Sermon Tone Analysis

! Close Encounters Of The God Kind

!

A Close Encounter

!

Through A Post-Resurrection Appearance Of Jesus

Matthew 28:1-10

 

 

Nearly one third of the people of this great nation of ours say they believe “somewhat” in UFOs.[1]

These statistics only corroborates my reasoning concerning this present series.

Consequently, I felt impressed to use the subject of UFOs as a launching pad for our biblical discussion of “Close Encounters Of The God Kind.”

In first three sermons in this series, we worked hard to develop a technical definition for a “Close Encounter Of The God Kind.”

That definition is

 

A “Close Encounter Of The God Kind” is a face-to-face meeting with God that cannot be totally explained, but which—when fully experienced—will bring about a response of genuine worship or celebration, which includes the remembrance of a redemptive past and~/or the conviction of a liberated future that changes people forever; causing them to move and grow by over-recording the intuitive tapes of their core belief.

In the fourth message in this series, we explored one of the major barriers to experiencing a close encounter with God.

We called that barrier:  “The Brain Barrier,” i.e. how intellect keeps us from wholeheartedly worshipping God.

We then began to explore twelve “Close Encounters Of The God Kind.”

We have explored God encountering Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the woman at the well, and Peter, James, and John.

/(We are now ready for the next encounter with God.

Please notice with me Matthew 28:1-10.)/

Early on that first Easter Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James the younger and of Joses and Salome, came to the grave of Jesus Christ.

They were probably depressed and in the deep throes or spasms of grief.

The one who had been the center of all of their hopes was now dead.

Imagine the pain, disappointment, doubt, fear, uncertainty, confusion, etc. that they must have been experiencing.

Yet, they came to the tomb out of duty.

They came to anoint the body of Jesus Christ.

*Imagine their surprise when they arrived at the tomb!*

When they arrived, they found that an angel had rolled the stone away and Jesus was gone.

The angel didn’t roll the stone away to let Jesus out, because He was the Son of God and God the Son, very God of very God, and very Light of very Light, but to let the world in that we might witness His resurrection.

\\         Not only was the stone rolled away and Jesus gone, but also the angel who had rolled the stone away sat on top of the stone.

*God encountered them through an angel.*

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that angels are ministering spirits who are sent to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.

This is “A Close Encounter Of The God Kind.”

There was a time when the story of this angel would have rivaled anyone’s story of a UFO.

Of course that time is rapidly changing.

More and more people are starting to believe in UFO’s and more and more people are starting to believe in angels.

TV shows and movies about angels are starting to proliferate.

This is unfortunate, because I believe it to be a trick of the devil.

There is little in the Bible to corroborate secular UFO theories and the angels in the media do not act like angels in the Bible.

Satan is setting the world up to receive the supernatural evil of the antichrist.

This angel’s appearance was like lightening and his garment was as white as snow.

Evidently, he was glistening with the glory of Shekinah, i.e. the visible presence of God.

His appearance was so awesome that the guards trembled with fear and acted like dead men.

/(But that’s not all!)/

This angel spoke to them.

First, he calmed their fears.

The normal response to angels is terror.

So, the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”

Then he shares with them that he knows they have come looking for Jesus who had been crucified.

Then the angel gives them the message of the resurrection; “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.”

Then he showed them the place where Jesus had been lying.

Other accounts tell us that the grave clothes were still intact, as if Jesus was still lying in them, but he was gone.

/(Now why did the angel say and do all of this?)/

 

        *Well, the angel did these things to give these women a God-sized assignment.*

He commissioned them to quickly go and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and was going to Galilee to wait for them.

*This is the first sharing of the Gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.*

Let me tell you why this was a God-sized assignment.

*It was a God-sized assignment, because of the climate of Jerusalem during the time.*

According to religious customs and traditions, Rabbis were *not* to talk to women in public or instruct them in the law.

According to Hebrew historian, Flavius Josephus, women and slaves could *not* bear testimony (/Ant./

4.8.15),

i.e. before the Sanhedrin in any court case.

The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish council during the first century.

*At this time, women were considered little more than property, and yet they were chosen by God to be witnesses.*

Nobody in that society would have chosen women to be the bearers of the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Yet, God chose these two women to be heralds of the Good News of the resurrection.

This assignment gives us an inkling of God’s esteem for and love of women, and this should remind us of how Jesus treated women.

In His treatment of women, He raised their status.

I also believe that women were probably slightly better suited for this revelation, because of their spiritual and emotional sensitivity—but that discussion would take another message.

/(So, how did these women respond to this Close Encounter?)/

*They responded with quick enthusiastic obedience.*

They quickly departed from the tomb and ran to give the disciples the message of the resurrection.

This encounter not only brought about a response of obedience, but also affected their emotions.

They ran from the tomb with fear and great joy.

There was a wonderful mixture of fear and joy!

*Both of these responses are constituent elements of worship.*

Worship is giving God that which He is due.

In this context, He was due quick enthusiastic obedience and the emotions of fear and joy!

*We can also see that their genuine response of worship, or celebration, over-recorded the intuitive tapes of their core belief.*

Jewish women certainly understood their place in society.

The intuitive tapes of their core belief certainly would be full of wonder, doubt, fear, unworthiness, etc., but their genuine response of worship brought about a conviction of a liberated future.

*Their worship response to this encounter changed them forever.*

·        Just a few moments before they were sad and disheartened; now they are fearful and joyful.

·        Just a few moments before they were looking for the body of Jesus Christ; now they are on their way to report a future meeting with the risen Lord.

·        Just a few moments before grief gripped their hearts; now joy was once more alive.

·        Just a few moments before they were downcast, Jewish women who had no thoughts of ever being anyone or anything; now they are fearful, joyful, heralds who have been commissioned to trumpet the Good News of the risen Lord!

 

/(But that was not the end of their “Close Encounters.”)/

As they quickly obeyed God with holy fear and joy, they had another encounter.

While they were on their way to report to the disciples what had happened, Jesus Himself met them and greeted them.

This was a second “A Close Encounter Of The God Kind!”

The word “met” is a very interesting and important word, with respect to what I am saying.

The word “met” is

 

/apantao/, ap-an-tah'-o, 528; from Greek 575 (apo) and a derivative of Greek 473 (anti); to meet away, i.e. *encounter* :- meet.

*The language in the Greek is “Jesus came suddenly face-to-face with them.”*

Jesus, the Christ, the resurrected Son of God, Very God of Very God encountered these two Mary’s through a post-resurrection of appearance!

These two women had a legitimate, *experiential* *encounter* with the risen Christ!

 

\\ /(But that is not all!)/

Not only does Jesus encounter these two ladies, but He also comforts them and then He re-enlists them.

He re-commissions them to take word of His resurrection and future meeting with them to the disciples.

*These two women experienced a double encounter with God for the purpose of being a witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.*

*Their response this time is classical, experiential, wholehearted worship!*

There is no “paralysis of analysis” here.

They fall down, take hold of his feet, and worship Him!

The word translated “worship” means to adore Him!

This encounter had a profound impact upon these two Mary’s.