Empty Tomb - Resurrection of Christ

Sunday March 25, 2018 Phone: 570.829.5216 Pastor David Miklas e-mail: pastormiklas@aol.com Message: Easter - 2018 Text: Matthew 28:1-7 Empty Tomb - Resurrection of Christ INTRODUCTION: As we begin on this Easter Sunday morning 2017 would you follow as I read from Matthew 28:1-7, In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (2) And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. (3) His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (4) And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. (5) And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. (6) He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (7) And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead The Jewish Sabbath had ended, and the first day of the week had dawned. Early in the morning a small group of women made their way to where Jesus had been laid. What did they find when they arrived? The very thing they did not expect to find, they found an EMPTY TOMB! One would hardly expect an EMPTY TOMB to preach a sermon, but I believe the EMPTY TOMB did speak then as it speaks today. Now I m going to return to this point of an EMPTY TOMB, but first let me call your attention to I Corinthians 15:3-4 where we have the heart of the gospel message, For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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: In verse 3 we read, Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Jesus did not die in a private ceremony. It was very public. No one in the first century denied the death of Jesus. The Apostle Paul said in Hebrews 2:9, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the SUFFERING of DEATH, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste DEATH for every man. In verse 4 we read, And he was buried... There was no doubt about it; He was dead and buried. He was in the heart of the earth as was prophesied: In Matthew 12:40 we read, For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. In verse 4 we read,...and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This was a fact of history, a fact of prophecy substantiated by the Word of God. Now from this scripture, let me focus your attention on SIX FACTS of the resurrection before returning to the EMPTY TOMB. FIRST FACT: The prediction of Christ s resurrection is in the phrase, he shall rise again. Page 1

Jesus said, in Matthew 20:18-19, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. SECOND FACT: The time of Christ s resurrection is given in the phrase, the third day. Again in Matthew 12:40 we read, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. THIRD FACT: The reason for Christ s resurrection is given in the phrase for our sins. Christ was not a MARYTR dying for his faith, but a SAVIOR dying for our sins. He did not say, I am finished. but It is finished! In Romans 5:8 we read, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. FOURTH FACT: The enemies of Christ sought to discredit the resurrection. The factual resurrection of Christ is the central component of our faith. It is the one key fact that differentiates the followers of Christ from all the followers of other religious leaders. His sinless life and vicarious death are of the utmost importance, but His resurrection is the pre-eminent piece of the Gospel of Christ. Other men lived good lives, performed good deeds, and led multitudes with their teachings. But only Jesus Christ defeated death and rose from the grave! Because of the importance of this doctrine, it should come as no surprise that the enemies of Christ and the Gospel would seek to discredit this truth. In the very moments following Christ's resurrection, there were some that sought to cast doubt on this unique and divine miracle. There were the DEVIOUS PRIESTS. The day after Christ's brutal crucifixion, the chief priests and Pharisees showed up outside Pilate's judgment hall to ask a favor, recorded for us in Matthew 27:62-66 where we read, Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, (63) Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. (64) Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (65) Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. (66) So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. The chief priests knew what Christ had prophesied, and they wanted to do everything within their power to keep His prophesy from being fulfilled. Pilate responded to them in: Matthew 27:65-66, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch" The chief priests verified that Christ's dead body was still present in the tomb. They sealed the stone and placed a watch in front of the tomb, which was probably a quaternion of four Roman soldiers. Page 2

No doubt, these devious priests felt as though they had thought of everything. They had confirmed Jesus' death, and now they had prevented His followers from "faking" His resurrection. There were the DISHONEST SOLDIERS. Highly-trained, professional soldiers were stationed in front of Jesus' tomb. They had been given their orders, and they were performing their task to perfection when they were incredibly frightened, because an unexpected earthquake began to rumble. The angel of the Lord appeared and rolled the stone away. To their disbelieving amazement, they realized that Christ had "escaped" their watch. He was not there; He had risen! The soldiers feared the retribution that was sure to follow their incompetent execution of their job of securing Christ's tomb. Some of them made it back to Jerusalem where they nervously reported the recent events to the chief priests. Matthew 28:11-15, Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. (12) And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel they gave large money unto the soldiers, (13) Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. (14) And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. (15) So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. The chief priests' original plan had failed, so they contrived another scheme to discount Christ's supernatural disappearance. They gave the soldiers huge bribes to spread the rumor that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus while the soldiers slept. The chief priests understood that a resurrected Christ demonstrated His deity and validated His followers' faith. They could not stop the resurrection, so they chose to do their best to get others to doubt it. FIFTH FACT: Notice Jesus friends did not remember the predicted resurrection. It is ironic and at the same time sad that the predicted resurrection of Christ was remembered only by his enemies, the Pharisees, and not by His friends. So, what about Jesus friends? In Mark 16:1-3, The women did not remember. In John 20:13 Mary Magdalene did not remember. In Luke 24:12 Peter and John did not remember. In Luke 24:9-11 The Apostles did not remember. In Luke 24:13-31 The two disciples on the Emmaus Road did not remember. In John 20:24-29 Thomas did not remember. There is ample proof of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15:5-11, And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: (6) After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. (7) After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. (8) And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (9) For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. What exactly is this ample proof of the resurrection? Page 3

1. The tremendous change in the lives of the disciples. 2. The silence from the Romans and Pharisees who never attempted to deny Christ s resurrection. They hated it and tried to suppress it, but could not refute it. 3. The change from Saturday to Sunday as the main day of worship. As ingrained as the Sabbath was in the hearts and history of the apostles, it would have taken some fantastic event to change their thinking here. 4. The existence of the church. In less than 50 years after Christ s death, the Christian church had become a mighty power, causing the Roman government to view with growing concern its influence upon men and women. 5. After the resurrection, the Lord appeared 17 times to individuals or groups of people. Taken as a whole, the appearances are of such various characters and to so many people under so many different circumstances that the proof of the resurrection of Christ is as solid as any historical fact that could be cited in the first century. SIXTH FACT: The resurrection of Christ is the greatest story ever told! Notice the Death-Defeating Saviour: Jesus Christ never went to school, never owned a house, and never held an office. He never traveled more than 200 miles from His birthplace. Yet the world's calendar is dated backward and forward from His birth. He is the most amazing man who ever lived. He was so gentle that little children climbed upon His knee, yet so powerful that strong men ran from the Temple when He accused them of making it a den of thieves. They took Him to Calvary, stripped off His clothing, and nailed Him to a rugged cross between two thieves. Christ's response to His jeering tormentors was not one of bitterness. Rather, He pleaded, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). When Jesus was a babe, Herod could not kill Him. When Jesus was a child, doctors of the law could not comprehend Him. When Jesus was a man the waves could not drown Him. The devils could not resist Him. Sickness could not withstand Him. The Pharisees could not refute Him. He was born contrary to the laws of nature. He walked on water, contrary to the laws of physics. He healed, contrary to the laws of medicine. He died contrary to the laws of death. But, greatest of all, He conquered death and ascended to Heaven as our victorious Savior contrary to the laws of gravitation!' In Mark 16:6 we read, And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. Now back to the EMPTY TOMB. That empty tomb made several declarations that the world had never before heard. NUMBER 1: The empty tomb declared the power of the Son of God to Conquer Death. From ancient times men have known a great deal about conquerors, for the world has been ravaged and torn apart by tyrants and conquerors. Nebuchadnezzar conquered Babylon and the Assyrian Empire. Napoleon conquered France and most of Europe. The Caesars conquered Rome and all of the Roman Empire. Alexander the Great conquered the then-known world. Page 4

All these conquerors were themselves conquered by the common enemy that we call death. But one called Jesus of Nazareth born in obscurity, reared in poverty, put to an open, shameful death and buried in another man's tomb has conquered death. Up from the grave He arose. With a mighty triumph o'er His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! Beloved, this is our hope: Christ conquered death through the resurrection. Our hope is conceived at the cross where He died; our hope is given birth at the tomb where He arose. Let us shout with exultant joy! He lives, He lives; Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. NUMBER 2:The empty tomb declared the Presence of Christ to Control the World: That empty tomb not only speaks to us of the power of Christ to conquer death; it declares unto us the presence of Christ to control the world. Christ is a contemporary of Abraham, Moses and the prophets. In the days of His flesh, He was a contemporary of Peter, James and John. In our day, He is a contemporary of ours. Let us, then, not look for Christ only as the historical Christ who came out of the grave two thousand years ago. But let us look for our contemporary, the Lord Jesus Christ, and embrace Him as the One who lives today. Jesus Christ is just as much alive on this Easter Sunday as He was on that first glad Easter Sunday morning in the long ago when He came forth triumphant over death, hell, and the grave. His testimony is true from Revelation 1:8, 11,18, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending"; "the first and the last." He said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Ring out the news Jesus Christ is alive to control the world! No wonder someone wrote, "The name of Jesus was not only written but plowed into the history of the world." He is alive, and the empty tomb declares that He has power to control the world. NUMBER 3: The empty tomb declared the Proof that Christ will Resurrect His Own. Another statement coming to us out of the empty tomb declares the proof that Christ will raise up His own on the great resurrection morning. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 6:14, "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power." Did you get that? The same God who raised up Jesus shall one day raise us up by His same power. Looking at the empty tomb of Christ, we must surely realize that this vain, presumptuous little life that we live on earth is not the final chapter in our destiny. We are made in the image of God. We are made to live in this life and to live forever! Page 5

Therefore, the empty tomb becomes for us a seal and token of our own resurrection. In the words of the only ONE who ever conquered death, Jesus said in John 11:25-26, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Shout it from the housetop, broadcast it, televise it: Christ is alive forevermore! He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives and I shall conquer death. He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there. This is no dream, no wild imagination; this is no fanatical, foolish fantasy. Look about you. Those flowers that have been dead in winter's long and restful nap are alive. I know that my Redeemer liveth because there s an empty tomb. This is our HOPE. This is our CONFIDENCE. This is the keynote to our SALVATION. My question to you is: Do you believe the scripture that declares Jesus died, was buried and rose again? Are these historical facts implanted within your soul? In I John 5:13 we read, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Now if you believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ not only would there be a radical change in your life, but also there would be an eagerness to proclaim this truth to everyone you meet. That is why so often we say Easter is not a Decoration Day, but a Proclamation Day to shout: He Arose, Christ Jesus Arose! *********************************************************************** If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon Empty Tomb - Resurrection of Christ right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you. Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in Acts 16:31,...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved... Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation. If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please let me know. Please send an e-mail to pdmikbbm@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life. The Weekly SERMON was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party. Page 6

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