WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.200 Let's turn to the Gospel of Matthew, first book of the Christian New Testament. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:10.400 We're working through this book and we're in the final chapter of Matthew today. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:12.640 Matthew chapter 28. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:22.160 If you are using the Pew Bible, you'll find that on page 885. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:24.320 Matthew 28. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:32.079 Our passage this morning covers the first ten verses of this chapter. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:38.960 So I'm going to read it for us, Matthew chapter 28, verses 1 through 10. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.200 This is God's word. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:52.320 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:58.640 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:02.640 He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:08.079 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:12.400 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men. 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:19.680 The angel told the women, Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.280 He is not here, for he has risen, just as he said, Come and see the place where he lay. 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:31.280 Then go quickly and tell his disciples he has risen from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:32.480 You will see him there. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:34.400 Listen, I have told you. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:42.879 So departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:46.640 Just then Jesus met them and said, Greetings. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:50.400 They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:54.560 Then Jesus told them, Do not be afraid. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:59.760 Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:02.480 Let's look briefly again to the Lord. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:07.519 Father, we come to you acknowledging that this is this is your word, it's a living word. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:14.719 We thank you today that we can speak to one another through psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:22.719 We can sing our praises to you, and yet we also acknowledge that you are the God who speaks to us. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:28.639 And so please be gracious to us to speak through your word this morning as we listen. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:29.680 In Jesus' name. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:30.560 Amen. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:42.639 Despite accepting the biblical accounts of Jesus' resurrection, many Americans see little connection with their daily lives. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:57.280 That's the kind of provocative opening sentence of an article that was published in 2023 based on a survey by Lifeway, sponsored by Legioner Ministry. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:58.800 So they ask a lot of questions. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:08.159 And one of the things that they discovered in this particular survey, and they asked 3,000 people, so this is not a small survey, even Gallup surveys usually survey less people than that. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:23.919 But according to that survey of Americans that they put out, two-thirds of US adults say that the biblical accounts of the resurrection of Jesus are accurate and true. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:28.960 Two-thirds. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:39.680 But 60% of people also say that religious belief is a matter of personal opinion, not objective truth. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:43.039 So it's kind of hard to like fit that together. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:51.199 And there's a growing number of people that say God is really unconcerned with our day-to-day decisions and lives. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:04:11.520 So one author, kind of trying to look at that data and summarize it, said this that that survey exposes the danger of cultural Christianity, the vague ascent to Christian beliefs, without any evidence of real faith in Christ. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:20.639 Today we're going to see that the resurrection has dramatic implications for the world and for our lives. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.199 The resurrection is life-changing. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:29.519 I'm not going to spend time today arguing for the resurrection. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:31.920 There are great books on that. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:35.279 Bonner mentioned one last week, Case for Christ. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:37.920 But Matthew doesn't really do that here in our passage. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.879 He just announces the resurrection. 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:42.319 He is risen. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:43.519 That's the title this morning. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:44.800 He is risen. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:54.639 But especially for those of us who would say, yes, I believe in the resurrection, but then are we understanding the significance of it? 00:04:55.199 --> 00:05:02.800 And what I want to do this morning is bring to you five things that the resurrection brings. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:08.720 So take us through this text with five things that the resurrection brings. 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:17.759 First, the resurrection of Jesus brings an inaugurated creation. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:19.600 Now that's kind of a big word. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:20.959 What do I mean by that? 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:28.959 Well, something's inaugurated, it's begun, it's started, the celebration is here, but it's not yet fully complete. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:37.360 And Jesus, in his rising from the grave, he inaugurates a creation, a new creation. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:41.199 Now we haven't seen the final creation yet. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.560 That's coming when he returns again, but it really has begun. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:45.519 Why do I say that? 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.279 Look at verse number one. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:06:00.319 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:02.240 All right, Jesus rose on Sunday. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:04.160 What does that to do with his creation? 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.560 Well, the text mentions Sabbath. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:10.879 It's actually used two different times in the original language here, this concept of a Sabbath. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:25.519 And that concept first presents itself back in the pages of Genesis when God created the world in six days, and then he rested on the seventh day. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:32.560 So we've got this original account of creation followed by a Sabbath. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:40.319 And we still have that pattern today of six days and then a seventh day, seven-day weeks. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:48.319 He made that pattern more explicit with the Jews under the old covenant, work six days and then rest on the seventh day. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:54.160 So the text tells us Jesus is resurrected after the Sabbath. 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:57.360 So a whole week has transpired. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.319 The Sabbath was the sixth day of the week. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:01.920 Whole week has transpired. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.519 It's the seventh day of the week, excuse me. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:05.040 Whole week has transpired. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.720 And now it's the start of a new week. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:14.480 It's the eighth day of the old week. 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:19.360 It's the first day of the new week, but it's after this whole week has passed and the Sabbath has come. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:21.600 So it's the eighth day. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.439 Now, why do I say that? 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:27.040 Well, there's some significant events that happen in the Bible on the eighth day. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:29.519 Leviticus 23, 36. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.759 Excuse me. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:39.839 On the eighth day, you were to hold a sacred assembly before the Lord. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:41.439 Nehemiah 8:18. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:53.680 Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last, the Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:00.720 So there's a pattern of having these assemblies of renewed worship on the eighth day. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:06.079 Children were circumcised on the eighth day. 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:12.800 A new week, a new life, a new beginning, a new covenant relationship. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.759 Jesus himself was circumcised on the eighth day. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:29.279 So Jesus could have been raised on the second day or the fifth day, but he's raised on the first day of the week, which is the dawn of a new week and a new creation in God's plan. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:35.039 Revelation 1 tells us that Jesus is the faithful and true witness. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:39.600 And then in Revelation 3:14, there's a message for the church in Laodicea. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:48.480 This is what the Amen says, the faithful and true witness describing Jesus. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:53.440 And then it calls him the beginning of God's creation. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.559 Kind of a strange thing to say about Jesus. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:02.960 He was not created in time right before Adam and Eve or right after Adam and Eve. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:08.080 He existed eternally as the Son of God from eternity past. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:16.799 But he is the firstborn and faithful witness from the dead, who's the beginning of God's new creation work. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:24.080 That's why Paul can say, if anyone is in Christ, he is new creation. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.720 The old is passed away, the new has come. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:36.000 I am tired of sin in my heart. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.559 But the new creation is here. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:45.679 We're still wrestling with effects of the old creation, but the new creation has dawned in Jesus Christ. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:49.200 So take comfort today that the buds are already in bloom. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:53.279 If you belong to Christ, you too are part of the new creation. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:57.039 The resurrection brings an inaugurated creation. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:03.039 Second, the resurrection of Jesus brings a powerful king. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:07.360 One of the characters we find in this passage is an angel. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.559 You find the angel first in verse number two. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:16.240 There was a violent earthquake because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:20.720 He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:28.480 There was a violent earthquake because an angel came. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:36.480 Most people estimate that the stones that were covering these kind of tombs would have weighed at least one ton. 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:41.759 The book of Mark calls this stone very large. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:46.879 And the angel just casually rolls it back and sits on it. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:51.039 Angels are divine warriors. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.759 They're sent out in behalf of their king. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:11:01.519 They're not chubby, they don't wear diapers in the Bible, they are divine warriors. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:05.679 The Lord has his army of angels and he rules. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:13.679 And the angel is here to show these Roman soldiers, to show the Roman soldiers, there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Jesus Christ. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:20.159 In verse 4, the guards are so shaken with fear, they become like dead men. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:22.080 Do you hear the irony? 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:25.600 Jesus is supposed to be the dead man that they're watching over. 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:35.039 But now these these strong guards who are obviously trained not to cower in fear, they're so fearful that they become as the dead ones. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:42.960 They're overwhelmed at the sight of the king's messenger and the sight of his great might. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:48.159 Last week, Banu mentioned a defeated power. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:52.159 Look back up to chapter 27 for a moment. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:12:01.440 Verse 65, just to bring us back in with what we were looking at just last week, you have a guard of soldiers, Pilate told them. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:06.080 Go and make it, that is the tomb, as secure as you know how. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:14.559 They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:22.000 Now, I think professional soldiers at risk of their own lives would well know how to make a tomb secure. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:30.399 The issue was not that they were somehow overwhelmed by a ragtag band of disillusioned fishermen, as that that were even possible. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:36.320 No, it didn't take the disciples, it just took one angel to release the stone. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:39.919 It says the tomb was sealed. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:51.440 We hear that, and we sometimes think that, okay, there's like this small stone, and they have some kind of like super glue they put around it to make sure like you just can't get into it, and maybe to keep the smell inside. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:53.440 That's not really what's going on here. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:13:04.559 There would have been most likely some kind of impressionable clay that would have had the imprint of the Roman imperial guard. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.960 It was a government sort of stamp. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:20.399 It might have even been kind of hanging from the tomb on a rope, but it was a seal to say, hey, this stone, this tomb is in charge of the Roman government. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:25.519 And if you mess with this stone, you're messing with the Roman government. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:28.559 And the angel messes with it. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:32.080 He uses it for his own personal barka lounger. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:35.600 He has no problem opening that stone right up. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.799 Christ is the risen king. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:49.759 There's no power in heaven or in earth, no military might, no government or leader or political party that can unseat him from his throne. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:51.679 This is just one of his messengers. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:54.080 That's how powerful he is as the king. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:09.120 If we truly believe that the angel is not caring about some earthly verdict or what the soldiers might do, the angel is coming with a heavenly verdict. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.960 Christ the King is risen. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.799 If we really believe that, how could it not affect our lives? 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:24.080 How could we not be struck by recognizing that it's the edicts of King Jesus that matter most in the world? 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:27.600 It's not the edicts of this leader or that party. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.639 It's what our Lord says that counts most. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:41.120 And that does mean if you're not this morning submitting to King Jesus, that you're in big trouble. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:45.120 You can pride yourself that, well, I'm I'm a righteous citizen. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:46.559 I've never even been to jail. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:50.320 I'm I'm good in the eyes of the government. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:58.080 But what about in the eyes of the one who has flaming fire and knows the secret thoughts of our hearts? 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.279 We must submit to him. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:12.399 And then the other side of that is if we're if we're submitted to Jesus, if we've turned from our own sins, we're trusting in his work alone, then there's there's nothing for us to fear. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:20.720 Well, didn't this very Roman government kill many of the early disciples? 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.320 Yes, they did. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:26.159 And those disciples received a better resurrection. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:33.840 Don't fear the one who has power over our bodies, fear the one who has power over our souls, the Lord Himself. 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:43.039 As Jesus himself said to Pilate, you would have no authority, no power unless it was granted to you from above. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:45.759 Our King is reigning. 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:51.840 Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, but the king's own army none can overthrow. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:16:00.080 Round his standard ranging, victory is secure, for his truth unchanging makes the triumph sure. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:05.519 Joyfully enlisting by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord's side. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.600 Savior, we are thine. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:13.679 The resurrection of Jesus brings an inaugurated creation, it brings a powerful king. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:17.360 Third, the resurrection of Jesus brings great joy. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.120 Verse number eight. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:29.120 So departing from the tomb with fear and great joy. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.720 There's a lot of fear in this passage. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.039 Verse 4, the guards are shaken with fear. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.919 Verse 5, the angel tells the women not to be afraid. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:40.639 Verse 8, the women do depart with fear. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:43.919 Verse number 10, Jesus says, Don't be afraid. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:50.879 But even though they depart with fear, they depart with great joy. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.960 Notice that adjective. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:56.720 Fear they have, but their joy is great. 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:59.519 Their joy outstrips their fear. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:07.279 I do want to talk about fear for a little bit, though, because it's the fear that sets the stage for the joy. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:12.160 You might wonder if the women are just not listening to the angel. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:17.920 Because the angel tells them don't fear, but then they depart with fear. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:23.759 So they just ignore the angel, or did their minds not quite work in line with their faith? 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:25.440 I don't think that's what's going on. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:33.759 You can tell they are striving to listen to the angel because in verse 7, the angel says, go quickly and tell his disciples he has risen. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:39.279 And then in verse eight, they do leave quickly to tell the disciples the news. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:41.440 So they're seeking to be obedient. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:44.960 But you know, there's different kinds of fear, different shades of fear. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.640 I think we understand this. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:50.880 The guards are not even described as having any joy whatsoever. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:54.240 They're just, they're just quaking with terrified fear. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:18:03.200 But the women have some kind of great joy that's mingled with their fear, even as they leave the scene. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:09.680 One thing to keep in mind is that it's just fearful to see an angel. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:16.240 Remember when the angels came to announce to the shepherds the good news of Jesus' birth? 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:18.160 First thing they say is, don't fear. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.440 Well, that's a good message. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.640 Why would they be fearful? 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:28.960 When you see a divine warrior like that, your first inclination might be to think you're about to die. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.559 It's a terrifying thing. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:34.880 So there's kind of a natural rush of adrenaline that's probably there. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:41.920 But the guards aren't described as followers of Jesus in the way that the women are. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:46.240 The women have been following him ever since Galilee. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:51.599 And they're the ones that are enabled to leave with great joy. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:58.960 What brings the women this great joy is that Christ is fulfilling his word. 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:01.920 We see that in verse number six. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:10.720 God himself, as we just step back and think about this resurrection event, God Himself is the one who interprets the resurrection. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:14.240 It's not left for us to decide what the meaning and significance of it is. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:18.720 The whole life and ministry of Jesus Christ is under God's direction. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:23.680 And it's Christ Himself who said he came to give his life a ransom for many. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:35.279 So that part of the good news of the gospel message is brought to us through the resurrection. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:37.119 And we'll come to the message in just a moment. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:44.559 But that's what brings us great joy to know that God is fulfilling his word, and this word is a word of good news for those of us who know him. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:59.839 If sin has been paid for and it's complete, what awestruck joy that should bring into our souls as we meditate on the resurrection. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.960 Resurrection. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:03.200 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.720 And that's what these women really have here. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:09.119 It's a deep awe and reverence for God as they leave. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:15.519 But it's it's surrounded by this superabounding joy, a weighty joy. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:17.680 That's the best kind of joy. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.759 Do you want joy in your life today? 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.279 Then you can't say, well, the resurrection happened a long time ago. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:27.039 I don't know the significance of it. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.680 No. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.519 That's the very pathway to joy. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:40.559 And let me hasten to add that those who are trusting in Christ, those who think about the resurrection, this doesn't mean that we'll never ever feel any sadness. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:44.799 When a loved one dies, it's natural to feel sadness. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:48.720 When you're let go from a job, it's natural to feel a sense of disappointment. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:56.079 When you receive difficult news, when your body hurts, you're not going to be leaping for joy every moment. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.920 But where do you go? 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:05.279 The resurrection is where we go for joy. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:28.960 If you're watching for three hours every night this TV station criticize this person, and then or this TV station criticizing this person, if you're doing that for three hours a day, and then you spend three seconds thanking God for the food and for Jesus, and you wonder, why do I feel so agitated? 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.960 Why is there so little joy in my life? 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:34.720 Well, you you have part of a clue right there. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:42.079 We need to give our hearts and our minds and our souls to reminding ourselves Jesus is risen. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:52.240 God uses his word to spur our faith, a faith that grabs hold of these realities. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:58.480 The woman in our passage, as Matthew describes it here, they haven't yet met Jesus. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:07.920 They will meet him, but based on the word of the angel, based on God's word, their faith grabs hold of that and they leave with great joy. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:13.119 Let your faith grab hold of God's word and just rest there and settle there. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:21.440 That brings us to the fourth thing this morning, the resurrection brings. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:27.680 So it brings an inaugurated creation, it brings a powerful king, it brings great joy. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:32.799 The resurrection of Jesus also brings an urgent message. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:39.759 In verse number seven, the women are told to go quickly and tell those disciples that he's risen. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:46.480 And in verse number eight, they do depart quickly and run to tell the disciples the news. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:51.119 Brothers and sisters, this is a message for all of us to bring. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:54.000 These are just ordinary women. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:05.359 They don't get as much airtime in the book of Acts and in the Gospels as the 12 disciples do, but they're actually presented in some ways in a better light. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:08.079 Judas betrays Jesus, Peter denies him. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:13.039 Here are these faithful women who have followed him from Galilee, and they're still there. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:15.200 They're the first ones that are at the tomb. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:18.559 They're the ones that get to be the first witnesses of his resurrection. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:23.519 Just ordinary people, but they have an urgent message to give. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.000 We too have that urgent message to give. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:28.960 Don't say this morning, well, I can't preach like Pastor Doug. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.400 I'm not really a verbal person. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.039 No. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:34.000 Freely give what you have received. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:34.799 Share. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.759 Tell. 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:47.200 Verse number seven, they're told to go and tell his disciples he is risen. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:55.200 We should never tire of telling one another the basic truths of the Bible. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:24:08.720 Every truth in the Bible, but even just those, those, those big points of God's creation, of the fall, but then particularly of Christ, who is the Son of God and Son of Man who came into the world and lived a perfect life and who died and has risen again. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:11.440 We shouldn't tire of telling each other that. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.960 He needed to hear that. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:51.119 Who's a person that's this week that's maybe a little discouraged, a little fearful, that you can come and and and grab a hold of them and say, The tomb is empty. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.880 Christ is risen. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:25:01.359 You can't tell his disciples the good news if you're not with his disciples. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:06.480 These women are running to share the message with the disciples. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.640 Are we running? 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.559 Are we eager to be with God's people? 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:13.200 That's one of the reasons why church is so important. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:24.000 This is the very best place, not the only place, but it's the best place each week to come and celebrate together all that Christ has done and remind one another of these truths. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:30.960 Jesus said, Destroy this temple, and in three days I'll raise it up, speaking of the temple of his body. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:34.400 And we too are the body of Christ. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:38.960 We're living stones stacked on the cornerstone and foundation of Jesus Christ. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:42.480 That's what the church is, this new temple, this body of Christ. 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:46.960 So come weekly, be ready to celebrate and give to one another. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:50.400 You know, there's it's it's an amazing thing. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:56.000 There's even more joy when you experience an event together. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:05.759 I mean, that's why football starting today, and I hope the attendance doesn't drop in half when we go back to our noon service. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:09.200 Because this is even better than football. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:15.200 But there's a reason why people gather in massive stadiums when they could have nice TV viewing. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:19.119 There's something about that group celebration of an event. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:24.880 Friends, the resurrection is world and history altering. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:29.279 This is something even more precious for us to get together and celebrate. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:31.680 And that's what we do each Lord's Day. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:36.400 That's how we gather on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, because it's a resurrection Sunday. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:41.839 And there's one sense in which every single Sunday should be a resurrection celebration. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:54.400 Now, as urgent and important as that message is, it should not only stay within the church. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:27:00.079 Yes, we should tell one another, but we want that message to be spreading out from us. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:06.720 We get a hint of that here in our passage, but it's really a compelling hint. 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:10.720 Verse number seven, take a look there. 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:19.279 The angel says that Christ is going ahead of them to Galilee. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:26.319 Then in verse 10, Jesus tells them to instruct the brothers to leave for Galilee and they will see him there. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.519 Why Galilee? 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:32.319 Wouldn't you think they'd go back to Jerusalem? 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:34.160 Isn't that kind of the main place? 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:36.319 That's what they're going to be in the book of Acts. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.240 Why Galilee? 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:42.559 It's not the only time Christ has mentioned Galilee. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:50.480 If you just turn back to Matthew 26, a couple chapters, verse 32 of Matthew 26. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:28:02.480 Jesus tells his disciples, After I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:13.039 So in Matthew 28, Jesus is simply reiterating that he's going to fulfill what he had said back in Matthew 26. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:17.119 The angel brings that up, and then Christ himself brings that up. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:24.319 But we're still maybe curious, well, okay, why Galilee is this first impulse after the resurrection event? 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:27.039 Turn all the way back to Matthew 4. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:31.440 Hold your finger here in Matthew 28, but go all the way back to Matthew 4. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:37.440 We hit this quite a long time ago on Sunday morning. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:40.400 But look at Matthew 4. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:48.400 And in verse number 12, we're told that Jesus withdrew into the region of Galilee. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:52.160 He's been tempted by Satan in the wilderness. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:58.480 And as he begins his public ministry, one of the first places he goes is Galilee. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.319 Now look at verse 14. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.359 I'll read a few verses. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:03.119 Matthew 4, verse 14. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:08.000 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:23.839 And for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:30.240 From then on, Jesus began to preach, repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near. 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:37.119 So in the coming of Christ, the kingdom of heaven has come near, it's arrived, it's dawned, it's inaugurated creation. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:46.160 But it's not only Jewish people who live in darkness and need the light of Christ. 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:48.559 It's all kinds of people. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:54.640 So Jesus goes to Galilee of the Gentiles. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:58.319 That's well north of Jerusalem. 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:04.160 In the Old Testament, it's Jerusalem's enemies who come from the north to attack them. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:11.440 But it's all kinds of people who are sinful and who need the love and redemption of Christ. 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:14.799 And it's all kinds of people who will receive that. 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:18.400 So Jesus goes to Galilee of the Gentiles. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:22.960 And now He is tells his people, go to Galilee. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:32.240 Because it's not just Jews like them, it's Gentiles and all kinds of people that need to hear that urgent message. 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:46.160 Where I've gone, you're going to go. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:48.640 And I'm going ahead of you. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.599 We're on the Lord's side. 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:53.599 We're part of his team. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:58.480 And be encouraged this morning that Christ goes ahead of us. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:04.160 Now, he went ahead of them with his true resurrection body to Galilee. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.200 He didn't stay there. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:08.640 He ascended to heaven, but he sent out his spirit. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.400 And we're going to come in Matthew. 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:12.319 You can turn back to Matthew 28. 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:15.759 We'll come shortly to the end of Matthew 28. 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:27.599 So even this instruction to go ahead into Galilee anticipates what he's going to say to them as he leaves the great commission, go into all the worlds and preach the gospel with a promise. 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:32.799 I'm with you always, to the very end of the age. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:46.559 Whether we go to Galilee of the Gentiles or Tylau of Cebaru or Valley Stream of Nassau County, he's with us. 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.400 He's with us in canoes. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:50.000 He's with us at street fair. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.759 Our Lord is with us. 00:31:53.759 --> 00:32:08.880 And I do want to make a special appeal here for these dark places that haven't really yet seen the light of Christ, for places where Christ hasn't been named, where there is no outpost of a gospel church that's been established. 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:11.759 How are we marshalling our resources? 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:17.039 That would include our finances, but talking about our time, our prayer, our support, our attention. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:27.759 How are we marshalling our resources so that these dark places, yes, Galilee, but then the ends of the earth, can hear this urgent message? 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:31.759 Who's gonna pray more? 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:40.559 Who among us would say, you know, I want to go with that urgent message to a dark place that hasn't had the light of Christ? 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:44.720 The Lamb is worthy. 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:48.319 And that brings us to the very final point this morning. 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:54.640 The resurrection of Jesus brings wholehearted worship. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:00.240 These women run from the tomb to tell the disciples Jesus meets them in verse number nine. 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:03.920 So look at that in chapter 28 of Matthew, verse number nine. 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:15.359 Jesus himself greets them, and the text tells us they came up, they took hold of his feet, and they worshiped him. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:22.000 That's the proper instinct of faith to worship the resurrected Lord. 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:33.279 Before they go, before they share the message, before they eat whatever they needed to eat to sustain them, they're eager to worship their Christ. 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:38.480 The word worship is sometimes associated with kneeling down. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:41.200 It's even translated that way sometimes in our Bibles. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:46.000 And you can see here in our passage, they're worshiping him as they take hold of his feet. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:48.720 That might strike us as a little unusual. 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:53.440 Some people suggest they didn't want him to leave that don't go anywhere, Jesus. 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:58.960 Well, the text doesn't tell us, they didn't say don't go anywhere. 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:00.720 Don't do that. 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:19.280 And there's one commentator who references an ancient uh inscription of King Cyrus, who said, as he talked about having other kings subjected to himself, they brought me their full tribute and kissed my feet. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:28.719 The women are acknowledging, even with their posture, that Jesus is the true and great king. 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:36.239 They're acknowledging with their whole selves that they're submitted to him and committed to him. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:41.199 But it's more than just a submission. 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:43.199 It is that they love him. 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:48.559 That's why they've been following him for such a period of distance and time. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:55.599 They love their Lord and it delights their souls to see him and know him and worship him. 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:00.400 Psalm 29, 2. 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:04.079 Ascribe to the Lord the glory to his name. 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:08.159 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:12.960 Worship is ascribing glory to the Lord. 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:24.800 Matthew doesn't give us a detailed description of what of what worship is, but he gives us a picture, one picture of what worship is in these verses. 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:28.239 It's wholehearted, it's devoted. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:32.320 He has real human feet. 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:34.239 He's really risen from the dead. 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:38.079 We worship Jesus, the Son of God. 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:53.599 We worship him as the true and perfect Adam, the true man, and we worship him because in God's mysterious providence, God and man are joined together in Christ. 00:35:55.360 --> 00:36:07.440 There's the humility of the crucifixion, the power of resurrection life that could command one angel to bring an earthquake and the tomb opening. 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:10.719 He's got legions of angels at his disposal. 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:13.440 And that brings these women joy. 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:20.000 Their worship is a response to his presence and his word. 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:27.760 Normally in our service, we begin with God's word. 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:30.960 That's just a small way to remind ourselves. 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:34.960 Our worship is a response to his revelation. 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:48.880 Our worship is a response to not our own ideas about God, but our response to him graciously coming to us and greeting us through his word, just as he greets these women here. 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:55.679 And we say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, come soon to receive your bride to yourself. 00:36:56.400 --> 00:37:05.039 So we listen to God's word, praying that God would reveal himself to us, that he would tune our hearts to sing his praise. 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.880