Matthew 28: 1-15
THE EMPTY TOMB
The empty tomb is the greatest news that the world has ever heard. In fact, it is so powerful that critics have tried to destroy its message since the beginning of Christianity. The world offers many religions, but no religion offers the proof and hope of a resurrection. Our lesson for today focuses on the morning that our Lord came from the grave. Jesus had been hastily buried before the Sabbath began. A tomb of that day was hewn from rock and a large stone was placed on a slight elevation to allow it to be moved in front of the opening, thus sealing the tomb. It would take many men to move that round stone back up the elevation and open the tomb. To be sure that the followers of Jesus did not remove His body, the Roman guards set up a vigil to protect the burial site.
DOES THE RESURRECTION MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE? "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" [Matthew 28:6]. The ladies coming to anoint the body of Jesus for a proper burial were suddenly surprised to find the stone already moved from the opening. It is obvious that the women were not anticipating what they found. Although Jesus had mentioned His death and resurrection during His ministry, it was a concept that the followers apparently did not grasp. When they arrived at the gravesite, they found the guards in a state of total fear and the tomb open. An angel told them what had happened. He also instructed them to go and spread the good news to His disciples. As they were on their way to find the disciples, they met Jesus [vs. 9,10] and He also instructed them to go tell His brethren of the great event that had just taken place. The question to be answered is whether the resurrection makes that much difference to our faith. Paul, the writer of 1 Corinthians made it very clear that the resurrection was vital to our faith. In chapter fifteen of that book, Paul states the following, "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain" [I Cor. 15:14]. The resurrection is so essential to our Christian faith that without it, we have no faith. We would still be lost in our sins and have no hope of an eternity with Christ in heaven.
HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THOSE WHO QUESTION THE RESURRECTION? "And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money to the soldiers. Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept" [Matthew 28: 12, 13a]. I find it interesting that the Roman soldiers went to the chief priests rather than to their own superiors to report the incident. I'm sure that they feared the punishment associated with not keeping their watch and protecting the grave. The immediate response of the Jewish leaders was to cover up the event. They paid the soldiers to tell lies about what had happened and promised them that they would sway the governor in their favor should the news get to him. One of the most-watched shows on television right now is C. S. I. This show is about crime scene investigators and how they solve crimes with the evidence found at the crime scene. It really doesn't take much investigation to see the holes in the false account concocted by the Jewish leaders and the soldiers. If they had slept through the stealing of the body, it was an indictment to their ineptness and poor performance. We also know that the disciples were hiding in fear of the leaders, hoping that they would not be found and given a similar death, and very unlikely to steal the body. They were not a band of courageous followers at that moment in time. Later they received power from on high and were bold in their witness, but not at this time. Once again, Chapter 15 in First Corinthians proves helpful to our study. In the first verses, Paul gives an outline of why the resurrection is sure. He explains that Jesus was seen of the twelve, and then of up to 500 people, many of who are still living when the book was written and Jesus appeared to Paul personally. We have many proofs of the truth of Jesus' resurrection and we just need to lovingly explain to those who do not believe the truth found in the gospel.
"Do you believe this"
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God's love for us was great. Here are some points on God's love and our responsibilities to it.
God's love is manifested. "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (I John 4:9). "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8).
God's love is sure. The scriptures say that no "created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:31-39). Friends and family may stop loving us, but God does not.
God's love is mirrored. Jesus mirrors God's love. "Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ" (2 Thess 3:5). To see Jesus is to see God, the Father (Jn. 14:9). We see God's love in the gospels of the NT when we study about Jesus.
God's love is modeled. We model God's love in our own lives by showing concern for others. "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (I John 3:17). The one who opens his heart to such a need demonstrates the love of God.
God's love is kept. Jude says, "...keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (v.21). We keep ourselves in God's love by doing His will. "But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him..." (I John 2:5; 5:3).
God loves us and always will. He wants all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4). He is long-suffering toward us not willing that any should perish (II Pet. 3:9). How are we responding to God's love? We must model it and keep it. We are to be perfect as He is (Matt. 5:43-48).
Do you believe this?...Yes, Lord, I believe"! (John 11:26-27)
A work of the Mill Street Church of Christ meeting at 733 Mill Street (across from the Middle School). Phone: 259-4968. Preacher: Joseph Cooper. Service times: Sunday 10 and 10:55 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday at 7 p.m.
For the living of these days
There can be no Christianity without a cross at the center. Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of Christ" (Galatians 6:14).
The believer glories in the cross. It is the only hope for the world. The cross is the symbol of our faith. Some ridicule it while others dismiss is as crude and ridiculous.
When I look at the cross I see a victorious personality. I see the strong Son of God, and the Prince of Glory. The centurion saw this. He was a tough professional soldier who no doubt had become hardened to the sight of men dying in agony. He said that he had never seen one die as this man. Jesus died as a conqueror, victorious, and not as a victim and defeated.
We certainly see a sacrifice when we look at the cross. The thieves died in payment for their wrongs but Jesus did not have any sins. He was the sinless Son of God giving His life for our sins. Jesus died a sacrificial death. "Christ died for our sins ...." (1 Corinthians 15:3). His sacrifice reveals the immense cost of our salvation. He took upon Himself our sins and made atonement for them. He paid the price that we could not pay.
Through His death we were ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven at a tremendous cost ... His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). We look at the cross and say, "God loves me, and forgives me at a tremendous cost."
The cross demands a total surrender. His death not only means that something amazing and wonderful has been done for us, but it also means that something demanding and exacting is expected of us. Issac Watts, the hymn writer says, "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." This is a big demand. This involves the entire surrender of ourselves to Jesus Christ. It involves giving the will and purpose of Christ priority over our most cherished interests, ambitions and prejudices.
To look at the cross is to see a power. Jesus on one occasion said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself." He has been drawing men through the years. He has the power to save, mold character, and to send men into service. That power is available today.
You cannot look at the cross without seeing a future promise. That future promise is heaven.
Our hope of heaven centers in a man who died on the cross. He said, "I am the Way ..." Jesus said, "No man cometh to the Father but by me." He issues an invitation to all ... "whosoever will may come." The way of the cross leads to heaven.
The love that we see exhibited on the cross demands our life, our soul and our all. Come to the foot of the cross and find forgiveness and life eternal through Jesus Christ.
You will be reading this leading up to Good Friday. Be sure to be in Church on Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
He said, "Because I live, you shall live also. Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
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