hope of a resurrection unto life everlasting