Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection story is unlike any other account among the world’s religions because Jesus’ tomb was empty. Jesus’ resurrection stands on reliable evidence of eyewitness testimony of His appearance, the empty tomb and the growth of the Christian faith. Literally tens of thousands of men and women have died on account of their faith in the resurrected Jesus. The early persecution only helped the church grow even stronger. Empowered by God, we see that Christianity begins to flourish without governmental power, military might or manipulation. Matthew 28:1-10 demonstrates God’s love and power at the center of Jesus’ resurrection, which gives Christians the assurance that those who follow Christ will also be resurrected at His return!
If Jesus is in the Tomb All Hope for Eternal Life is Crushed
Christianity Never Gets Started
The Apostle Paul wrote : ” But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection: Essential Evidence of the Resurrection
1. The Empty Tomb
2. Eyewitness Accounts
The Apostle Paul Said: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”
3. The Rise & Growth of the Christian Faith
Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection: Show Why The Resurrection Matters?
1. Our New, “Born Again” Life is Dependent on the Resurrection
The Apostle Peter wrote: “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.” 1 Peter 1:3-5, (NLT) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nlt/1pe/1/3-5/s_1152003
2. Our Justification is Dependent on the Resurrection
The Book of Romans says: “for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.” Romans 4:24-25, (NLT) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nlt/rom/4/24-25/s_1050024
3. Our Eternal Life in Body & Spirit is Dependent on the Resurrection
The Apostle Paul wrote: “What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Worship and Rejoicing – The Right Response to the Resurrected Jesus
