Good morning, everyone. Today's Bible reading is from Matthew chapter 27, starting at verse 55.
! And while you're looking for that passage, I just say it's great to see you all after a year in Sydney.
And this passage, my housemaid in Sydney had to preach on the burial of Jesus from Matthew 27.
We spent a long time talking about why is it important that we have this record of Jesus being buried,
and what does it mean for us today. But yes, our reading is from Matthew chapter 27, verse 55.
There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee,
ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,
and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him, and Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud
and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock.
And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The next day, that is, after the day of preparation,
the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said,
Sir, we remember how that imposter said while he was still alive,
After three days I will rise.
Therefore, order the tomb to be made secure until the third day,
lest his disciples go and steal him away,
and tell the people,
He has risen from the dead,
and the last fraud will be worse than the first.
Pilate said to them,
You have a guard of soldiers.
Go, make it as secure as you can.
So they went and made the tomb secure
by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Now, after the Sabbath,
toward the dawn of the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven
and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning,
and his clothing white as snow.
And for fear of him,
the guards trembled and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the women,
Do not be afraid.
For I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here,
for he has risen,
as he said.
Come,
see the place where he lay.
Then,
go quickly and tell his disciples
that he has risen from the dead.
And behold,
he is going before you to Galilee.
There you will see him.
See,
I have told you.
So they departed quickly from the tomb
with fear and great joy
and ran to tell his disciples.
And behold,
Jesus met them and said,
Greetings.
And they came up and took hold of his feet
and worshipped him.
Then Jesus said to them,
Don't be afraid.
Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.
While they were going,
behold,
some of the guards
that went into the city
and told the chief priests
all that had taken place.
And when they had assembled
with the elders
and taken counsel,
they gave a sufficient sum of money
to the soldiers
and said,
Tell people.
His disciples came by night
and stole him away
while we were asleep.
And if this comes
to the governor's ears,
we will satisfy him
and keep you out of trouble.
So they took the money
and did as they were directed.
And this story
has been spread
among the Jews
to this day.
Good morning.
My name is Bo.
I'm one of the elders
of the church.
We are going through
the book of Matthew
and this is the second last
of the sermons.
And next week,
Calvin will give us
the last sermon.
Let us pray first
before we start.
Almighty God,
we come before you
asking that you might
have mercy on us
that we
will see your glory
this morning
as we sing,
as we listen to your word,
as we take part
in the Lord's Supper.
Lord.
Thank you, Lord.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Welcome back to
John and Catherine.
Good to see you, guys.
Well, in two days' time,
something is going to happen
in Australia
for the first time.
According to the government,
the world's first policy.
if you know why it is,
it is the banning
of the under-16s
on social media.
So all the social media
companies
will need to
make sure
that they will take
reasonable steps
to exclude
all the children
who are under-16s
to be part
of their platform.
I mean,
it's not all,
but all the most
common
or popular ones,
the 10 companies.
The government
realized that
this social media
is taking up
a lot of time
from the children.
So they were
hoping that the children
would use their time
to learn
a musical instrument
or help out
to do house chores
or do something
that is useful.
Now,
for some parents,
this is
a news
that is too good
to be true
because
to ban
anything online
is very difficult.
I mean,
looking at China,
even they are
so strict
on banning
Facebook
from everyone,
but
there are so many
people in China
that are on Facebook
as well.
I think
the Malaysia
government
did plan
to ban
Facebook
as well
a few years
ago,
but it wasn't
successful.
We are only
hearing children
under 16
change their
platform
to the
lesser-known
companies.
So we are not
sure how
this would work.
But for some
parents,
it could be
too bad
to be true
as well
because
in particular
it's school
holiday time
and if the
parents are
not used
to entertain
their children
or help
them to use
their time,
what are they
going to do
if their
children are
not on
Facebook
or YouTube
or anything
like that?
And so
we don't
know how
this would
turn out.
Only time
will tell.
As we
consider that
we,
in the Bible
today,
there's a
news that
is far
more important
than the
social media
ban that
is the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ.
This is
also the
first time
ever happened
in the
world.
I say
the first
time,
I mean,
we know
that there
were people
who were
raised from
dead before
Jesus'
time,
like
Lazarus,
but there's
a very big
difference.
Those before
Jesus'
time,
they were
raised to
the same
physical
body and
they will
die again.
But the
resurrection of
Jesus is
different.
He's rising
to an
imperishable
body which
will never
die again.
That is
the first
time.
Even though
it's 2,000
years ago,
until today,
I mean,
there are still
many people
who do not
believe that
this is
true,
or do not
even know
about it,
not to
say to
believe.
So today,
we will
consider from
the words
to see
what were
the reactions
or perceptions
of people
during
Jesus'
time after
his
resurrection
and why
was that
good news
to some
and bad
news to
some and
what is
that to
us.
So that's
what we
are going
to consider.
So I
will mention
five groups
of people
from our
reading.
So the
first group
from 2755
are the
women.
The book
of Matthew
only mentions
two Marys,
but if you
look at
Luke and
other
Gospels,
there are
more than
two of
them,
but just
women as
a whole.
And these
women,
they were
sad.
I mean,
they lost
they really
loved Jesus
and they
lost a
dear friend
and master.
And these
two women,
they were
preparing
spices to
preserve the
body.
And they
did not
actually believe
in the
resurrection,
even though
they would
have heard
Jesus telling
them about
the resurrection.
resurrection.
In the
Gospel of
John,
in chapter
20,
verse 2,
when they
saw the
tomb was
empty when
they went
there,
and they
saw the
angel,
they
actually
married,
they saw
Jesus,
and they
thought that
there was a
gardener,
and she
was crying,
asking where
they have
moved the
body of
Jesus.
So they
were not,
they didn't
think about
the resurrection
or when
this happened,
the tomb
was empty,
somebody had
stolen the
body,
moved the
body,
and so
they remained
uncertain until
Jesus appeared
to them,
then they
were convinced
about the
resurrection.
So that is
the women.
And then the
second group
of people is
the Joseph
Arimathea,
in chapter
27,
57,
and in
John
19,
39,
we are
told about
Nicodemus as
well.
So at least
there are
two of
them,
the two
secret
followers of
Jesus.
They were
officials,
Pharisees,
or council
members.
They did
not identify
with Jesus
when Jesus
was alive
because they
wanted to
keep their
position in
the leadership.
But after
the death
of Jesus,
somehow they
were moved
to stand
up, to
identify with
Jesus.
I think they
were unhappy
with, or at
least indignant,
with the
decision that
the leadership
made to
murder Jesus
or to
punish Jesus.
they did
not believe
in the
resurrection
either.
They prepared
Jesus'
body,
they buried
him,
and just
now Joe
was mentioning
why the
Bible
mentioned
about the
burial.
Is that so
important?
So that
again tells us
that Jesus
did die,
and Jesus
has left
the world,
not become
part of the
world.
burial,
also reminds
us that
for those
of us
who are in
Christ,
we have
been buried
with him,
we are no
longer part
of the
world system.
So these
are the
officials,
and the
third group
of people
are the
disciples.
Matthew
28-7
only mentions
about the
disciples in
passing,
but if you
go to
Luke 24-11,
there's more
detail,
story about
the disciples.
The disciples
were despondent,
they were in
despair.
Imagine you
follow Jesus
for three
years,
you've been
perfectly
identified with
Jesus,
and now
Jesus has
been killed,
humiliated.
How do you
feel your
leader has
been done
with?
So they
will be
afraid of
the leadership,
if they
wouldn't dare
to go to
the temple,
because the
chief priests
and the
Pharisees
would be
hostile to
them.
And they
would not
be able to,
I mean,
they won't be
able to face
their friends,
even their
peers,
because their
peers would
laugh at
them,
ridicule
them for
following
Jesus for
three years
and coming
up to
nothing.
and they
couldn't
face their
families
either.
I mean,
they left
their family
tray and
did nothing
to help
with the
family,
and now
come up to
be nothing
after these
three years.
And so
for the
disciples,
their future
was grim,
and they
did not
believe in
the
resurrection
either.
even when
the women
came and
told them
about the
resurrection
in Luke
24,
verse 11,
it says
that the
words of
the women
seemed to
them an
idle talk,
and they
did not
believe them.
So what
the women,
why didn't
Jesus appear
to the
disciples
sooner?
He said
Jesus appeared
to the
women,
and then
asked the
women to
tell the
disciples.
Jesus could
have just
appeared to
the disciples
and tell
them,
I'm alive.
I suppose
what Jesus
wanted the
disciples to
learn is to
trust his
word.
Jesus already
told the
disciples multiple
times that
he will
become alive
again.
And now
they didn't
believe,
and now
the women
tell them
they saw
Jesus,
and still
they could
not believe.
So it's
very hard
for them
to believe
the fact
that Jesus
came back
to life
again.
The fourth
group of
people are
the chief
priests and
the Pharisees.
Paradoxically,
this group of
people,
even though
they killed
Jesus,
they seem
to believe
what Jesus
said more
than the
disciples.
They didn't
want the
resurrection
to come
true.
They heard
about the
prophecy.
They told
Pilate that
the God
is to
prevent the
disciples from
stealing the
body.
people.
If you
think deeper,
the disciples
were so
afraid that
when Jesus
was arrested,
they were
all scattered.
Peter denied
Jesus three
times.
Would they
have the
courage to
come to
steal the
body?
To the
leadership,
they didn't
actually think
the disciples
could do
anything.
To them,
they were
basically nothing
before Jesus.
And even
if they
did steal
the body,
would they
then have
the courage
to preach
the gospel?
And even
though they
were persecuted,
they were
still
preaching the
gospel.
And so
it's very
unlikely
that this
is a reason
for them
to guard
the tomb.
It's more
likely that
they really
didn't want
the resurrection
to happen.
And lastly
are the
soldiers.
So the
soldiers
were the
people who
were closest
to the
resurrection.
They almost
witnessed it.
I mean,
they would
have seen
the bright
figure,
the angel,
and then
they became
unconscious
after that.
So they
would have
experienced
something
supernatural.
But then
when the
body went
missing,
what they
were thinking
about would
be their
own life.
Because
when you're
guarding
someone as
a soldier
and the
prisoner or
this body
got missing,
you'll be
in big
trouble.
And so
they were
fearful of
their life.
the
chief
priest
convinced
them
just to
say that
the body
was stolen
while they
were asleep.
Think
about this
explanation.
I mean,
first of all,
if you
are asleep,
how would
you know
what happened
to the
body?
The
disciples
stole it.
So it's
not logical
to start
with.
And even
if they
do think
the
disciples
stole the
body,
why didn't
they go
after the
disciples
and look
for the
body?
Nothing
was done,
they just
have an
excuse.
So the
soldiers,
so long as
they don't
get into
trouble,
because the
leadership
said that
they would
talk to
the
governor
and
excuse
them and
give them
a sum
of money,
and so
long they
don't get
into
trouble,
they don't
actually care,
whether the
resurrection
was true
or not.
So we
could see
that the
first three
people,
the women,
the
disciples,
and the
secret
followers of
Jesus,
they thought
that the
resurrection
was too
good to
be true.
The
chief
priests
and the
Pharisees,
the religious
leaders,
thought that
the
resurrection
was too
bad to
be true,
and the
soldiers
didn't
actually care
whether it's
true or
not,
so long
as they
don't get
into trouble.
So why
did the
first three
people think
that it was
too good to
be true?
Because,
I mean,
it never
happened.
Everybody
died,
and nobody
came back
to life.
In general,
however,
they did
witness
Jesus
raising
Lazarus,
and that
should be
enough
to
them
that it's
possible
to come
back alive
again.
But it's
so hard
for us
to believe
and for
them to
believe as
well.
The other
thing would
be they
were so
down,
I mean,
they were
expecting
Jesus to
bring in
a new
world,
a new
kingdom,
a new
life,
but
everything
dashed
to
nothing
when
Jesus
was
killed.
And to
them,
so they
were down,
they were
so depressed
that they
just couldn't
take in
anymore.
They don't
want to
lose hope
again,
because they
were quite
hopeful
during Jesus'
time.
And now
somebody
tells them
Jesus has
come to
a life,
they don't
want to
grasp
onto it,
because
they think
if they
believe and
then it's
not true,
then they
will be
so disappointed
again.
And so
it's too
good to
be true
to them.
If Jesus
did come
back to
their lives,
so what
they were
expecting
would still
be on
track,
that Jesus
would still
be their
leader,
their master,
and bring
them to
a new
world.
And
it's what
they expect.
but
actually
what they
were expecting
is far
less than
what God
was giving
them in
the resurrection.
And
sometimes we
look at
Jesus and
only expect
Jesus to
do things
for us,
our
ambition,
our plan,
our physical
health,
but the
resurrection
means a lot
more.
The disciples
will have to
learn eventually.
The resurrection
of Jesus
means that
that is a
starting of
a new
creation.
Basically,
everything has
been renewed.
Death no
longer have
the final
set,
and death
is no
longer a
threat to
us or
to them.
Everything
is no
longer under
the curse
of God.
And so
it's a big
deal, the
resurrection.
If they
think that
it's too
good to be
true, the
goodness that
they think
of is
actually not
the goodness
that God
intended them
to believe.
It's to
have a new
life in
Christ and
to have
the hope of
resurrection,
to have a
hope of a
new body,
imperishable
body.
All this,
I think,
is too much
for them to
take in at
that time.
and this
is something
that we
benefited from
them, from
their experience
and from
their writing,
and we
can have
this hope
because of
the resurrection.
And so
for us,
I hope it's
not too
good to be
true, but
this is the
truth, and
to know that
we have this
hope in
Christ.
And why
is that too
bad to be
true to the
religious
leaders?
Because if
Jesus became
alive again,
that means
they were
wrong in
the judgment
of Jesus.
They didn't
want to be
wrong.
They wanted
to keep
their reputation.
And they
couldn't afford
to have
Jesus rise
again.
that will
show how
foolish they
are, or
how ignorant
they are, or
how corrupt
they were.
So,
ignorant,
because the
Pharisees and
the priests,
they didn't
actually know
the scripture,
because it's
all written
in the Old
Testament.
Foolish,
because they
did not
actually find
out from
Jesus, what
he was
teaching, what
he was
trying to
do, and
they just
simply have
prejudice against
Jesus and
kill him.
And being
corrupt is
that the
court that
they formed
to judge
Jesus was
not proper.
They basically
make up
accusations and
just ask the
governor to
grant the
permission to
execute Jesus.
And so,
he exposed
them, and
they didn't
want to be
exposed.
But,
if they were
to accept
that Jesus
became alive
again, and
admit that they
were wrong,
they would
have found a
new life in
Christ as
well.
But they
would rather
hold on to
their old
life than
having the
new life.
It's like
somebody
gives us
a check for
a million
dollars, but
we don't
believe in
that person,
so we
just throw
away the
check.
God is
giving the
religious
leaders a
hope that
they could
never achieve
on their
own, but
they throw
them away.
And I
hope that
today we
can, if
we are
not accepting
that we
can think
about this,
and is
it sometimes,
it's always
maybe good
for us to
admit that we
were wrong,
and the way
we live is
not according
to God's
way, and
we offended
God, and
Christ has
risen again,
and we
can come
before him,
and follow
him, and
have a
new life in
Christ.
So if
we like
the
Pharisees
and the
chief
priest,
then we
will keep
living in
the way that
we think
is right,
but eventually
we will
come to
destruction.
resurrection.
Well, there's
the third group
of people,
the soldiers,
they just
didn't think
that they
just,
it's
indifference
to the
news of
resurrection.
Maybe
some of us
are like
this, it
doesn't
concern me,
so long as
I have a
good life,
it doesn't
matter if
Jesus
comes
alive again
or not.
But
God
did not
actually
live us
like that
anything,
it doesn't
give us
a choice
to be
sitting on
the fence
or do
nothing about
this.
Because
in Acts
chapter 17
verses 30
and 31,
it says
that the
times of
ignorance
got
overlooked.
The times
of people
not knowing
what God
was about,
not knowing
that they
have offended
God,
so the
times of
ignorance
got
overlooked.
But
now he
commands
all people
everywhere
to repent.
So
he's saying
that God
has not
given us
any
choice.
He commands
either we
follow or
we disobey.
He commands
all people
everywhere
to repent.
Why?
Because he
has fixed
the day
on which
he will
just
the world
in
righteousness
by a
man
whom
he
has
appointed.
And
what
man?
For
this he
has
given
assurance
to all
by raising
him from
the dead.
So it's
quite clear
that we
can't just
ignore this
fact that
Jesus has
risen from
the dead
because
God
has
commanded
us to
repent.
Otherwise
we will
just
face
the
judgment.
So
Jesus is
worthy to
judge
humanity
because
he's
the first
to raise
and the
first of
the new
humanity.
Sometimes
we might
be like
the secret
followers
of
Jesus,
Joseph
or Nicodemus.
We dare
not
show,
reveal
our faith
in the
Lord for
fear of
our peace,
fear of
people
looking down
on us.
If we
are like
that,
we should
consider,
I mean,
from the
time of
apostles
until now,
over the
last 2,000
years,
there are
so many
Christians
who
rather
suffer and
die
than to
deny
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
Why did
they do
that?
Because of
the
resurrection.
Because they
have a
better life
to look
forward to.
Because they
have this
hope.
And so
even
suffering and
death
cannot
stop them
from
declaring
their
faith in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ.
And I
hope that
we can,
if we
have been
fearful of
identifying
ourselves with
the Lord
Jesus Christ,
we can
take heart
from these
people who
have went
before us
and to
know that
there's
something
better,
something
more
glorious
to live
for.
I don't
know whether
the social
media ban
would work,
but I do
know that
if we don't
have something
bigger to
live for,
why would
rules and
regulations
not be able
to change
our heart
or change
our behavior
if we,
especially
if parents
they only
live for
to satisfy
their own
flesh,
then how
do they
help their
children
to use
their time
properly?
It's only
if we live
for something
that is
bigger than
us and
greater than
us,
we have
a hope
that is
beyond this
world,
then we
can start
living a
life that
is fruitful
and meaningful
and joyful.
I hope
that this
resurrection
will give
us this
hope that
we know
life that
we live
now is
just temporary
and any
suffering,
any discomfort
is all
temporary and
it's not
worth comparing
to the
glory that
is to
come.
So today
being the
first day
of the
month,
we are
going to
have the
Lord's
Supper.
The Lord's
Supper
reminds us
not only
the death
of Jesus,
it also
reminds us
of the
resurrection
because Jesus
said he
will not
partake this
bread and
the cup
again until
the coming
of the
kingdom of
God.
And it
means that
Jesus is
saying that
he will
rise again,
he will
share this
bread and
cup with
his people
again.
And so
when we
take this,
we will
be reminded
of his
resurrection.
I hope
that we
are not
like the
disciples.
When the
women told
them about
the
resurrection,
they should
be reminded
of what
Jesus
already told
them,
but they
did not
believe.
the
Lord's
Supper
is
reminding
us of
what
Jesus
promised,
that we
can all
have new
life in
him,
and that
this new
life is
real.
It's not
too good to
be true.
It is a
truth.
So every
time we
have the
Lord's
Supper,
it reminds
us of
this truth
and gives
us encouragement
and hope,
so that even
when we are
going through
difficulties in
life,
suffering of
physical
illness,
or financial
hardship,
or anything
else,
if we get
reminded,
then all
these things
are small
things compared
to the hope
that we have
in Christ.
Shall we
pray?