He Is Risen

Sermon Transcript

Familiarity can rob us of wonder. Andrea and my children are city kids, and as such, both of the homes they’ve lived in have been next to commuter rails. Now, I’m familiar with the regional rail and when it passes by our backyard, it doesn’t amaze me. I experience no wonder. But it’s different for Soren. He’s seen hundreds of trains pass by in his life. But the familiarity doesn’t deter the wonder for Soren. Even at ten years old, when he hears the train coming, he loves to run to the backyard and yell “hi train” to the conductor. I’m familiar, so the train doesn’t amaze me. Soren is familiar too, but he’s able to see the wonder of each train with fresh eyes and it amazes him. This morning I want to invite you to see Easter through Soren’s eyes. I want to invite you to see the familiar story of the empty tomb and resurrection with Soren’s fresh eyes because Easter has the power to do even more than amaze you. Easter can change everything.

To see Easter through Soren’s eyes of wonder, we need to begin with the walk to the tomb and the often overlooked sadness of the scene. Matthew 28:1 – 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. Have you ever lost someone that you were genuinely close to? When I was a child my grandfather was my hero. He was the bravest, kindest man I’d ever known. Losing him was sad beyond words. The sadness that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary experienced was even worse than that. My grandfather passed away quietly and I didn’t have to see it. Jesus on the other hand was betrayed, mocked, tortured, crucified, and they saw all of it with their own eyes. But even worse than that, they hoped that Jesus was the Christ who came to save them from their sins. But his death dashed all their hopes. It’s hard to imagine a sadder walk than their walk to the tomb. That sadness is the dark backdrop against which the wonder of the resurrection shines. Listen to the joyful announcement again. Matthew 28:5-6, 8 – 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…So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. The women went from their darkest moment of sadness to their greatest joy in an instant. That’s the power of the angel’s announcement that Jesus is risen. And that brings us to the big idea of our passage this morning: He is risen. He is risen. That announcement has the power to change everything for you. So, what should we do with the announcement “He is risen”? Two things: 1. Come and see 2. Go and tell. Come and see. Go and tell.

COME AND SEE

The angel of the Lord announces that Jesus is risen and the very next thing he says to the women is “come and see.” Matthew 28:6 – He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. “Come and see.” That invitation is extended to you. Jesus is risen, come and see. When you come and see you discover two things and they’re interrelated.

First, you see that it really happened. When you come and see, you discover that the very best historical explanation for the empty tomb is that Jesus really is risen. You see that it really happened. And such a historical claim is not the mere fluff of a religious person who wants it to be true. The famous atheist-turned-deist philosopher Antony Flew once wrote “the evidence for the resurrection is better than for claimed miracles in any other religion. It’s outstandingly different in quality and quantity.” The angel of the Lord invites you to come and see, and the first thing you discover is that Jesus really is risen. When you come and see, you discover that there are a few key pieces of evidence that the resurrection really happened. To come and see that Jesus is risen, you first have to notice that Jesus really did die. He was dead, not sleeping. We know that Jesus was really dead because all four Gospels record that Jesus claimed to be the Christ, the Messiah. And if you were making up a story about a Messiah, you wouldn’t record that he died unless it really happened because Jews in Jesus’ day didn’t expect the Messiah to die. Plus, non-Christian historians affirm that Jesus really did die. Second, to come and see that Jesus is risen, you have to notice that the tomb really was empty. We know that the tomb really was empty because the Gospels record that it was women who discovered the empty tomb. Given the incredibly low estimation of the credibility of a woman’s testimony in first century Judaism, if Jesus’ disciples were making up the empty tomb, they definitely would not have recorded women as the ones who discovered it. This must have happened this way. The tomb was empty. Finally, to come and see that Jesus is risen, you have to know what the Apostles did in the years following the resurrection. These men who were previously hiding for their lives after Jesus’ death, then went about the known world proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection and salvation in his name alone. These disciples were the ones accused of stealing Jesus’ body. They were the ones who would have made it all up. Would you die for something you knew you made up? It’s especially compelling to consider the conversion of the Apostle Paul. He hated Christianity and was wildly successful as a Jewish leader. Then the risen Jesus appeared to him and he became a suffering follower and martyr of Christ. Why would anyone make something up that made their life far worse, and then die for it? Friends, come and see, discover that this really happened, he really is risen, and believe it.

But there is more to Jesus’ resurrection than the historical evidence that it really happened. When we accept the invitation to come and see, we discover that not only did the resurrection happen, but we discover that the resurrection really does remove our fears. Come and see that it really happened and that it removes our fears. Matthew 28:5-6 – But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. The resurrection removes our fears. Consider just some of the things we are afraid of. We fear God’s judgment. Have you ever disobeyed God and then felt like you couldn’t talk to him about it? Have you ever sinned and then felt like you needed to keep your distance and improve yourself, instead of running straight into his arms for mercy and strength to turn from your sin? If you have, then it’s because there is still some fear of God’s judgment in you. However, since your Savior is risen, it means that he really did pay for all your sins on the cross. Since he is risen, it means that he really is seated at the right hand of the Father as your advocate and that if you trust in Jesus, then you belong in the Father’s presence too, no matter what you’ve done. Come and see that Jesus is risen and through faith in him, your fear of God’s judgment is removed. Others of us fear that the Bible and Christianity might not be absolutely true. Perhaps you’re in a season of wrestling with doubt that the Bible is actually truth without any mixture of error and an absolutely trustworthy revelation of God to humanity. Since Jesus is risen and he treated the whole Bible as God’s word, you can trust him and you never have to fear that the Bible might not be trustworthy. Others of us fear that we’re never going to change. Perhaps you’ve struggled and felt enslaved to the same sin for years. Since Jesus is risen, if you’ve trusted in him, you’ve been given new life and you have a new heart. You’re not a slave to sin anymore. Since Jesus is risen, you never have to fear that you can’t change. Others of us fear being alone. Perhaps you’ve been watching your friends get married, have children, grow older together, and you’re still single. Perhaps you have all the people you could want in your life, but you still feel alone. Jesus promised that when he was raised to the Father, he would send the Holy Spirit to be with us as our permanent Helper and Comforter. Since Jesus is risen, if you trust in Him, then you never have to fear being alone because you’re not alone. Finally, all of us, if we’re honest, fear death. Jesus’ resurrection is a preview of coming attractions for all who trust in Him alone as Lord and Savior. Since Jesus is risen, if you trust in Him, you never have to fear death. Jesus is risen, come and see that it’s true and that it changes everything. Come and see, believe that it’s true and that if you trust Him, his resurrection removes all your fears. Do you believe it? Do you see it now through Soren’s eyes? If so, if you believe it really happened and are amazed that all your greatest fears are removed, then there is only one thing left to do…

GO AND TELL

Have you ever wondered why people write love songs about their beloved? It’s because when you’re amazed by someone or something you can’t contain it. In fact, you shouldn’t because your love for someone will be incomplete if you try to contain it. I’ve written Andrea a few poems, but I’m not a love song writer, but I really enjoy hiking. Andrea will tell you that when we are on a truly beautiful hike, I can’t stop pointing out the beauty of the mountains, the sky, and the views. Why do I do that? Because when you’re amazed by something, you can’t contain it. It’s the same when it comes to the message of Jesus’ resurrection. Once you come and see it, believe it and are amazed by it, you can’t contain it. You have to go and tell others.

We see this in Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Matthew 28:7-8 – 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.” [8] So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. I love that. They don’t simply go and tell Jesus’ disciples that he is risen. They departed quickly, they were amazed and full of great joy, and they ran to tell his disciples that Jesus is risen. Why? Because when you’re amazed, you can’t contain it. When you come and see that Jesus really is risen, that the Bible really is true, that our sin really is paid for, that we really don’t have to fear death, judgment, Hell, or being alone, then you’re amazed, full of great joy, and you can’t contain it. Like the Marys, you have to go and tell others. Since you believe it and are amazed, go and tell others that the risen Jesus is their only hope in life and in death so that they too can believe and be amazed! Who can you go and tell today?!

CONCLUSION

He is risen. Come and see. Believe. Be amazed. Don’t contain it. Go and tell others.

There is just one final detail in the resurrection account that I want you to see because it too changes everything. It’s a detail in the last verse. Matthew 28:10 – Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Brothers. He calls the disciples brothers. That’s amazing. These men were spiritual failures. These men couldn’t stay awake to pray for Jesus in his hour of greatest temptation, the night before his death. After Jesus was arrested, they only followed him at a distance. These men were led by Peter, the very man who denied even knowing Jesus after he was arrested. Jesus calls them his brothers because Jesus’ grace was enough to forgive and restore the worst spiritual failures. Maybe you know that you’re a spiritual failure. You know that you’ve sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and deserve his just judgment. The resurrection means that Jesus can forgive and restore spiritual failures who turn to him for grace and confess him as Lord. Before we take communion, I want to give you a few quiet moments where you are to turn to Jesus in faith, perhaps for the first time. He really is risen. He really does forgive spiritual failures. Trust in Him now, even for the first time. There is a sample prayer at the bottom of your connect card that can help guide in receiving and resting in Jesus alone for grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. Take the next few minutes alone to receive Him and for all who do, we’ll take the Lord’s Supper and sing.