Easter 2023 | He is not here, He is risen! | John Lee | Apr 9, 2023

Sunday you doing well, if I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you, my name is John, I serve Mission church has one of the pastors, and I'm honored and excited to be with you this morning to celebrate Easter together. You have a Bible. Please open it to Matthew chapter 28, you caught us this Easter morning, in the midst of a series. Entitled, I am and we've been looking at the, I am statements of Jesus this morning. We're going to take apart from that series and we're going to intentionally look at 10 verses in Matthew chapter 28 that point and direct us to the most important event that has taken place in history. Matthew 28, verses 1 through 10. When you were there, I would like to invite you if you're able to, to stand for the reading of God's word.

Hear the word of the Lord from Matthew chapter 28 versus one through 10.

After the Sabbath, that's the first day of the week was donning Mary Magdalene. And the other Mary went to view the tomb. There's a violent earthquake because an angel the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it is appearance was like lightning and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken. By fear of him that they be game, they became like dead men. The angel told the women don't be afraid because I know you are looking for Jesus. Who was crucified, he is not here for, He Is Risen Jesus as he or just as he said, he would be come and see the place, where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples. He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee, you will see him there. Listen, I have told you so departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy. They ran to tell the disciples the news just then Jesus met them. I said, greetings. They came up. Took hold of his feet and worshipped him, then Jesus told him, don't be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee and they will see me there. That's where the Lord would you play with me. Do we thank you for? Thank you for your son with Jesus. We thank you for what you've done. To reconcile us to the father. The truth of the matter is that we as we discussed this past Friday evening, a good Friday that or there's nothing that we can do to earn our way back to you or reconcile ourselves. That's the point. The law was given to show us our weakness, to show us where we cannot meet the requirements of Holiness. Jesus, you lived a perfect life, a life that we cannot and then shows and not to Yet you took upon yourself, the curse of the law on that cross, so that we might receive your righteousness as we work through these 10 versus, I pray. Lord, that you would soften our hearts, a greater understanding of the good news of the Gospel or that you would lead us to repentance and faith that you would equip us today to live on Mission as you called us to, to make the siples and play Lorde. That as We Gather on the Lord's table, in a few moments that we would be equipped with hope. Hope remembering. That's just as you resurrected from the dead, you were going to return it for all of us. And you wipe every tear from every eye. They'll be no more pain, no more Brokenness cuz they'll be no more sin. We look forward to that day. But in the meantime, God would you draw us to yourself? I pray, Lord. As I preached this morning that the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart might be pleasing and acceptable. In your sight. You are a rock and Redeemer. We love you and give you all the glory in Jesus name, amen. You may be seated.

This morning were faced with the ultimate question. The most important question did Jesus really rise from the dead and friends? This is a question that cannot be ignored for. It's a question in which all of eternity hangs. In fact, all of history hinges on whether or not Jesus physically and visibly rose from the dead, if it's true, if Jesus really did rise from the dead then it's also true that all authority in heaven and on Earth belongs to him which means that there's nothing more important or more crucial or more urgent than believing in Christ and not just believing in him and I'm receiving him as Savior but in trusting him as in him as Lord. the following him know, I know if it's a it's a big if If this is true, if this is real because honestly, you may or may not believe that Jesus is alive, but consider this morning that if the premise is true, when it makes sense to agree. With the conclusion, I'm going to argue this morning. There's nothing more important for everyone in this room, then to believe in Jesus, to surrender your life, to him, to follow him as Lord. Because if Jesus really did die and Jesus really did rise from the dead, then there's some Eternal implications with that truth. You see if the resurrection is true then so are a number of other things. Most importantly, if the resurrection is true, that means that there is a God that Jesus is God. The Bible is true, heaven, and hell is real. And Jesus makes the difference whether or not you spend your eternity in one or the other you and I, we currently live in a time and place, we live in a culture and a society in which religion is seen as a matter of preference, preference or opinion. When considering religion, the majority of people in our culture. And Society believe that all religions are fundamentally the same thing, and provide the same for the person, and the difference is between each religion is merely superficial. The idea that as you go through life, you simply choose, whatever works best for you. And as long as you're not hurting everyone, and that's okay. However, the result of this approach is a society in which truth is now relative. There is no absolute truth. In our society culture, in which we live absolute truth is either flat-out rejected or ignored Consider this morning that if there is an absolute truth. Then to live in a way that suppresses that truth or or even rejects that truth, will not only be irresponsible, but it would ultimately be Eternal in, in a costly mistake. And here's why I believe in anything is irresponsible and empty. If that belief is not based on truth, Mini today would say well, how can you tell me what is true? What's true for you may not be true for me, but let's be honest. No one truly believes this and lives, this way, after all. How would you react if you went to the doctor for a routine check-up? Within five minutes of being seen? The doc says, I feel like you have a terminal illness yet before you arrive. There had been no blood test. No specialist, no, no x-rays nothing. And you just say, Doc, I just got here. You run. No, test the nurse. Didn't even check my temperature. How could you say so matter-of-factly that I have a terminal illness? What is your truth? What is this? Diagnose what truth is your diagnosis based on and the doctor would say, well I feel as though you are sick and that's what's true for me. How would you reply what this is ridiculous. This doesn't make sense at all. And I know that this is a silly illustration but it proves the point that in most areas of our life and our everyday life, we do not operate on the basis of Truth for you is true for you and true for me and true for me. Rather We we don't live based on preferences and feelings.

But when it comes to the most important question in life, a question that deals with one's Eternal reality. Why would why would we live that way? Why would we disregard truth? Do we really think that God governs all of heaven and earth based on our preferences based upon our are what we prefer? Or text this morning is a report of the most important event in all of history and how you respond to this event. Should be based on what is true. Not based upon how one feels and here's why because your eternity hangs on whether or not the resurrection of Jesus actually happen. So tell me did Jesus. Really rise from the dead and I'm not talking about being resuscitated or reincarnated but Resurrection in other words was Jesus dead for three days. Did he rise physically and visibly and walk out of a tomb? Friends. This is a question of truth. It's not a question of preference or feeling Jesus either did or he didn't in the ramifications of this event are eternal. You see if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then you and I friends are wasting our time and we could have gone and found some eggs in a park today. Our faith is a lie. If he did, not rise from the dead, we are, we are fools sitting in this cafeteria playing a religious game. If in fact that Jesus did not rise from the dead consider. What the Apostle Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 15:14. He says, if Christ has not been raised, then our Proclamation is in vain and so is your face. Apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no savior, no salvation, no, forgiveness of sin. No. Hope of resurrected eternal life apart from the resurrection of Jesus is reduced to a good man, but still a Deadman. And he is no help to us. See, without the resurrection of Jesus. The few billion people today who worship Jesus are gullible silly fools in a dead man to give them life but if Jesus did rise from the dead. If in fact he died on that cross was wrapped and put in that tomb and three days later walked out of that grave well, then the circumstances are drastically different Without question, the resurrection of Jesus is profoundly significant and worthy of careful consideration and examination. No, I don't know where you are this morning on the spectrum of Faith. At least, not all of you. You may or may not believe in the testimony of Christ and that of the Apostles, but I desire, and I hope that you see, at least that's the if it's true that Jesus rose from the dead. That's a lord of the universe with all the authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to him, then believing that Jesus rose from the dead and following Jesus. Not just culturally, but following him and bowing down to him as Lord and Savior and being obedient to his call on your life is the most important, most urgent most crucial reality in life. Don't look back at our texts and verse 1, The author of our texts, he tells us gives us the setting. He says that after the Sabbath as the first day of the week, was Dawning Mary Magdalene. And the other Mary went to view the tomb and the reason why first one is so significant is because it provides historical details. A real day with two real people. In history. The day was Sunday in the two people were the two faithful Mary's one, get the title. The other one says the other Mary, feel bad for her. She's the other one, but they were there on Friday when Jesus died and now they've returned on Sunday for the surprise of their lives. A truth that would change the course of history and empty tomb. Now it's of historical consequence here that it's two women that arrived at the tomb. There. The there, the first one to witness the empty tomb in the Risen. Jesus beat in reason why? This is so significant because of the ancient world women were so marginalize that their testimony wasn't even valid in a court of law. So if the gospel writers were simple, Making a story up to convince people to believe this is not a true that they would have included in their narrative. They wouldn't have cluded women as Witnesses, but they do. And this fact speaks to the truth that the resurrection is not fabricated, but it is a historical events. Not consider the very real emotions that these women were experiencing now as they arrived to this tomb. If you've ever experienced the death of a loved one and experience, the gripping emotions that overcome you as you attend their funeral, these two women would have been going through the same emotions. As you see, they were present when Jesus died.

And now they return to the tomb over whelmed overwhelmed by the finality of death. You see, they were on their way to this tomb expecting the worst. And look what happens. In verse 2. Says there was a violent earthquake because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb, he rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow know, the few details here and verses 2 through 3, what was the first thing this Angel? Did he rolls away this massive Stone? This heavy stone? That was set in place at the opening of the Tomb. Why, why did he roll the stone away? Is the question I asked, was it prepared for the day? Why in the world, did he rolls away to Jesus? Need this Angel to roll away, the stone to exit the tomb. No, I don't think so see, Jesus had already left the tomb. He had moved on the angel moved the stone, so that these two ladies can make entry and see the empty grave so they can see the empty tomb so they can see and feel and in see the empty bed. And notice that Jesus is not there so that people could see that Jesus had been risen. They'll remember these guards that were stationed at the two in the Roman soldiers, they were there to guard and they were there to protect the tomb to ensure that no one would steal Christ the body. But as the Earth began to Quake, the angel rolled away the stone looking for us for. It says, the guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men. I imagine that these guards work for frozen hell. Their knees were knocking. Perhaps they were even on the ground with their face in the dirt. And remember these, Roman soldiers, were the ancient equivalent to our modern-day Army Rangers or Navy Seals, these guys weed they were not weak. But in this moment, they were debilitated. They were in need of some resuscitation and Rejuvenation. However, the angel he doesn't stop to give these soldiers CPR. In fact, he doesn't even acknowledge them. If you look at the text see, he's only there to share with the women. With Jesus had said before he died. Remember remember what Jesus had said to you remember what Christ has told you that he would be killed and three days later he would rise from the dead. And so this Angel is on scene to revive these ladies faith. Inviting them into this empty tomb. To see that Jesus is not, they're inviting them to see what Jesus has done. But he did what he said he would do. Deceivers, five says, Jesus, who was crucified, he is no longer dead that he is alive. Now, before we continue on with this narrative, the question is begging to be asked why why was Jesus crucified. We cover this a bit on Friday night and Are Good Friday service, but I think it's helpful in our narrative to stop and consider the briefly a few reasons. A few Answer a question briefly. We have to think both be logically and historically and to do this on your paper that you receive. When you walked in, there's seven blanks and these are seven brief truths that are essential to rightly understanding the significance of Christ's death on the cross. That answers. Why was Jesus crucified in the first number one is, God is Holy and without God is Holy and without sin. And so, when you and I survey the reality of the world, in which we live, we cannot miss the evil in our world. Can we? I think we can all agree that our world is broken and full of evil. Injustice, death has plagued our worlds and when we hear that everything was created by God, it's it's easy for one to conclude that if everything's created by God. Will the world must be a reflection of its creator that he is either evil himself or at Best in different in the world. However that conclusion is false. In fact, the exact opposite of true you see. God is Holy, he is perfectly righteous perfectly. Pure he is set apart, he is without sin, he is altogether, good. He is the picture of perfection moral perfection. So God is wholly without sin number to God made us. Holy and without sin, not only is God good with everything that God made was originally good, that included that includes men and women, unfortunately, Adam, and Eve in the Garden of Eden, what happened? They disobeyed God, they sinned against God and when they did send and all that comes within the consequences of sin, infected our world like a cancer Romans 5:12 says therefore just as Sin into the world through one man and death through sin in this way, death spread to all people, because all have sinned. See friends. Number 3, says we are all sinful. All of us. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 says, we are sinners both by nature and by choice.

our sins include our words or deeds our thoughts are motives as well as our failure to obey God, to accept the good life that God has offered us In the result of sin number for is death. Romans 6:23 towels is the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ. Jesus. Our lord, he sent his sin separates us from God. Because God is the source of life. Will then send results in death, think about it, like unplugging your TV, your TV would continue to exist, hanging on the wall, but it would be functionally dead in the same way. Apart from God, while we are physically alive. We are spiritually dead. We are walking dead, and because of sin, you and I will also one day, physically died, and that's the consequence of sin. But good news is Jesus, fully God fully man. Is without sin. Number 5, Jesus left without seeing one of the things that makes Jesus distinct from every one of us was ever lived is that Jesus alone is without sin. Jesus alone live in perfect obedience to God's good Rule and God's good rain. He perfectly obey the law of God. Alone is perfect. But still, despite this reality number 6, Jesus became our sin on the cross, as our substitute, Jesus was made to be the worst of what you and I are. Now that doesn't mean that, that Jesus sends rather means that Jesus was made to be sin, as we discussed Friday night, Jesus became the curse of the law

Another words on the cross of Jesus exchanged. His Perfection for our imperfection is obedience for our Disobedience, his intimacy with God, the Father for our distance from God. The father is blessing for our cursing, his life. For our death second Corinthians 5:21 says that he made the one who did not no sin to be sin for us. God, the Father made God, the son to be saying, who did not know, send, he made him to be sent. So why? So that you and I, we might be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You and I can stand before a holy and righteous and just God.

Based upon what crisis accomplished. Jesus didn't die just to forgive you so that you can have a do-over so that you can be forgiven and do your best now. But he died and then he gifted you his perfect life. This is important. It's imperative to this whole reality. he lived a perfect life, and for those who call upon him, They are saved and they are gifted or imputed with his righteousness. His his goodness. And so now for those of you who are hidden in Christ Christ as your lord and savior, you can stand before a holy God, and God looks at you. And he does not see your mess or your sin, but he sees the blood of Christ that was poured out on the cross for your forgiveness and he sees the righteousness of Jesus as gifted you as his son or daughter.

Leads us to the final truth. Jesus died for you.

Jesus died for you.

Think about it, to celebrate the death of Jesus is good. News would be absolutely disgusting unless we understood what Jesus accomplished, that Jesus became sin and willingly went to the cross in order to Die. For Us, understand, he knew what he was doing, this wasn't an accident, he wasn't forced, he willingly went to the cross and he on the cross, his blood was poured out, it wasn't spilled. It wasn't an accident, but he poured out his blood, Jesus became sin. He willingly went to the Cross to Die, For Us, brothers and sisters. The just wrath of God should have fallen on you and on me. But the deaths that our sins deserve fell on Jesus. Jesus the sinless son of God. He literally stood in our place to suffer and die for us and in doing so Jesus bore our punishment and took away our sin and back to our narrative in Matthew 28, at this point in the narrative, the two Mary's on their way to the tomb. And they had yet to fully comprehend, what we just discussed, they they have yet to comprehend all that has taken place and as they approached the tomb, they see the massive Stone has been removed. They see the guards trembling in fear, perhaps with their faces in the dirt and they see an angel, whose appearance was like lightning and like the soldier. These two, Mary's are no doubt, trembling themselves out of fear. Can you imagine how you would feel in this moment? But the angel, what does was the angel say, in verse 5, don't be afraid.

This is not a time to be afraid. I know who you're looking for. I know that you're here to see Christ and guess what? He is. Not here. He is risen. Perhaps the word of the angel. Don't be afraid of the same word that you need to hear this morning to maybe you've come to church on Easter Sunday and your heart is gripped by fear or anxiety stress your the future grip from the shame of your path. And this morning, these words of the Angel are sounding throughout the years from the empty tomb in there. Crying out to you. Don't be afraid because Jesus is not dead. He is alive and all who call upon the name of the Lord are saved, forgiven, gifted righteousness and ultimately the answer to your fear, ultimately, The Hope and what you're looking for can only be found in Jesus who was past tense crucified, and who is present tense alive today? Looking for 6. He is not here. He is risen, just as he said, come and see the place where he lay then quickly go and tell the disciples. He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him. They listen I have told you noticed what the angel does not say in these two verses. He doesn't say, wait a second. There's no need to check the empty tomb. Just take it on faith just believe me.

Believe me, when I tell you, the juice is gone. Now he tells them go in the Tomb. See, for yourself. Seether, the linen, that lays their fill the empty bed and which Heath lied. The Angels, inviting them to use their senses in order to make sense of what has happened. The two Mary's they experienced this empty tomb and then they they touch. And they feel and just moments later that the Risen Christ, look at verse 9 through 10. Jesus meets up with them and says greetings.

They came up, took hold of his feet and worshipped him. When Jesus told them it. Again, the second time do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. I'll go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee and they will see me there. And off, they went running. Tell the others about the good news of great joy that Jesus is who he said he is. Jesus had done what he promised he would do friends. Jesus is the promised Messiah who crushed Stayton, who defeated sin, and conquered Death and All who believe in him, all that believe that Jesus fully God, holy man, lived a perfect life in obedience to God's law and then died the death, we deserve it by doing. So he fully satisfied the just wrath of God for the sins on the sins that we deserve any Rose from the grave. And now all who believe are gifted the forgiveness of sin, the righteousness of Christ, and eternal life with him. Is he Christianity Rises or Falls? Upon the truth, Christianity Rises or falls on the resurrection of Christ because Jesus rising from the dead as startling implications. See if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then you do not have to worry about a single thing. He said, Nothing. He said matter cuz all lie. But if Jesus rose from the dead than everything, that he said, is truth. You have to accept what he said. And we have been given as a result in Ultimate standard of Truth. Also, if Jesus rose from the dead, then we must recognize the fact that he has all authority over heaven and on Earth. He has authority over sin. He crushed Satan. He defeated death. He has authority over you and over me. He says, so in Matthew 18. Jesus tells disciples, he came here and said to them. All authority has been given to me in heaven. And on, on Earth, he has absolute authority authority based upon his resurrection, which means the Jesus has absolute authority over. Our lives, in friend, see all people died because of sin, every one of us will for the death is the payment of sin. However, Jesus is the one man in all of history who lived and died without sinning, and Jesus died for us, he died instead of us. And after his death, Jesus Rosen Victory defeating the Ultimate Enemy of sin and death.

Which leads us to the conclusion.

Jesus has all authority.

That means he has authority over you and he is authority over me and other words friend. Jesus is your rightful Lord and Master, he is The Sovereign ruler of your life. And this is the case, whether you believe it or not, your belief. In that truth doesn't change the reality. That Jesus is Lord.

Just as the grass is green. And the sky is blue. You can believe that the sky I don't know is whatever other color and the grass is blue but it doesn't change the truth of what it is in the same way Jesus is and will forever be the Lord of all creation, the Lord of your life. One day you see every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. And friend, the option is now or then, but every one of us is going to Bow our knee and Proclaim that he is the Lord of creation the choice.

Is whether you will receive this. Call the faith now or submit forcibly in the end when it's too late. All the sudden this question did Jesus rise from the dead becomes extremely personal? Tell me. Do you believe in the historical? Resurrection of Jesus is, the Bible is clear that to be saved from sin and death, you must believe in your heart and profess with your mouth, that, that Jesus is God that he lived, and he died in the Rose from the grave and friends. This is what makes what we believe that's what makes what the Bible teaches. This is what makes Christianity different from every other religion in the world. See you are not given today, a list of things that you must do or boxes that you must check off in order to earn your way to God. There's no rituals that you must follow. There is just a truth to believe in a profession to make a truth that says God is, Holy I am a sinner. Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sin and three days later, he rose from the grave to feeding San Satan death. And now, my life belongs to him. I pray that God would do this work of repentance and faith in you this morning.

I thank you for your word. Thank you for what you did to reconcile us to yourself. There's nothing that we could have done.

The law was never meant to save us.

Just to point out to us our need for you Christ and so thank you Lord. As we gather together today to celebrate what you accomplished on our behalf. I pray the Lord, for those who've yet to answer your call or do you soften their hearts, so that they might hear your voice and an answer. Call the faith. I pray. Lord, for those who came in here, stumbling looking for a firm foundation. I pray that they would find that and you thank you for this church in the what you've done in and threw us in this part of the city. And I just pray, Lord, that you would continue to, to do your work through us and that you would be glorified. But we are so grateful. We worship you and thank you. Jesus name we pray. Amen.