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Matthew 27:51-66 ESV
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Matthew 28:1-15 ESV
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. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 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. 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.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” 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.” While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
I. THE TOMB OF A RICH MAN (57-61)
A. Secret rich followers asks for body once it is taken down.
B. Even Jesus’ burial fulfilled prophecy. (Is 53:9)
II. FORT KNOX AS A TOMB (62-66)
A. Jews convince Pilate to station guards around tomb in case Jesus’ followers try and rob the grave.
III. TOMB IS EMPTY ( 1-9)
A. An earthquake, angel, and guards frozen in fear greet the two Mary’s as they arrive at the empty tomb.
B. Not surprising. Jesus said this is what would happen.
IV. HOLY SPIRIT AND RESURRECTION
A. Jesus did not raise Himself from the dead but just like us went to the grave trusting His Father to raise Him to new life.
B. Jesus was raised to life by Holy Spirit. (Rom 8:11) We must be raised to new life by the Holy Spirit as well. (Eph 2:1-3)
C. Salvation is not about going from bad to good but from death in sin to life in Jesus.
V. THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION (10-15)
A. Disciples are called brothers by Jesus now.
B. Jewish authorities develop lie to explain resurrection because if Jesus is alive, He is God.
VI. PROOF OF RESURRECTION
A. The resurrection is iron clad fact testified to by eye-witness testimony and not just circumstantial evidence.
B. Swoon Theory: Jesus only appeared to die & recovered in the tomb rather than was resurrected out of the tomb.
C. Hallucination Theory: says Jesus’ followers only thought they saw Jesus because He had hypnotized them.
D. Ninja Disciple Theory: Cowardly disciples attack on a Roman military unit, stole the body, and all died protecting the lie.
VII. OUR PROBLEM WITH THE RESURRECTION
A. It is not that we don’t believe in it but that we are numb to it.
B. We glory in the cross at the expense of the resurrection.
APPLICATION:
1. Surrender to the resurrection.
2. Dwell upon the resurrection.
3. Go and proclaim the resurrection.