55. Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee
to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,
and the mother of Zebedee's sons. As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea
named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus'
body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean
linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone
in front of the entrance to the tomb, and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting
there opposite the tomb. The next day, the one after preparation day, the chief priests and the
Pharisees went to Pilate. Sir, they said, we remember that while he was still alive, that deceiver said,
after three days I will rise again. So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day,
otherwise his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he had been raised from the
dead. This last deception will be worse than the first. Take a guard, Pilate answered. Go make the tomb
as secure as you know how. So they went and they made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone
and posting the guard. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, so it's a Sunday morning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake for an angel
of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him
that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the woman, do not be afraid,
for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen,
just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples,
he has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you.
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples.
Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, he said. They came to him, clasped his feet, and worshipped him.
Then Jesus said to them, do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see me.
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city to report to the chief priests
everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan,
they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them,
you are to say, his disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.
If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.
So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Well, over the month of April, we've been looking together at the Easter account.
That is, the events surrounding the death and the resurrection of Jesus.
We've been looking at his trial, his crucifixion, and last week his death.
And today, we're going to see the resurrection.
And in particular, we're going to look at the resurrection account from the perspective of the women.
Because throughout Matthew's Gospel, and particularly in this instance,
the women play a central role.
So we're going to look at three simple things.
We're going to look at the witness to the resurrection,
the challenge to the resurrection,
and the meaning of the resurrection.
So three things.
Witness, meaning, and challenge.
Here's the first.
The witness to the resurrection.
Now this is really important because Christianity
is built on the foundation of the resurrection.
If there is no risen Jesus, there is no Christianity.
We're simply living a lie.
We might as well all pack our bags right now
and go home because we're wasting our time.
So it's crucial that we know that the resurrection is actually true.
And Matthew's account provides us with the first eyewitnesses to the resurrection.
We're introduced to them in verse 55.
Many women were there watching from a distance.
Verse 56.
Among them were Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James and Joseph,
and the mother of Sebedee's sons.
Now we don't know a lot about them.
We're not given much information,
but we're given a little bit,
which obviously suggests that their identities
are known by the people who first read this account.
They knew who Mary was,
and the other Mary,
and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
And at least two of these women,
the two Marys,
were eyewitnesses to all that had happened.
They're present throughout this account.
Now the fact that Matthew records women
as the first eyewitnesses
is really significant.
Because at that time,
back in the first century,
a woman's testimony
was not considered trustworthy.
In the court of law,
their words were not counted as credible.
You never had a woman stand up and give witness.
It just simply wasn't counted.
So if Matthew was making up a story
of the risen Jesus,
you would never include women in your account.
Because it would be counterintuitive.
It would undermine your purpose
for what you're writing.
The only reason why Matthew would include women
and have as his eyewitnesses
would be if it was true.
So what did these women see
as the first eyewitnesses?
First, they saw Jesus die.
Again, look at verse 55.
Many women were there watching.
Well, what were they watching?
Well, Matthew's just recorded for us
the events surrounding the death of Jesus.
So they were present as Jesus died.
They were witnesses to his beatings,
to his torture,
to his crucifixion.
They saw Jesus' physical body
get weaker and weaker
as he struggled to draw in breath.
They heard his cry of agony
and they saw as he breathed out his last.
Now, lots of people today
will claim that Jesus didn't die.
That while he was on the cross,
he only passed out or he fainted.
Is it true?
Well, let's remember that these soldiers
were experienced,
expert, executioners.
It was their job to ensure people died.
And if people didn't die,
well, more than likely,
they would die themselves.
So there's no reason for us to think
that Jesus did not die.
According to the women who are present
and watching,
well, Jesus died.
And second,
they saw Jesus buried.
Joseph, a disciple of Jesus,
verse 57,
went and asked Pilate
for the body of Jesus.
It was important in Jewish tradition
that the body would be buried
before Sabbath the following day,
before sundown.
So he goes to Pilate
and asks for the body,
verse 59.
Joseph took the body
and wrapped it in clean linen cloth.
So the burial clothes,
wrapped from toe to head
all the way around.
So if there was any notion
of Jesus still being alive,
he would surely be suffocated.
Joseph took the body,
wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
placed it in his own new tomb,
so people weren't buried underground.
It was a hole in the rock
and inside the rock
they would chisel out
or cut out a shelf
into the rock area.
And then a big stone
was rolled in the front
of the entrance to the tomb
and went away.
And usually they put the stone in front
to stop any wild animals
getting in.
But look who's present.
Matthew gives us this information.
But look who's there.
Verse 61.
Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary
were sitting there
opposite the tomb.
The two Marys
who had witnessed
the death of Jesus
now witness
the burial of Jesus.
They see him being placed
into the tomb
and it all being sealed up.
Third,
they saw Jesus raised.
Chapter 28, verse 1.
After the Sabbath.
So,
Jesus had died
on Friday afternoon,
was buried
before sundown on Friday,
so before 6pm.
he remains in the tomb
all of Saturday,
which is called
the Sabbath.
So,
after the Sabbath,
at dawn,
on the first day of the week,
which would be Sunday,
Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary
went to look
at the tomb.
So,
here we have
the two Marys
again.
And what they witnessed
is incredible,
isn't it?
Earthquakes,
an angel.
Well,
you say,
that's just going
a bit too far now.
I mean,
one thing to claim
a resurrection,
but all this business
of earthquakes
and angels?
Well,
they weren't the only ones
to witness
what was going on,
were they?
Look at verse 4.
The guards,
remember,
there were guards
posted
to keep an eye
in the tomb.
The guards
were so afraid
of him
that they shook.
And literally,
the same word
there for shook
is earthquake.
They had their own
little earthquake
of fear.
And they became
like dead men
as the angel
appeared.
You see,
the guards
back up
what the two Marys
claim to have seen.
Jump down
to verse 11.
While the women
were on their way,
some of the guards
went into the city
and reported
to the chief
priests
everything
that had happened.
So,
it wasn't just
the women,
but the guards
also.
This is no
made-up story.
Let's go back
to the women.
Seeing that
there was no body
in the tomb,
the angel
had said,
come and see
where he lay.
No body there.
The angel
then commands
them to go
and tell
the disciples.
Let's pick it up
in verse 8.
So,
the women
hurried away
from the tomb,
afraid,
yet filled
with joy,
and ran
to tell
his disciples.
Suddenly,
Jesus met
them.
Greetings!
Now,
it's a funny
phrase,
this greetings.
It's not how
we kind of,
when we meet
people,
say,
we say,
hi,
hello,
or if Jesus
were from Cork,
he'd probably
say,
how's it going?
It's just a
really natural,
normal,
kind of like,
what are you
so surprised at?
How are you
doing?
Why are you
surprised?
And they
came to him,
verse 9,
and clasped
his feet
and worshipped
him.
Now,
some say,
again,
that they got
over-emotional
and excited,
that the
women didn't
really see
Jesus,
it was just
a vision
or something
like that.
But this is
no vision.
This is the
physical,
bodily
resurrection
of Jesus.
They grasp
a hold of
his feet,
they actually
hold and
touch a
physical body,
the real
Jesus.
And in
visions,
or anything
else,
that doesn't
happen,
you can't
grasp,
you can't
hold on
to.
So,
Matthew is
very,
very clear
to record
the first
eyewitnesses
of the
resurrection.
The women's
testimony
provides
evidence
and
continuity.
They were
present at
his death,
at his
burial,
and
resurrection.
They see,
hear,
and touch
the risen
Jesus.
So,
there's
nothing in
this account
that suggests
that we
should not
believe that
this is
true.
So,
we have
the witness
to the
resurrection.
Second,
the meaning
of the
resurrection.
If this is
all true,
if this is a
historical
fact,
that Jesus
died,
was buried,
and rose
again,
what does
it all
mean?
What difference
does that
make to
you and
me?
Well,
four things
I think
the resurrection
teaches us
here.
Here's the
first.
God does
something
for you.
Now,
most of the
time we
think of
Christianity
like this,
that we
do something
for God,
and God
does something
for me.
We come
to church
like this,
we do
something for
God,
in the hope
that,
well,
we've done
this,
now he's
going to
bless me,
he's going
to do
something
for me.
It's
transactional.
But what
the resurrection
shows us
is,
is that
God
has come
to do
something
for us.
Everything
that happens
tells us
that this
is a
God
intervention.
This is
God's
initiative.
Look at
chapter 28,
verse 2.
There was
a violent
earthquake,
for an
angel of
the Lord
came down
from heaven
and going
to the
tomb,
rolled back
the stone
and sat
on it.
Now,
these aren't
your normal
everyday
today events,
are they?
These things
only happen
when God
is intervening
and God
has something
to tell us.
Angels have
already shown
up in
Matthew.
Do you
remember
right back
at the
very
beginning
when God
intervened
and told
Mary,
you're going
to have
a son
and his
name will
be called
Jesus,
Emmanuel,
God
with us.
It took
an angel,
an intervention
to tell
something
really important.
so God
comes again
through the
angel
and he's
saying to
us,
I have
come
to do
something
for you.
You see,
the story
of Christianity
is not
about what
you can
do for
God,
but it's
all about
what God
has done
for you.
It's a
story of
grace.
It's not
about our
efforts or
our works,
but the
wonderful story
of God's
intervention
into our
lives.
So what
has God
done for
you?
Well,
first,
God
fulfills
our need
in the
risen
Jesus.
God
fulfills
our need
in the
risen
Jesus.
Verse 5,
the angel
said to
the woman,
to these
two
Marys,
do not
be afraid,
for I
know that
you are
looking for
Jesus,
who was
crucified.
Jesus,
the women
are looking
for Jesus,
but they're
looking for
a crucified
Jesus.
They're
coming to
remember a
dead
Jesus.
The best
that they
can hope
for as
they arrive
at the
tomb is
to somehow
keep his
memory
alive,
reminders of
things he
had said
and did
and how
they had
served him.
But now,
instead of
grieving over
a dead
Jesus,
they received
news of
a living
Jesus.
Verse 6,
he is not
here.
He has
risen.
Now,
let's think
about that
for a
minute.
You see,
our problem
is,
our
expectations
are not
high enough.
They're
far too
low.
The women
never expected
a risen
Jesus.
their
expectations
weren't
high enough.
They were
too low.
You see,
unlike them
in some
ways,
we invest
in things
and people.
But the
problem is,
death comes
along and
destroys our
dreams and
steals away
the people
that we
love.
We say to
ourselves as
we invest
in things,
if only I
could have,
what would
you have?
If only I
could have
a mortgage
free house.
Is that
what you
hope for
today?
Or are you
hoping for
better health?
Or maybe
you're just
looking for
that true
and special
friend.
Maybe life
is hectic
and the one
thing you
want is
more time,
more time
to me.
if I
had,
now you
fill in the
blank,
what you
want this
morning,
then if I
had it,
my life
would be
content.
But here's
the problem,
death
ruins
everything.
We either
die or
those we
love die.
And the
things that
we long
for don't
last.
You see,
we set
our expectations
too low.
But there
is someone
who is
better and
greater,
who will
fulfil our
needs.
Rather than
a dead
Jesus,
we're given
a risen
and living
Jesus.
One who's
never going
to disappoint
you,
and one
who's never
ever going
to leave
you.
He can't
be taken
from you,
and you
can't be
taken from
him.
Jesus
will forever
meet us
in our
needs.
well,
how can
we be
so sure?
Well,
we must
believe his
promise.
Look what
the angel
said in
verse 6.
He's not
here,
he has
risen,
just as
he said.
Three times
Matthew records
for us that
Jesus specifically
told them that
he was going
to die
and suffer
and on the
third day
rise again.
Three times.
The women
heard it,
but they
never believed
his words.
And now
as the angel
comes to
him and
says,
he's risen,
he's not
here,
just as
he said,
it all
begins to
click and
make sense.
His words
are true.
I can
trust what
he says.
Jesus
does what
he says.
He will
not fail
you or
forsake you.
He will
provide
sufficient
grace in
your
weakness.
He will
strengthen
you in
every
crisis.
He will
fill you
with peace
in every
anxiety.
He will
comfort you
in your
grief.
He will
be your
rock in
every fear.
He will
be your
joy in
your
suffering.
He will
be your
hope in
death.
He will
fulfill
your need
today,
tomorrow,
and into
the future.
Never
settle for
anything less.
Don't have
your
expectations
down here
in things
and people.
Set your
expectations
in the
risen,
living
Jesus
who has
conquered
death.
So what
has God
done for
you?
He
fulfills
your every
need in
the risen
Jesus.
Second,
he secures
your future
in the
risen
Jesus.
Listen to
what God
said to
the angel.
Verse
7.
Then go
quickly,
tell his
disciples,
he has
risen from
the dead
and is
going ahead
of you
into
Galilee.
There
you will
see him.
Again,
another
promise.
Jesus
is risen,
go,
you will
see him.
Can they
trust the
promise?
Well,
again,
look at
verse 8.
The women
hurried
away from
the tomb,
afraid,
yet filled
with joy,
and ran
to tell
his disciples.
Suddenly,
Jesus
met them.
Greetings.
They
came to
him,
glass,
clasped
his feet,
and worshipped
him.
Now,
what happens
at that
moment?
What the
women heard
and experienced
as they
heard the
angel's
voice,
and as
they saw
and touched
the risen
Jesus,
shows us
what we
too can
expect.
You see,
God is
telling us
the same
thing.
Jesus
has gone
ahead of
you.
He has
died,
he is
risen,
and you
will see
him.
It's what
gives us
sure and
certain hope.
The same
words that
are spoken
to the
women are
spoken to
us today.
He's gone
ahead of
you.
He's
risen.
You
will see
him.
How do
we know?
Well,
have a
look at
1 Peter
with me
in your
Bibles.
1 Peter.
Somebody's
got a
page number.
I'm
sorry I
haven't
been
prepared
there and
got it
ready.
1 Peter
chapter 1,
if anyone
has it.
1
2
1
Peter
chapter 1.
Here the
New Testament
authors
explain
for us
what the
resurrection
means,
how they
understood
Jesus'
promises
of great
hope.
Let's
read it.
1 Peter
chapter 1
verse 3.
praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
in his great mercy
he has given us new birth
into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
and look
and into an inheritance
that can never perish
spoil or fade
this inheritance is kept in heaven
for you
who through faith
are shielded by God's power
until the coming of the salvation
let's go back to chapter 28
Matthew
you see the resurrection of Jesus secures our future
did you see what it said
we are kept for heaven
and heaven is kept for us
a double security
by faith in the promises of Jesus
his life becomes our life
where Jesus is gone
we will follow
Jesus is risen from the dead
he's gone ahead of you
you will see him
that will be true for you and for me
as we trust in him
our death
is not the end
it is only a step
through the door
into his eternal kingdom
forever and forever
so he fulfills our need
he secures our future
and he gives us
a purpose
listen to what Jesus says
to the women
verse 10
Jesus said to them
do not be afraid
go and tell my brothers
to go to Galilee
there they will see me
the women have been commissioned
with the greatest news ever
go tell the disciples
they think I'm dead
they don't think I'm going to rise
but go tell them
that they're going to see me
tell them that I've been raised
from the dead
tell them that God
has done something for you
that he fulfills your need
and secures your future
you see rather than
their serving coming to an end
they've been given a new purpose
in life
to announce the sure and certain
hope of the resurrection
you see all of us here today
so desperately want our lives
to matter
we want what we do
to count
that somehow
when I die
that what I gave my life to
will mean something
that we want to leave
our children
an inheritance
or we want to be known to
everybody as a good neighbour
we want to leave the world
a better place
fairer
and more equal
and it's all very noble
to want these things
but the problem is
within a few years
of our death
our life will be forgotten
who we are
and what we do
will not be remembered
we will be replaced
by someone else
or something else
and in fact
the Bible tells us
this world
that we live in today
is all going to come
to an end
but the risen Jesus
comes and he gives us
a new purpose
he calls us
to invest
our life
in his resurrection
to tell the story
of the resurrection
because what God
has done in Jesus
has an eternal effect
it lasts forever
and forever
our life is not about
becoming the best person
or the best anything
the greatest legacy
that we could ever
leave our family
the greatest thing
we could ever do
for our neighbour
anything that we could do
is to share the certain hope
of the resurrection
and that's what the women
have been called to do
and if we are Christians today
this is our purpose
as we go to work
as we go about our life
to declare and proclaim
that Jesus
is risen
so the resurrection
tells us
that God has done
something for you
he fulfills
your needs
he secures
your future
and he gives you
a purpose
so we look at the witness
we've looked at the meaning
but what about
this whole business
of the religious leaders
and the guards
that we read about
in the text
because it seems like
that some people
just don't want
the resurrection
to be true
look at the religious leaders
here with me
they remember
what Jesus had said
before his death
of course they don't believe it
they're just really concerned
of what might happen
if the body of Jesus
goes missing
so they go to Pilate
don't they
look at verse 63
chapter 27
verse 63
so they said
we remember
that while Jesus
was still alive
that deceiver said
after three days
I will rise again
so give the order
for the tomb
to be made secure
until the third day
otherwise
his disciples
may come
steal the body
and tell the people
that he's been raised
from the dead
this deception
will be the worst
than the first
so Pilate
gives the orders
he sends some guards
there's more than
one guard here
he sends their guard
they seal up
the tomb
as best that they can
everybody's in
place
case closed
there can be no
resurrection story
but what happens
Jesus does rise
and the guards
as we saw
in chapter 28
verse 4
are witnesses
to the fact
that it did happen
and what do they do
look at verse 11
while the women
were on their way
some of the guards
went into the city
and reported
to the chief
priest
everything that
had happened
you wouldn't
believe it
we were on guard
and an angel
appeared
and he rolled
back this tomb
and the body
there was no body
verse 12
when the chief
priests
had met
with the elders
and devised a plan
because they
couldn't have
arisen Jesus
could they
they gave
the soldiers
a large sum
of money
telling them
you are to say
his disciples
came during
the night
and stole
him away
while we
were asleep
the thing is
they know
it's true
so why do
they tell
the lies
why the
cover up
why bribe
the soldiers
who are
witnesses
why do
the religious
leaders
not want
the resurrection
to be true
and why is it
today
that people
do not want
the resurrection
to be true
why do people
come up with
all crazy ideas
he didn't die
they went to
the wrong tomb
the body
was stolen
no it wasn't
stolen
they made it
up
why do people
not want the
resurrection
to be true
well let me
give you one
reason
Jesus is
God
do you see
what it says
at the end
of verse
64
they said
the last
deception
will be worse
than the first
Jesus'
claim
all through
his ministry
was that
he was
God
that he was
God's
Messiah
God
man
and they
can't cope
with that
they can't
cope
that Jesus
is God
so if the
resurrection
is true
it proves
that what
Jesus claimed
about himself
is true
that he is
God
his resurrection
proves
that he's the
son of God
with absolute
power
and supreme
authority
and we
struggle
with that
just as the
religious leaders
does
because it
challenges
our desire
to rule
our own
lives
you see
we prefer
a dead
Jesus
who has
no claim
over our
life
than a
living
Jesus
who commands
our devotion
and allegiance
we much
prefer a
dead
Jesus
that has
no claim
over our
life
than a
living
Jesus
who commands
our devotion
and allegiance
you see
if the
resurrection
is true
then it
confronts
our challenge
it confronts
us and
challenges
us
over our
desire
to rule
my
life
that's
why people
don't want
the resurrection
to be true
in contrast
look at the
women
verse 9
suddenly
Jesus
met them
and they
clasped
his feet
and worshipped
him
their actions
reflect
what's in
their heart
they bow
before
Jesus
they grasp
his feet
it's an
action of
worship
it's both
one of
submission
they are
saying to
Jesus
all my
life belongs
to you
and one
of devotion
I will
love you
above all
else
I'll give
my life
to you
and I
will love
you
submission
and devotion
the
resurrection
proves
Jesus
is God
and they
worship
him
the challenge
to us
is
do we
worship
the risen
Jesus
do we
submit to
him
do we
devote our
lives to
him
do we
bow before
him and
say
my life
is yours
I will
love you
above all
else
he's the
risen one
let's
worship
let's pray
our father
god we
thank you
for this
account in
matthew
this true
story
this true
event
of jesus
risen from
the dead
fulfilling
our needs
securing
our future
giving us
life today
purpose
and meaning
thank you
for all
that you
have done
and we
pray
and ask
that we
would be
a people
who worship
you
with all
of our
life
in jesus
name
amen
we're going
to sing
together
for some
people it
might be
new
what is
our hope
in life
and death
christ
alone
christ
alone
let's
stand
together
as we
sing
to
hear
Thank you.