the first resurrection sunday

THE FIRST RESURRECTION SUNDAY

Matthew 28:1-10

Matt 28:1-15 1 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; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

THE FIRST RESURRECTION SUNDAY

Intro: Easter is the day the world commemorates the resurrection of the Jesus from the dead. However, as a non-Catholic we use the Bible to understand the Bible not try to insert Bible into the pagan celebrations. "Resurrection Sunday" was the first day of the week (Sunday) after Passover.

Acts 12:1-4 1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Lev 23:5-6 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Let's look in on the events at the tomb of Jesus that day and see what happened and what it means for you and me!

I. THE APPROACH OF THE WOMEN V. 1

Matt 28:1 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.

(Matthew records the fact that two women came that morning. The other Gospel writers reveal the fact that others came also. There is no contradiction, they probably arrived as part of different groups. However they came; some had witnessed and others had heard of the death of Jesus on the cross and they were coming to pay their last respects to the body of the Lord. We will study their motives for coming, and see what they were doing that Sunday morning.)

A. Some Came To Look - Matt. 28:1 –

Maybe they were coming to pray or

Maybe to ponder.

Maybe to perfect something left undone in the rush to bury their savior just a few days earlier

Whatever the reason, we are told that they "came to see the sepulchre".

Matt 281 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. [not the Saviour, they are in for a surprise]

B. Some Came To Labor - Mk. 16:1; Lk. 24:1 - These verses teach is that some of the women came to finished anointing His body for burial. They wanted to serve Him one last time.

Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

[When you see the risen Saviour no further labor is needed]

C. Some Came To Linger - John 20:9-11

John 20:9-11 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

Mary Magdalene lingered at the tomb after the others had gone away.

Matt 27:59-61 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

(I wonder if the words of Mat. 5 didn’t come to mind as they put Jesus in the tomb. Matt 5:3-8 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.)

Her heart must have been breaking that morning, but still she came to worship Him!

Mark. 16:9- She was the first to see Him after He had risen from the dead.Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

THE APPROACH OF THE WOMEN

II. THE ACTIVITY OF THE ANGEL V. 2-8

(Humanity was not the only one that sent ambassadors to the tomb early that morning. Heaven also sent an emissary to proclaim the good news that Jesus was not dead but alive. Let's look in on the activities of the angel that first Resurrection Sunday.)

Matt 28:2-6 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.

A. He Rolled The Stone V. 2 - (Obstacle One Removed) - Mark 16:2-3

Mark 16:2-3 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

That stone represented the finality of death. For them, that stone was an exclamation point at the end of the sentence of death.

Jesus was long gone before that angel ever arrived on the scene. That stone was rolled away so that they could look into the tomb and see that it was forever empty!

One of the obstacles to faith, the stone, was rolled away!

B. He Removed The Soldiers V. 3-4 - (Obstacle Two Removed) - Matt. 27:62-67 tells us that the chief priests and the Pharisees were concerned that the prophecies of Jesus might actually come true, and they wanted a guard to be posted at the tomb.

(It is sad when the lost world knows more about the Bible; and believes it more than people who claim to know Jesus!)

So they sealed the tomb with Pilate's seal and posted a company of guards.

That detachment of soldiers stood as an obstacle between the saints and their entrance into the tomb of Jesus.

However, when this angel appeared, he made short work of the soldiers. These battle hardened men fainted at his feet like a bunch of silly teenagers!

Another obstacle to faith, the guard at the tomb, has been rolled away!

1Sam 10:5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines : and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

C. He Reminded The Saints V. 5-7 - (Obstacle Three Removed) - As this angel began to speak to the women that morning, the greatest obstacle of all was removed - unbelief! His message inspired them to belief in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead!

Notice what he reminded them of:

1. Of The Past V. 5 –

Matt 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

They were reminded of the crucifixion. This reminds us of the importance of the death of Jesus on the cross. His death provided the sacrifice that was needed to cleanse sinners from their sins and to make them right with God,

Isa 53:4-6 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

He reminded them of:

Of The Past

2. Of The Present V. 6 –

Matt 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

His death was the perfect, eternal payment for sin, but His resurrection was God's receipt for full payment!

You see, a dead Savior can save no one! But a living Savior can offer salvation to all who come to Him by faith.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.


Of The Past

Of The Present

3. Of The Promise V. 6 –


His resurrection should not have taken them by surprise! After all, it was what He said that He would do all along, Matt. 12:40; 16:21; 17:7; 17:23; 20:19; 26:31; John 2:19; 10:17.

They should have been holding worship services outside the tomb early that morning!

They should have been there ready to meet Him when He came out of the tomb.


Of The Past

Of The Present

Of The Promise

4. Of The Proof V. 6 –


The angel's invitation is for them to look into the tomb and see for themselves that Jesus is gone! Later, when the Peter and John arrive there, John records the fact that the linen cloths that had been wrapped. John 20:2-7.

There are two reasons why the appearance and arrangement of the grave clothes:

First, there was no sign of human intervention. If someone had taken the body, they could not have removed it through the graveclothes, and it is likely that they wouldn't have removed them anyway. They would have taken the body with them still wrapped in the cloths that bound it.

Neither would they have taken the time to fold the napkin, but it too would have been taken with the body.

In short, the empty tomb was a scene of perfect order. This suggested a resurrection had taken place.


Of The Past

Of The Present

Of The Promise

Of The Proof

5. Of The Plan V. 7-8 –

Matt 28:7-8 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

They were to go and share the good news that Jesus was risen from the dead. Those disciples who were cowering in fear that the next cross might be their own were to receive the glorious news that Jesus had conquered death and was alive forevermore!


THE ACTIVITY OF THE ANGEL

III. THE APPEARANCE OF THE SAVIOR V. 9-10

A. The Appearance Of The Lord V. 9a –

Matt 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

He came to them personally so that they might know first hand that He had indeed risen from the dead.

(It is a wonderful thing to hear from others what Jesus can do. But, there is nothing like meeting Him for yourself!)

B. The Adoration Of The Lord V. 9b –

Matt 28:9 … And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

That is the natural reaction of those who love Him! It is a fact, those who know the risen Savior have a desire to worship Him!

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev 5:9-10 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

C. The Assurance Of The Lord V. 10 - When the Lord speaks to these ladies, it is to comfort their hearts and confirm their mission. Only a living Lord can give peace and assurance to the hearts of His people, John 14:27! Only

a living Lord can be present with them in the way, Heb. 13:5! Only a living Lord can speak words of comfort, peace and hope! Thank God for our living Lord this morning!


THE ACTIVITY OF THE ANGEL

THE APPEARANCE OF THE SAVIOR

Conc:

This was the first Resurrection Day, it won't be the last!

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

1. If, in the dusk of the twilight,Dim be the region afar,

Will not the deepening darknessBrighten the glimmering star?

Then when the night is upon us,Why should the heart sink away?When the dark midnight is over,Watch for the breaking of day.

2. Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,Rends the dark veil for the soul,Whither the Master has entered,

Robbing the grave of its goal;Come then, oh, come, glad fruition,

Come to my sad weary heart;Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,

Never, oh, never depart.

the first resurrection sunday

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