The Empty Tomb and the Risen Christ

COME AND SEE GO AND TELL:
The Empty Tomb and the Risen Christ
Matthew 28:1-10

I. Easter Morning

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid…

1. I spoke on this a few weeks ago, but it bears repeating- angels are nowhere in scripture portrayed as adorable little babies with wings that flutter around like butterflies. These are solemn creatures, they’re really quite chilling to behold.

Look at how these guards react to the angel’s arrival: “They shook with fear of him and became like dead men!” And that is a typical response to an angelic visitation.

The angel, however, is a messenger of good news. He says to the women, “Do not be afraid.” And I want to repeat that you this morning, if you have fear, if Satan has you bound and anxious about something, don’t not fear! I have some very good news for you.

“…for I know,” says the angel, “that you seek Jesus who was crucified “(v. 5b). Visitor, regular attender, children, youth, adults, seniors, what are you seeking this morning? Easter eggs? A blessing? A date? A mate? Religion? Health and wealth? Community? Fame? Popularity? Recognition?

I have something better for you. Something that’s going to make all those things seem like dross. Something that will revolutionize the rest of your life. Hope; and it comes in the form of the gospel, the good news. And without Easter morning there is no gospel, there’s no hope… no salvation.

I wonder where the disciples were Easter morning. You know where they were? They were away cowering with fear… they were off denying that they ever knew Jesus. They were letting fear rule them and because of that they missed the most incredible event in human history- the empty tomb. It makes we wonder why Jesus continues to pursue them now, in his glory, after the way that they had abandoned him.

You know, Jesus is teaching us about his character here. Because, it’s not about the disciples faithfulness that he fulfills his promises to them. It’s because of his faithfulness that their calling is secure. Otherwise these disciples would have been no better than Judas. Jesus leaves the 99 to go after the one who has wandered away. And he does the same for us.

Easter is not merely a nice holiday to mark the start of Spring. It’s not just another event to crowd religious calendars and cause secular governments to legislate a much needed paid holiday. Easter is either the most significant event in human history or it is a most evil perjury. There is no other choice for you. Don’t make it into a parable or a myth. Too many souls lie in the balance for that.

If Christ is not raised we are still in our sins. In other words, without Easter, without the resurrection, Christians have no hope; we are ruined. The chasm between humanity and God has not been bridged. That is how urgent this ‘holiday’ is to us this morning.

But how do we establish our faith on an event that happened nearly 2000 years ago?

Let’s look at the evidence. The truth is, despite revisionist attempts to subvert the integrity of the historical accuracy of the resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus Christ remains among the most substantiated events in ancient history because of the accuracy of the way the event has been reported from such diverse sources who lacked any need for corroboration.

Historians don’t argue whether or not Christ lived and continued to live after the cross, they argue about what his life means to history.

Even antagonists of Christianity have tried to concoct alternative explanations for the resurrection. Because they know that they cannot simply dismiss it as never having occurred. So they lay aside faith and reason to contrive sensationist tabloid style explanations to satisfy ‘Enquiring’ minds.

For instance, look at how broad based the belief in the resurrection was by AD 50. It had spread throughout the Roman Empire. Such a sham would require that men from patriarchal cultures throughout the Middle East and Europe, both Gentiles and Jews, to consent together to mislead the world about the resurrection of Jesus Christ knowing that it would likely cost them their lives to believe it. And all of that based on the testimony of a couple of Jewish women!

Don’t you think that such a lie would have had a more credible witness? After all, the testimony of women in Jewish society was worthless in a court of law. Such a fraud would not extract itself this starkly from cultural norms.

Look at how the gospel portrays the heroes of our faith, the disciples… we see them as pathetic cowards- foils in the most epic event in the story of the gospel. If they invented this, you would think that they would have portrayed themselves more auspiciously.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an historic event. It is the most important historic event because it concerns you directly today. It will shape the way that you spend the rest of your life, who you marry, how you worship, what you do with your money, your career and your talent.

But more importantly, the resurrection of Jesus Christ will affect the fate of your immortal soul. If you believe, then heaven; if you don’t believe, then you have trampled the cross and your destiny is hell by your own choice and there is no injustice from God in this.

But bear in mind, if you reject the resurrection, it is not because the facts are on your side- and that makes your choice very foolish.
"Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Let’s move on,
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. (vv. 8-9)

So the women see that the tomb is empty and they run away to tell the disciples the good news. They’re the first evangelists.

They came out of devotion, when all others had fled out of fear. Where are the crowds? Where are the multitudes who once sang of Jesus “Hossanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”? All that remains are the echoes of those same crowds who cried, “Crucify him.”

And an empty tomb. They run away, gripped, not only with fear, but also joy- joy and fear: those are the chief ingredients of believers worship. If your too busy criticizing the song choice, or watching others or holding onto unforgiveness than you cannot be filled with joy and fear- you cannot worship God as you ought.

Application
II. Come See, Go Tell:

A. Come and See that the Tomb is Empty
First, come and see for yourself that the tomb is empty, that Christ is not among the dead, but the living.

Jesus was delivered up not for his offenses. No, he lived a perfect life. He did not need to die. He was delivered up for our offenses and raised because of our justification; so that we could be made right with God. Because his sacrifice was sufficient, it satisfied God’s justice. At the cross God’s justice was met, the ransom was paid and we are justified in him (Romans 4:25). The resurrection declares that Jesus’ death accomplished our salvation.

“If the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give” (Romans 8:11) you eternal life and raise your from the grave and make you alive forever with Christ to live the life for which he created you.

O, you may suffer in this life; you will certainly face the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. But you will also share in the power of his resurrection- in this life and the life to come.

That’s salvation… how do you get saved? Come, see for yourself. The tomb is empty. Repent. Believe. “If confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved” Romans (10:8-9).

B. Go and Tell and tell that Christ is Risen
Then Go, go tell the others that Jesus is raised. Tell then that you have seen it and that you believe it. Then they will see him too! Not just in Galilee, not just in Jerusalem, not just in heaven, they will see Jesus in you.

“18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

That’s the mission of this church. That’s why we’re here. Not because some strategic planning committee armed with the latest church marketing manuals got together and decided that we need a mission statement so that we can visualize our success and then fulfill it.

It’s the mission of this church because Jesus commanded it. The mission of Gateway is to come, not just Sunday morning, but every day of the week, and see that the tomb is empty and Christ is risen. Then we are to go and tell others saying come and see what Jesus has done for me. Come and see that he is no longer in the tomb. He is alive and he reigns in heaven and he lives in and through me and he can do the same thing in you. Come and see, go and tell.