The Reality of the Resurrection
Matthew 28:1-10
When God worked out His plan to bring us hope and peace, at the right time, He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus lived a holy life as a man and then died on the cross shedding His blood for our salvation. In that way, God can now forgive our sins because God said without the shedding of blood there is no remission or no forgiveness of sin. So, when Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins God can now forgive us when we believe in Jesus.
Believing in Jesus means we acknowledge that His sacrifice is the only acceptable payment for our sins and we confess that truth publicly. In that process, we become a new creation in Christ. No, we don’t get a new physical body, but we are, as it were, reborn in our spirit. Our old human nature which was controlled by sin is exchanged for a new nature, the nature of God. Through His Holy Spirit our souls and spirit are transformed into His likeness. That changes the way we think and the way we live!
After Jesus died on the cross, He was buried by Joseph of Arimathea in a tomb that Joseph had prepared for himself just outside the city of Jerusalem. It was a tomb hewn out of solid rock. There, with help from his friend, Nicodemus, they buried the body of Jesus according to the customs of their time. But Jesus arose from the dead three days later. Now He is alive.
There is no doubt about it, no one else has risen from the dead as Jesus did. When He was here living among men, He raised several people from the dead, but nobody arose as Jesus did. He arose by His own power! He said to His followers one time, “My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” And He did just that.
His resurrection is a fact of history. We can read about it; we can study it. We can even go to Israel and see that empty tomb. Those in His time knew it was true. They had no doubt or question about it. They knew that He rose from the dead.
And yet, ever since that event, people have tried to spread doubts about the resurrection of Jesus. The reality of the resurrection is the foundation of saving faith. The Bible records His resurrection just like it happened in Matthew 28:1-10. I hope you can follow along in your Bible as I read this portion of Scripture.
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 tomb.
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 shook and became like dead men.
5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Do not fear: for I know that you 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 goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see him: lo, I have told you.
8. And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy; and ran to tell his disciples.
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, do not be afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
In this account written by Matthew, we see the unmistakable EVIDENCES of the reality of the resurrection.
THE OPEN TOMB is the physical evidence of the reality of Christ’s resurrection.
Notice how it all came about. The Bible tells us there was a great earthquake. And the angel of the Lord came down and rolled away the stone. Matthew 27:60 tells us that when Joseph of Arimathea put the body of Jesus into the tomb, he rolled a large stone across the door of that tomb. And then, Pilate sent his officers and soldiers to seal the tomb and to keep a strict watch. Anyone who tampered with that seal would be severely punished. But I believe God used the earthquake to break that seal. It showed how powerless men are in the face of God’s power.
So, now there is an earthquake, and the angel of the Lord comes down and rolls away the stone. The tomb was opened. And by the way, the tomb wasn’t opened so Jesus could get out. The tomb was opened so everyone could see that it was empty!
Look how the Bible describes that angel. His face, his appearance, was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. There were guards standing there, keeping watch over the tomb. When they saw the angel, they were seized with fear and became like dead men. They were paralyzed by fear, overcome by their fear. I guess so; I think I would’ve been too!
So, the first evidence of the reality of the resurrection is the open tomb, physical evidence to the women who came and to those who came after them. The tomb was opened by the act of the angel. And when the angel came down there was a great earthquake.
THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE was the audible evidence that Jesus’ resurrection is real.
Listen to what the angel said: “I know who you’re looking for.” The angel identified that one by describing the one they were seeking. He said, “I know you’re looking for Jesus who was crucified.” There is no question why the women had come to the tomb. They had come to see Jesus. They had come to find Him. They wanted to make sure that He had a proper burial. They wanted to see that His body was treated with proper respect.
Try to imagine their surprise when the angel said, “He is not here.” Jesus is not here; He is risen as He said. Even the elders and the chief priests when they came to Pilate knew that Jesus had said, “After three days I will rise.” Now the angel is bearing witness to that. He said “Come and see where He lay. He is risen as He said.” You can see where He was, but He is not here anymore. All the things they had brought with them for His proper burial were now useless. They didn’t need them anymore.
Then He said, “Go quickly, tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him. Behold I have told you.”
The angel’s message is the second evidence of the reality of the resurrection. Some angels, evil angels, angels that serve Satan, lie. But the angels from heaven, God’s messengers do not lie. The Bible tells us that this was an angel of the Lord that descended from heaven. So, what that angel said is true. The second evidence, then, is the angel’s message, it was audible evidence.
THE SAVIOUR’S GREETING was joyful evidence of the reality of His resurrection.
So, after the women heard the words of the angel, they went away quickly. They immediately left the tomb with fear and great joy to tell the disciples what they had learned. On their way to tell the disciples the good news, Jesus met them and greeted them.
He greeted them in the Greek, “kerita” translated into English, rejoice, hail, wonderful. He greeted them and they worshipped Him. The Bible tells us they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. They knew it was Jesus! And no wonder they held onto Him. They had lost Him once; they had watched Him die on the cross. They didn’t want to lose Him again.
The Savior’s greeting must have been a joyous moment for these women. Then He said something else to them: “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee and there they will see me.” Isn’t it interesting that the angel appeared to the women and not the eleven?
The Savior’s greeting is evidence of the reality of the resurrection. These women saw Him, they felt Him, they held Him by the feet, they heard Him speak and they worshipped Him. Now that is strong evidence. This was not a dream, and He was not a ghost. The Savior was therein His resurrected body with His greeting to them.
These evidences should settle for us the reality of the resurrection: the open tomb, the angel’s message, and the Savior’s greeting. He is alive. Praise God!