For HE Has Risen (Matthew 28:1-10)

What would be, if Jesus Christ has not been raised from the dead? Apostle Paul writes to the church of Corinth precisely that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, our preaching is in vain; and if our preaching is in vain, our faith is futile; and we are still in our sins. Then those who have died in Christ have perished forever. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are the most pitiable people among all people of the world. (1 Cor. 15:12-19, Paraphrased). In other words, if there is no resurrection of Christ, there is no gospel; no forgiveness of sin, no salvation, even there is no hope for the eternal life.

The resurrection of Christ is the main theme of our Gospel and every disciple of Christ testified of it in their preaching and epistles. Peter preached about the resurrection of Christ in the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:24-32); before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:10); in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:39-40). Paul preached about the resurrection of Christ at Antioch in Pisidia during his first missionary journey (Acts 13:29-31) and even wrote in his epistles. In Romans 1:3, he writes that HE was declared the Son of God by HIS resurrection from the dead; in 1 Cor.  15, he writes about the resurrection of Christ and the believers as well; in 2 Cor. 4;14 he writes that God who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus; in Gal. 1:1, he writes that God the Father who raised HIM (Jesus) from the dead.  All his epistles, Paul has mentioned about the resurrection of Christ. Finally in the Book of Revelation Jesus HIMSELF declared so powerfully, “… I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore …” (Rev. 1:18).  Whole New Testament is filled with the description of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus HIMSELF declared, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die …” (John 11:25-26). The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of all our hope and what we believe. All the authors of the Gospel have mentioned about the resurrection of Jesus, and it is also true that their description of this event is different from each other.  But we need to know that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have mentioned that third day Jesus was raised from dead and women are the first who knew it and told to disciples.

BELIEVE THAT THE LORD HAS RISEN (vs. 1-6)

Vs. 1 – “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.”  Regarding the time, Mark writes, “… very early on the first day of the week when sun had risen …” (Mark 16:2); Luke says, “… on the first day of week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb …” (Luke 24:1) and John mentions, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark …” (John 20:1). Matthew begins the story saying, “after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week …” There is difference about the time, but about the day, there is no contradict. All of them say that it is the first day of the week, the Sunday.

Matthew mentioned only two women naming them Mary Magdalene and other Mary, but Mark adds one more woman. Mark writes, “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome …” (Mark 16:1). Luke mentioned no name but plural form of woman (Luke 24:1) and John only Mary Magdalene (John 20:1). There is again difference about the numbers of women, but amazingly there is no difference about the fact that Mary Magdalene was one of those women and they were women who came to the tomb of Jesus Christ. Why did they come to the tomb in the dawn? Matthew mentioned that they came to see the tomb, but Luke gives us the appropriate reason. Luke 24:1 say, “… on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.” (Emphasis added) They went to the tomb, not just to see but to embalm the dead body of Jesus.  Luke says that Jesus had healed Mary Magdalene while she was possessed by seven demons (vs. 8:2) and she was one of those women who served HIM with their properties (vs. 8:3). While they were going to the tomb, they were saying to one another, “who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3). It indicates that women had no idea about the resurrection. They went there just to show their deep love and devotion towards HIM by embalming the spice on HIS dead body. 

          

 Vs. 2 – “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.”  Still women are on the way towards the tomb, there was an earthquake. Some of commentators have commented that angel came to remove the stone that Jesus could come out of the tomb. But it is not true. There is no one to see when the resurrection took place. John 20:26 says, “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them …” Similar way, Jesus came out of the grave. Therefore Angel came and rolled the stone away, it was not for Jesus, but for women so that they could come in and see that the Lord has been raised from the dead.  

Vs. 3 – “His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow.”  Matthew described the appearance of the angel. When Jesus died on the Cross, there was a deep mourning in the heaven which signified by darkness over all the land (Matthew 27:45), but when HE rose from the dead, an angel came down with the glory of heaven to witness the resurrection of Christ.  

Vs. 4 – “And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.” Guards were soldiers and they were trained not to fear. But here they were not only trembled with fear, but even they became like dead men. They saw something which they had never seen or thought of it or even couldn’t comprehend. They filled with the terror which caused them to be paralyzed.

 

Vs. 5, 6 – “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.” Women also were afraid, but the angel sustained them saying, “Do not be afraid.” And he declared the resurrection of Christ saying HE is not here, for HE has risen as he said. Here angel reminds them the prophecy of being raised from crucifixion. Even angel invited them to see the empty tomb by saying, “see the place where he lay.” In other words, he said that if you still don’t believe what I have said, you yourself come and observe the empty tomb and believe that HE has risen.

There are people around the world who deny the resurrection and give rational arguments in order to refute the resurrection. But their efforts are in vain, for there is empty tomb who witnesses that our Lord has risen.

SHARE THAT THE LORD HAS RISEN (vs. 7)

Vs. 7 – “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.” Angel commanded the women to go quickly to disciples, not to others. He didn’t tell them to go to high priests or Pharisees or Pilate and tell that Jesus, to whom you had killed by crucifying, has been risen. Why? Because God had cared about the disciples and they were now under sorrow and despair; and God wanted to comfort them by tell the news of resurrection.

He also reminds the promise of the Lord by saying behold, HE is going before you to Galilee. In Matthew 26:32 Jesus said before the crucifixion, “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Why Galilee, not to somewhere else? Because Galilee where Jesus first ministered; did first miracle and it the same land where he was rejected and hated. In fact, Galilee is the microcosm of the world. It symbolizes that we should go to the whole world and share that the Lord has risen and our Lord will go before us there. Furthermore angel added saying see, I have told you. God sent the angel to testify the resurrection of Christ, but now it is given to disciples to proclaim in the world. In other words, angel was saying us that see I have done my part faithfully, and now it is your part to take this message into the whole world.

REJOICE THAT THE LORD HAS RISEN (8-9a)

Vs. 8 - “So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.”  As they heard from the angel that the Lord has risen, they filled with joy. But their emotion is mix with fear and joy. They saw such things what they had never thought of it. Now you all have heard about the angels, but never have seen and even thought that we would never see them in this physical world. But we see them right now here, what emotions would be stirred up within us? Most of us will tremble with fear or fell down on the ground or run away with fear or become still with surprise or our mouth will be remained open with surprise. This is the same situation with these women who saw the angel and heard for him that our Lord has risen from the dead.  They ran to tell his disciples indicates that women gladly obeyed the words of the angel. 

Vs. 9a – “And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings! …” As the women were on the way to tell the disciples of what has happened, suddenly Jesus met them.  As a reward of their obedience, they met the Lord personally. These women not only heard from the angel, but also saw HIM that HE has raised from the dead. The word with Jesus greeted them is ‘Chairo’ (cai¢rw) in the original language, Greek; its literal meaning is ‘to Rejoice’ or ‘be glad’.  This same word is used in Matthew 2:10 – “when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” In other words, Jesus asked them to be rejoiced that HE has risen.  In the dawning, they were going to tomb with sorrowing heart, but they returned with rejoicing.

WORSHIP THE LORD WHO HAS RISEN (vs. 9b-10)

Vs. 9b, 10 – “… And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”  When they saw HIM, they bowed down and worshipped HIM. Now they recognized HIM that HE is God and worthy for worship. HE comforted them saying, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”  Jesus said what the angel had said to them, but here HE didn’t call them disciples. Even though they had deserted HIM while HE was being arrested, being assaulted and crucified, HE remained faithful to fulfill what HE had promised. HE called them brothers, which indicates that after the resurrection Jesus has begun a new relationship with HIS disciples.

CONCLUSION / APPLICATION

Women went to see the dead body of Jesus, but they met the risen Lord. They went with mourning, but they returned with joy. They went with bad news that their Lord has been dead for three days, but they returned with the good news that their Lord has risen from the dead.

 

A Muslim and a Christian were discussing their religions and had agreed that both Mohammed and Christ were prophets. Then where is the difference? The Christian asked  " Suppose If I have lost the way and came to a crossroads and I saw a dead man and a living man. Which one did I ask for directions?" The response came quickly, "The living one, of course." "Why, then," asked his friend, "Do you send me to Mohammed who is dead, instead of Christ who is alive?" This is the basic difference between Christ and every other religious leader. All the others came into the world, lived, and died—but none of them lived again. The resurrection of Christ was the one event that persuaded His disciples once for all that He was the Christ, God's Son.

We all need to know that according to the Scripture our Lord had died and raised from the dead; and this good news must be preached to all that they may believe in Christ and worship HIM.

Let's pray together!

(It is preached on Easter Sunday in Phulbari Sewa Mandali on 1st April, 2018)