Death of Death

Matthew 28:1–15 (NLT) Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

The Report of the Guard 11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

The Resurrection is and it changes everything.

God's work is .

• Matthew 27:62–66 (NLT) 62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’
• 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
• 65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.”
• 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

3 Powerless Obstacles — to Jesus’ resurrection

1. A politically sealed entrance.

2. A physical stone blocked the door.

3. A power force of guards is set.

He is .

Matthew 28:1–15 (NLT) Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, …

• 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.
• 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
• 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen…

3 Expected Responses to Resurrection of Jesus

1. Come & see.

• 6…Come, see where his body was lying.

2. Go & tell.

• 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

3. Both fear & joy.

• 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.
• 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy,…
• 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid!

The resurrection overcomes every .

* Credibility * Cover-up * Eye witnesses

• Matthew 28:16–17 (NLT) 16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
• 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NLT) 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

So What?

• Don’t let fear hold you back from believing & receiving the resurrected Jesus.
• Enjoy the everyday hope you have in the death of death.

CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION

1. Which of these best describes your reaction to Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb?

a. Come & see.

b. Go & tell.

c. Both fear & doubt.

2. To transform lives and continue on, the resurrection event had to overcome so many obstacles. Which of these is the most compelling argument for you to believe the Resurrection event literally happened?

a. It overcame the credibility of women sources.

b. overcame the deliberate coverup.

c. It overcame the need for eye witnesses.

3. Can you relate to having both fear AND joy when thinking about your future death & resurrection?

4. What’s it mean to you personally that death has “lost it’s sting” now that we believers can live on even after we die?