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[0:00] please take your bibles and go to matthew's gospel i'll only be saying that two more times matthew's gospel the last chapter chapter 28 if you need a bible there's one in the seat pocket in front of you go to the back they knew renumber the new testament find page 25 the bottom of page 25 you'll find matthew chapter 28 matthew 28 we're going to do the first 15 verses this morning excuse me 16 to 20 next sunday and then i'm going to do two messages in the book of obadiah and then i'm taking three sundays off and ward's going to preach for you nah just kidding now i got jason drum he's coming the 20th and the 27th and then roy auguston from northwest community church he's coming october 4th so he'll be here take some time off but i thought it'd be fun uh because i was like oh i'm finishing matthew i was like what can i do it's like i know i'll do the book of obadiah nobody's ever preached to that before you ever heard a message on obadiah i haven't two messages it's like it takes you like less than three minutes to read so it'd be fun i mean it's like it's about judgment so i don't know if that's fun but anyways uh but it'd be good though it'd be good for us to get a good uh less my goal is to give you a good understanding in our messages on sundays uh where you have a good understanding of of uh different books of the bible old testament new testament i enjoy doing the old testament after i do obadiah i want to get back my plan is to do first timothy i'm going to do one timothy what i think it'd be appropriate um uh how church is supposed to be done type of thing that's first timothy so there's some information for you maybe you didn't plan on having that but there you go that's for free matthew chapter 28 i'll read verses 1 through 15 and after the sabbath as it was dawning towards the first of the week mary magdalene and the other mary came to see the grave and behold a great earthquake came for an angel of the lord having descended from heaven and coming he rolled away the stone and he sat upon it and his appearance was like lightning his garments as white as snow and out of fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men and answering the angel said to the women don't be afraid for i know that you seek jesus who was crucified he's not here for he's risen just as he said come see the place where he was lying and go quickly and tell his disciples that he's risen from the dead and behold he's going before you into galilee there you will see him behold i've told you and they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to his disciples and look jesus met them and said hello and coming up to him they took hold of his feet and they worshiped him then jesus said to them don't be afraid go and take word to my brothers that they may leave for galilee and there they will see me verse 11 as they were going look some of the guard coming into the city they reported to the chief priest all that had come having assembled together with the elders they formed a plan given a large sum of money to the soldiers they said you are to say his disciples coming by night they stole him away while we were asleep and if this is heard by the governor

[4:03] we will win him over and make you stay out of trouble verse 15 and taking the money they did as they had been instructed and the story was widely spread among jews to this day as humans we have an insatiable desire to see the bad guys lose and the good guys to win i mean the bad guys can't win i mean it just doesn't happen that way no no no no it's not supposed to be like that right we want vindication things to be made right when justice and we enjoy the thrill of it almost the thrill of the bad guys seem to be losing and yet we know or less we think we know in the back of our heads no they're gonna lose uh finally when the bad guy they finally get his when sauron is finally destroyed when the wicked witch of the west right was it what she gets melted with water right i'm melting when thanos blows away and becomes dust our culture doesn't want the bad guy to win the good guy always wins in the end we want justice to be served in all the wrongs made right and you know what it's because it's built into us by god he created us that way because that's how it's going to be and you get a tiny glimpse of this with jesus who's finally vindicated you really see matthew's theme come out bow down and worship jesus part of how i came up with this theme was from these very verses that's exactly what the women did they bowed down they worship jesus the messiah the son of god the king of israel the judge of the world and who is the resurrected lord he is the resurrected lord messiah son of god king of israel judge of the world resurrected lord that's who he is bowed down and worshiped jesus the resurrected lord i mean think about it matthew's been setting this setting us up setting this up for us the whole time betrayal false accusation humiliation denial injustice mocked forsaken death buried and then guards posted at his tomb after all this jesus the messiah was finally vindicated by being resurrected from the dead things are made right jesus the messiah jesus the messiah was finally vindicated by being resurrected from the dead notice if you would these different statements that i have up here on the screen for you he was raised by the father he completed

[8:05] our salvation he modeled the biblical theme of sacrificial living he gives hope to our own resurrection and reward he will come to judge us all he is totally victorious so he should be believed obeyed and worshipped these are all the benefits that come to us because of the resurrection of jesus the father was the one who raised him our salvation is finally complete that model of suffering where your suffering christian will not be in vain it ends in exaltation or now we have the hope of our own resurrection hope of our own reward and then we know now jesus the resurrected one as paul says in act 17 he will judge the living and the dead and he's victorious that's why he should be believed that's why he should be obeyed that's why he should be worshipped he's god don't believe the lies espoused about the resurrection the lies where he did not raise was not raised or that the disciples came and stole his body no worship christ the lord who truly resurrected from the dead conquering death sin and eternal hell you know matthew doesn't explain the resurrection of jesus he just announces it this part of matthew's gospel is not about how christ rose is about how his resurrection was discovered and you'll see the focus is on the empty tomb the announcement to the women and the meeting the disciples in galilee along with the saga of the false story that was promulgated who were witnesses to the resurrection well the father because he was the one who raised jesus from the dead you'll see that the passives passive verbs that are used the angel who announced the news the empty tomb itself testifies we'll see these faithful loyal women the earthquake stone being rolled away but yet also two unlikely group of persons were witnesses to the resurrection the guards one writer put it like this they were quote unintentional evangelists they liked it unintentional that's good they were evangelists unintentional though but you know what the bad guys too the bad guys of the gospel the religious leaders ironically their actions would testify to the resurrection as I was been studying through Matthew's gospel

[11:29] David Turner's commentary has been phenomenal it's just a few things I might disagree with but his commentary Matthew was just unbelievable it's been very helpful to me and very concise to David Turner and in his commentary on this about the resurrection of Jesus he gave different points that show the importance of Christ's resurrection I gave you the positives I'm gonna switch this how he put it in his commentary to the negatives in other words I'll put it like this he says without the physical resurrection of Jesus there would be no endorsement from the father no vindication no victory no affirmation without the physical resurrection of Jesus there'd be no belief or obedience to Jesus instead Jesus would be pitied pitied excuse me shamed scorned even without the physical resurrection of Jesus there'd be no way to be saved from our sins or from eternal judgment without the physical resurrection of Jesus there'd be no apostolic foundation for the church without his resurrection there'd be no completed model of sacrificial living because Jesus really is the complete total model of the theme of biblical revelation there's suffering and exaltation you see it in Genesis you see it in Exodus you see it all throughout the Old Testament there's suffering exaltation suffering exaltation and you see it glorified this is a type of what would happen in Messiah he was the epitome of suffering and then being exalted you would not have that without the physical resurrection of Jesus there'd be no ultimate day of reckoning no final judgment guaranteed there'd be no hope for our own resurrection no hope for our own reward without the physical resurrection of Jesus there'd be no complete understanding of Jesus' death for sinners and without the physical resurrection of Jesus

[13:47] Jesus' whole life ends in total defeat and we're defeated too as Paul says we're most to be pitied in 1 Corinthians 15 if Christ has not been raised what's the point you're still dead in your sins so then he did the negative I'd give you the I'd put it in a positive way or happy but this is true this is from David Turner he's turned these into positive things this is what we have because of Jesus' resurrection so and I'll put this if you're trying to write this out I'll put this on the screen later on let's walk through the text together first notice Jesus was raised the vindicated resurrected Lord verses 1-10 and after the Sabbath Saturday light dawned on the first day of the week Sunday the main reason why we come together on Sundays because of Jesus resurrected on Sunday notice

[14:52] Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the grave remember the two women from chapter 27 they knew where the grave was they didn't get the wrong grave they knew the exact location they weren't so overcome with fear and weeping and everything like that they didn't go to the wrong grave no and then verse 2 and look Matthew says a great earthquake came for angel of the Lord having descended from heaven and coming he rolled away the stone and sat upon it what's the sequence specifically Matthew doesn't bother with those details how did the earthquake happen maybe because the angel rolled the stone away that's when the earthquake happened the women they came and they found the actions they already occurred maybe they saw the stone being rolled away by the angel Matthew doesn't tell us he's not concerned about that stuff and keep in mind the stone was enrolled away to let Jesus out let me out let me out come on guys it's not funny it was to show the women and the others that the resurrection left the tomb empty so that the women and others could go in and see it was empty and there was no body there we get a glimpse of these amazing looking beings verse 3 and his appearance was like lightning and his garment as white as snow like lightning white as snow you know what's interesting about this

[16:40] Matthew's gospel begins and ends with an angelic announcement you notice that Matthew chapter 1 the angel came and remember what he said to Joseph the angel came and he said for he's gonna save his people from their sins the focus is on both instances is on Jesus the son of God the Christ the Messiah Jesus is gonna save his people from their sins and the resurrection shows how he's gonna do that he resurrected from the dead verse 4 the guards they saw what happened it scared the bejeebies out of them notice they fainted they became like dead men like a bunch of dead guys the guards were overwhelmed with great fear so that it paralyzed them and they knew what they saw all of them saw it together not just one or two and when they became conscious because they went unconscious they found the tomb was empty the guards shook out of fear and rightly so the women were also fearful but notice the angel was there to minister to them notice verse 5 answering the angel said to the women don't be afraid he wanted to announce to them the good news he knew they were afraid but the angel's goal was to tell them about Jesus and help them don't be afraid

[18:23] I know you're looking for Jesus you see Jesus who was crucified he's not here for he has risen notice the passive verbs it was done to him Matthew's trying to make a point to us it was the father the father raised Christ from the dead he has risen notice the last middle part of verse 6 just as he said Jesus had been predicting this the whole time of his earthly ministry I put the verses up there 1240 1621 17 9 23 chapter 20 chapter 26 verse 32 this is not out of the blue this is not oh sounds like a good idea maybe I should resurrect from the dead this was the plan the whole time this is why they should not have been surprised at this just as as he told you remember and then notice the end part of verse 6 come see the place where he was lying come he invited the women to look into the tomb and see for themselves because this wasn't something to be kept as a secret friends it's for all the world to see don't keep it as a secret tell the people his own people tell the whole world what's happened to

[19:59] Jesus he's resurrected from the dead notice his command verse 7 and go quickly quickly go and tell his disciples he's risen from the dead and behold he's going before them before you into Galilee there you will see him behold I have told you Jesus also predicted he'd visit his disciples in Galilee after he was raised chapter 26 verse 32 remember he said that so these women should go and tell the eleven he was raised and he would appear to them in Galilee tell those deserters that he'd restore them as his disciples again remember notice he says tell his disciples or you could have said those deserters don't tell his disciples again you know what gave further testimony what gives further testimony to the truth of the resurrection was the fact that these women were the first witnesses to it and not just to the empty tomb and the angelic witness but also to the resurrected

[21:18] Jesus which we'll see in just a moment it's striking how God did this remember we've talked about this before don't think of 21st century type thing think first century Judaism women but God instead allows them to be the first ones not the disciples the women were the first ones to see Jesus the women were the first one to hear the announcement of his resurrection and notice what happens verse 8 and they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy they're running away with fear but they're unbelievably jumping for joy they're like freaking out panicking this was not the time to panic but it was for them they were stoked but they were fearful and yet unfortunately it was Jesus disciples had to wait until Galilee to see him but not these women notice what happens here verse 9 and look Matthew says Jesus met them and literally it's and he said hello he appeared to them greeting them and notice their response the end of verse 9 and coming up they took hold of his feet and worshipped him their response was one of worship their faces to the ground and arms stretched out in humility grasping at

[22:48] Jesus feet wow wow he's really here this is the only appearance of Jesus in Jerusalem and it was to these women and to take hold of his feet was an act of homage and it's symbolically they're recognizing his kingship he really is the king of Israel plus he really had feet he wasn't some ghost floating this resurrected risen body is a real physical body it is because he had feet they worshipped him you don't worship anyone but God every Jew knew that so the only way to explain

[23:53] Jesus being worshipped was he's God that's the only way to explain it Matthew had the correct view of Christ in his gospel he is the son of God he is deity apparently they were afraid of what happened they're just just in fear joy notice Jesus verse 10 he said to them don't be afraid he assured them just stay the course don't be afraid go and take word notice this go tell my brothers my go tell my brothers a term to show his love and patience for their desertion of him Jesus graciously and forgivingly welcomed back the prodigals take word to my brothers and that they may go to Galilee and there they will see me he graciously and forgivingly welcomed back these prodigals and he graciously and forgivingly welcomes anyone to come to him and believe in him you hear and you need to know

[25:06] Jesus he welcomes you he forgivingly welcomes you he forgives you of all your sins come trust Christ turn from your sin and put your hope in Jesus Christ not in anything else not anyone else God should judge you and condemn you because you are a sinner but God welcomes you through Jesus come he's gracious the heart of this gospel he is the Messiah the Son of God the King of Israel the judge of the world the resurrected Lord who gave his life the heart of the gospel was not merely the death of our Lord but the glorious truth of his resurrection as you just sang a few moments ago Christ has risen he's risen indeed the vindicated resurrected Lord he was raised ah but then you have the lies that are circulated skull dudgery another word to use

[26:14] I like that it's a cool word when's the last thing I heard that skull dudgery that's a skull dudgery you sound like so prestigious when you say that how deep does unbelief go how deep can unbelief go it goes to great depths even someone raised from the dead makes no difference this is why we believe in what's theologically called irresistible grace only God draws people to himself even a person resurrected from the dead will not save anybody Jesus said that Luke 16 if they have the law and the prophets if they will not listen to law and the prophets they will not listen to someone raised from the dead Jesus knew that because here's an example the very hoax these religious leaders were trying to prevent was the very hoax they would excessively and fraudulently put out and the very truth of the resurrection they would try to silence they would try to ensure this notice verse 11 and where they're going on their way the women they're like running look

[27:47] Matthew says some of the guard coming into the city reported to the chief priest all that came these were the Roman soldiers we figured out that last week these were Roman soldiers but only some of them went back to the religious leaders to tell them what happened well now the guards became unintentional evangelists but the hearers didn't like the news and they make sure this didn't get out my question is what happened to the others ever thought about that says some so where's the other guys where'd they go as he doesn't tell us notice what happens here verse 12 assembling with the elders they formed a plan so and by the way the chief priests the Pharisees and the elders they met together and all these religious leaders and they concocted the hoax which they were trying to avoid that's the irony only an act of

[29:04] God can cause a person to believe in the truth but they're going to explain away the resurrection by bribing these soldiers you know this Jesus whom they rejected and caused to be crucified he was alive all their money and lives would never change this true fact never and then there's the irony that the guards who were there to prevent a resurrection hoax and deception became part of the biggest hoax and deception the world has ever seen they formed a plan giving a large sum of money to the soldiers and said you just say his disciples coming by night stole him away while we were asleep a large sum of money yeah which would be needed because a

[30:07] Roman soldier sleeping on the job that doesn't go together that can mean sheer death for him but what choice did they have they're going to go around tell people these angels they rolled away the stone of what who's going to believe them they knew they'd be on their own if they didn't buy into this lie so they thought so they told the story as to why they were there in the first place the disciples came by night and stole them while we were sleeping and yet this is interesting how is it possible for them to know the disciples stole the body if they were sleeping anyone with a brain could figure that out wait wait wait wait wait you just said you're sleeping yeah why you know the disciples stole the body notice verse 14 if it should come to the governor's ears if he hears of this if it's heard upon the governor if

[31:17] Pilate found out about their dereliction sleeping on the job we will win him over and New America Center says keep you out of trouble literally we will make you stay out of trouble we'll make you stay safe the religious leaders promised to protect them from harm maybe they would probably Pilate too they would keep the soldiers out of trouble Pilate was most likely in Caesarea so the probability of him hearing about this was slim but maybe through the centurion that was there who knows but if he did they said as one commentator put it like this quote we will persuade him and you will be without a care no problem verse 15 and taking the money they did as they had been instructed they did what they were told if on their own they be laughed at or at least so they thought or they faced a death penalty at least so they thought and notice what

[32:27] Matthew says here at the end of verse 15 the lies circulated and this story was widely spread among Jews to this day that hoax had continued even up to the day that Matthew was writing his gospel around the 40s maybe 50s early 50s it was the first gospel to be written and it was still circulating even in the second century I told you that last week Justin Martyr said Jews still claimed his disciples came and stole his body everybody knows that yet nobody could produce a body and Jesus appeared to many the fact of the matter is only a person with the preconceived notion of doubt and skepticism will dismiss the truth of the resurrection only a person with the preconceived notion of doubt with the preconceived notion of skepticism they will dismiss this truth they will dismiss the evidence that's right there before them this is not our imagination

[33:50] Jesus is not some ghost this was a real historical event there's no other truth and there's no other God but Jesus got the son he is the Lord the resurrected Lord only a person with the preconceived notion of doubt and skepticism will dismiss the truth of resurrection and only a person called by God who looks at the historical factual evidence will embrace the truth of the resurrection she or he will really embrace the gloriously raised Lord Jesus he is the glorious Christ and the response will be they'll bow down every single time don't believe the lies about this false resurrection that Jesus his body was stolen or something like that don't believe those lies worship

[34:53] Christ the Lord who truly did resurrect from the dead conquering death sin and hell and because he resurrected with the resurrection of Jesus I told you I put this up for you again these truths he was raised by the father he completed our salvation he modeled the biblical theme of sacrificial living he gives hope to our own resurrection and our own reward he will come to judge us all he is totally victorious so the only other response believe him obey him worship him that's the only response with your very life bow down and worship Jesus the resurrected Lord did you pray with me Lord Jesus we come to you with humility we want our response to be of worship like these women we want our response to be obedience we want our response to be true belief we keep turning from sin we keep obeying we keep turning from sin we keep trusting we keep turning from sin and worshiping we worship you we pray that our worship would not just be on a

[36:21] Sunday but our worship would be throughout this week and our interaction with family interaction with friends at work in our neighborhoods different people that there be worship there and there will be a speaking of all these things to those who need to hear the truth of the gospel of the resurrected Lord that we would live this grace and we would speak this grace because you're mighty to save you've saved us I encourage you if you would please take this time or just give you some time moments of silence for you to think through the word and what we've seen here in Matthew's gospel maybe reading through notes maybe reading the passage but let your mind ponder and let your mind be filled with scripture truth and gospel truth so that knowledge not to puff up but knowledge that will bring us to love the Lord

[37:37]  Jesus Christ and love each other so fill your mind with truth just these few moments then we'll sing but just these few moments between you and the Lord fill your mind with gospel truth please