One Thing For Certain, And Eight Things For Sure

Easter Sermon:
Text – Matthew 28:12-13 (read 1-15) 

Jesus Has Risen

Matthew 28:1 – After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 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.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

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. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 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.

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

POINTS – 

1. The Guards witnessed the angel of the Lord rolling the stone away and then sitting on it.
2. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and some other women (Luke 24:9-10) went to the tomb and discovered that Jesus was gone; the angel asked them why were they looking for the living among the dead, for Jesus had already risen.
3. Mary went running to Peter and John and told them that: “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (John 20:1)
4. Peter and John took off running for the tomb. John got there first and looked inside and saw the strips of linen lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (John 20:6-8)
5. As the women were going to tell the disciples what had happened, Jesus met them, saw Mary crying, and asked her why was she crying and who was she looking for (She did recognize that it was Jesus). Mary thought that He was the gardener and asked Him that if he took Jesus away would he please tell her where he was. When Jesus called Mary by name, she knew who He was. After telling them not to be afraid, Jesus told them to go and tell His brothers to go to Galilee and they will see Him there.
6. Later on that evening, the disciples were in the house with the door locked for fear of what the Jewish leaders might do (John 20:19), they looked up and there stood this man who said “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Then He showed them His hands and side, and they were overjoyed when they saw that it was Jesus.
7. Thomas was not with them when Jesus appeared, and when the disciples told him what happened he said that he would not believe until he could put his fingers where the nails were, and his hand in His side. 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.
8. Luke 24:13 – Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along? “They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.45 then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

CONCLUSION – 

My sisters and my brothers, there are many people who are still choosing to go along with stories made up by men who refuse to believe in the resurrection. We still have a government that has not declared Easter as a legal Holiday, people who still call Easter a pagan Holiday because it does occur the same time all the time. There are those who do not consider Easter a holiday because there is no mention of it in the Bible. We even have those who still believe the lie that the guards told about Jesus’ disappearance. The devil hopes that by not making Easter a holiday that might make its’ importance go away.  You can call it Easter, Resurrection Day, or whatever you want, there is one thing for certain . . . JESUS ROSE! I don’t care what day it was, Jesus rose! I don’t care what day you call it, Jesus rose! I don’t care what day of the week it was, Jesus rose! (Conclude)