Preached October 25, 2009
from
Matthew 28:1-10

Theme: This passage tells us some of the reasons we have for rejoicing over the resurrection of Jesus.

This morning, we begin our study of the final chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. And what good news it presents to us—especially against the backdrop of the story of the cross! The crucified Son of God is alive! And the theme of this morning’s passage is that, because He lives, we have great reason to “rejoice”!

This final chapter begins with these words;

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. 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. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

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. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me” (Matthew 28:1-10).

* * * * * * * * * *

Here, we have the testimony of the most definitive event of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible isn’t timid about the matter. It very boldly declares that, if the great event of this chapter isn’t literally, historically true, then the Christian faith is a complete waste of time. As the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19;

Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

The Bible rests the Christian faith squarely on the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then we who believe on Him are—of all people—the most miserable! But because He did rise, we who have believed on Him have—as this morning’s passage affirms to us—the greatest reason of all people to “rejoice”.

According to Matthew, that’s the first word our Lord spoke to those He died for after He was raised—”Rejoice!”. The word itself in the original language is a common greeting; and that’s how Jesus used it in our passage. It’s rendered in different ways in different translations of the Bible. Some versions have translated it “Greetings”. The King James Version translated it “All hail”. Some versions simply render it “Good morning”. One version doesn’t render it at all, but simply says that Jesus “greeted” them. But the word itself (chairō) is present in the text; and it means “Rejoice!” It’s the same word as is found in Paul’s wonderful command in 1 Thessalonians 5:16; “Rejoice always!”

And so, I believe it is tremendously significant that the first word the Son of God spoke to His followers—after having suffered for their sins, and after having completed their atonement on the cross, and after having been raised by His Father from the dead because of their justification—is this warm and encouraging greeting, which is also a command: “Rejoice!”

I believe some of us desperately need to hear that today. For some of us, life feels anything but joyous right now. There are burdens pressing in. There are resources running dry. There are trials looming down the road. Some of us are grieved over the past, worn-out in the present, and fearful of the future.

And yet, here, the Son of God calls us to joy. He knows what we’re going through. He tasted of it Himself. And yet, He would say, “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33). He would call us, in our temporal trials, to look beyond them to what He has accomplished in terms of our final destiny! He would want us to see that He was dead, but now lives forevermore; and that He has now conquered death for us and has opened the way of eternal life to us! He would want us to know that our destiny in Him is unfailingly secured; and that because He is for us, nothing that happens to us in life could ever be ultimately against us!

I believe that’s a greeting He would give to everyone of His broken, hurting, wounded, needy, lonely, frustrated loved ones who are in this room this morning: “Rejoice!” And it’s not just a vain, empty thing when He says it. His resurrection gives us a real, substantial, enduring reason for joy!

Let’s look at this morning’s passage in greater detail; and see how it presents us with some of the reasons why you and I ought to rejoice over the resurrection of our Lord.

* * * * * * * * * *

Look at the first verse. We’re told when these things happened: “after the Sabbath” (which would have been Saturday), “as the first day of the week began to dawn” (which would have been early Sunday morning). The date of this great event would not have been an incidental thing to the Jewish person who read Matthew’s Gospel. The Holy Spirit led Matthew to record this because it’s of tremendously importance to the redemptive plan of God.

You see; Jesus—the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world—was crucified on Passover, as the Passover Lamb. Then, after that, came the Passover Sabbath. The women rested on that day. And in the Jewish calendar, the day after the Passover Sabbath was the day of the Feast of Firstfruits.

The book of Leviticus tells us about this. It says;

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the LORD. Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD, for a sweet aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings’” (Leviticus 23:9-14).

This important day in the Jewish calendar was commanded by God to be observed as the day they were to celebrate the ‘firstfruit’ of the coming harvest. It was the day in which the first and best portion of the harvest was dedicated to the Lord; and on which that first portion became to them the promise of more fruit yet to come.

And do you know what the Bible tells us about Jesus? It tells us that, because He rose from the grave on that day . . .

1. HE IS THE FIRSTFRUITS FROM THE DEAD.

In 1 Corinthians 15—that great passage on the resurrection that I quoted from earlier—the apostle Paul tells us;

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

Jesus Himself, before He went to the cross, taught us about this. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

So; here’s a great reason to rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus, dear brothers and sisters in Christ—He is the firstfruits of those who have ‘fallen asleep’ in Him. That’s the name the Bible gives to those who have died in Christ—“those who have fallen asleep”; because, when you fall asleep at night, you know that you will wake up later! And just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we who are in Him will also be raised! Death has been conquered for us! Whoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life—not only spiritually, but physically at the time of His coming back to this earth!

Death is the greatest enemy we face. And Jesus has utterly conquered this enemy for us! So; knowing this, dear brothers and sisters, in all the other trials you face, you can take Jesus’ greeting to heart and “Rejoice!”

* * * * * * * * * *

As we read on, we encounter the women who first heard that wonderful greeting. We’re told that “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb” (v. 1). As we read some of the other Gospel accounts, we find that there were other women besides. And at the time, they were not rejoicing. They were mourning their Lord’s death, and were coming to anoint His body with herbs and spices according to the Jewish tradition of burial.

Now; if you’ve read the New Testament before, you’ll know that the various Gospels seem to present this portion of our Lord’s story in different ways. None of the Gospels tell all of the details. But there’s no contradiction between them. If you put all the pieces together in order, the different accounts all fit together to form a perfect whole.

We won’t take the time to fill-in all those details this morning. But the one thing I want to point out is that, when you compare the different accounts, you discover that the group of women in our passage had actually made two trips to the tomb. The first one, described to us in Mark 16:1, was to bring the spices to the area around the tomb late on Saturday evening—after the Sabbath had ended. After all, there would have been much to bring; and since it was evening, and since they couldn’t have done the work in the dark, they made as much preparation for the work as they could in advance. Then, Sunday morning—as early as they could—they would return to do their work in honor of their Lord.

But before they could arrive in the early morning, something remarkable happened. We’re told that there was a great earthquake—much like the one that occurred when Jesus was crucified. And then, an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came to the tomb, and rolled the stone from the door! This was a stone that it would have taken several men to move; but as John’s Gospel suggests to us (John 20:1), the angel was able to raise it out of the trench in which it rested, set it to the side, and sit on it! I believe he sat on it to, in effect, say, “I have moved this stone! Let no man even try to put it back!”

The men who had been guarding the tomb saw this great angel. We’re told that his countenance was as bright as lightning; and his clothing as white as snow; and those brave, strong guards shook in their boots over fear of him. In fact, we’re told that they became like “dead men”—which is the Bible’s way of saying that they fainted in terror and fell to the ground!

Later in this chapter, we’re told that those men would eventually rise up, flee from the scene, and run to Jerusalem to report to the chief priests all that had happened (vv. 11-15). And sometime after they left was when these women arrived for the second time. The first thing that they saw early that morning was that the tomb had been opened! Cautiously, as Mark’s Gospel tells us, they entered into the tomb (Mark 16:5). And it was then that they saw—sitting inside at the place where the Lord’s body had been placed—this mighty angel of the Lord.

They must have been terrified at the sight of him. And they must have had a questioning look on their terrified faces as well; because, as Matthew puts it, the angel “answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified’” (v. 5).

And may I suggest to you that here’s another reason for us to rejoice? If our God were an angry, vengeful God—who would have justly punished the world for crucifying His Son—the angel could have said, “You seek Jesus who was crucified! God has raised Him. And now—be afraid, you wicked sinners! Be very afraid!!” But instead we discover that, because Jesus has been raised from the dead . . .

2. HE HAS TAKEN AWAY ALL CAUSE FOR FEAR.

I heard the other day about a form of theater, primarily in China, in which the closing scene of the play is constantly depicted above the actors as they perform on the stage. That way, even if the actors are telling a story of tragedy and sadness, a happy ending is constantly held before the audience—almost making them want to shout out to the actors in the midst of the tragedy, “Don’t be afraid! Don’t be sad! All of this will end well! Victory comes at the end!”

And if I may, that’s what the resurrection of Jesus does for us! In the midst of all the tragedies and difficulties and trials and struggles we may go through in the “stage” of life, there—constantly kept above us—is the picture of Jesus’ resurrection, and of our future glorification with Him! Victory comes at the end! No matter what, all of this will end wonderfully well for the people of God! Just think of that glorious promise found in the book of Romans:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).

And know, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, that because Jesus has been raised from the dead, we can believe it fully! All fear is gone!

Therefore, the angel’s words are a powerfully important invitation to those of us who have believed on Jesus—“Do not be afraid!” In fact, even the Lord Jesus said the same thing to the women when He appeared to them—“Do not be afraid” (v. 10).

What a reason to “rejoice”!

* * * * * * * * * *

Another reason for rejoicing is found in the angel’s words to the women in verse 6. He told them that he knew they were looking for His body. “He is not here”, he told them; “for He is risen, as He said . . .”

What a tremendously important thing those three little words are; “as He said”! They’re the testimony of a promise kept! They remind us of what Jesus told His disciples while they were on their way to Jerusalem. He said;

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again” (Matthew 20:18-19).

And they also call to mind what He had said to them during His last supper with them. He told them that Scripture was about to be fulfilled before them when He said;

“All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:31-32).

The two great pillars of the gospel are that Jesus died for our sins “according to Scriptures”, and that He rose again the third day “according to Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). All that God promised in the Scriptures concerning His Son’s ministry on earth has been fulfilled—“as He said”.

When Jesus was betrayed, and arrested, and tried, and beaten, and eventually crucified, none of it was an accident. It was all a part of God’s redemptive plan for our salvation—which He announced in advanced, and then fulfilled! And because Jesus was raised from the dead, we can be assured that . . .

3. GOD WILL KEEP EVERY PROMISE HE HAS MADE IN HIM.

All that He has said concerning us in Him will also be fulfilled! God will not cease working in us until we are full sharers in the glory of His Son!

We now have all of His promises to us ratified for us by the resurrection of His Son! What a great reason to “Rejoice!”

* * * * * * * * * *

Look again at verse six at what the angel says next. He tells the women, “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Think of what it is they then went into the tomb to see. We have a hint of it in John 20:5-7; where we’re told that inside the tomb were two things. First were the linen cloths that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in—all laying intact, except that there was no body inside. And second was the face cloth, or ‘handkerchief’, that had covered His face—lying off to the side and neatly folded. These women would have recognized these items; because they had watched as He was buried. And the display of them would have proven that Jesus’ body had not merely been moved or stolen; because no one would have left these items behind. (In fact, I even wonder if the angel had stayed there in that tomb to guard these crucial items until they had been seen by God’s appointed witnesses!)

And having assured that they saw them, the angel then told them to “go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you” (v. 7). And that’s what they did. We’re told that they went out quickly from the tomb “with fear and great joy” to bring word to His disciples of what they had seen.

And here’s yet another reason to rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus . . .

4. WE HAVE AN EXCITING MESSAGE TO GIVE TO THE WORLD.

Dear brothers and sisters; do you want to have a great sense of purpose in this world? Do you want to have a reason for living? Then I suggest you put those imperatives together and make them your own personal calling regarding Jesus! “Do not be afraid! . . . Come! . . . See! . . . Go! . . . Tell!” You have good news to bring to a world of lost and dying people! The Son of God has come, has died on the cross for us, and is alive! He can change the life of anyone who trusts Him!

What a reason we have to do as this passage says, and “Rejoice!”

* * * * * * * * * *

So; the women went to tell what they saw. And on the way, they were met by the Lord Jesus Himself!

Why do you suppose that Jesus didn’t appear to them first? Why did they first have to receive the news of His resurrection from the angel? It may be because they would have been in too much of a state of shock if they had met Him first; and the message of the angel prepared them in advance. Or it may have been a test of their obedience. As one great preacher has pointed out, those who are faithful to obey His call are the ones who are most likely to meet Him along the way! Or it may even be that they were still so terrified that they needed further assurance from the Lord Himself.

In any case, Jesus met them along the way and greeted them with that wonderful greeting, “Rejoice!” And they responded by coming to Him, taking hold of Him by His feet, and worshiping Him! It was almost as if they were saying in their actions that now that they were with the resurrected Lord, they didn’t ever want to be separated from Him again.

But they had been sent to a task; and they needed to fulfill it. So Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me” (v. 10). And in that command is presented to us one more reason to rejoice at the resurrection of our Savior—perhaps the most marvelous reason of them all. Did you see what He called His disciples? Do you see what He has accomplished by His sacrifice for us? Because He was raised . . .

5. HE NOW CALLS US HIS ‘BRETHREN’ (v. 10).

Jesus said a similar thing when He met with Mary Magdalene. In John’s Gospel, it tells us that Jesus told her,

“Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God’” (John 20:17).

Now, because of His death and resurrection, we have been made more than just His friends—as wonderful as that is! We have been made sons and daughters together with Him of His heavenly Father! We are sharers together in His inheritance; and will dwell forever together with Him in His Fathers’ house! For “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name . . .” (John 1:12).

* * * * * * * * * *

So then; no matter what may happen, dear brothers and sisters—no matter what trials we may face, or hardships we may suffer—we have real, substantial, enduring, prevailing, victorious reason for rejoicing! Jesus is alive! He is the firstfruits from the dead! He has taken away all cause for fear! He is the assurance to us that God will keep every promise He has made to us! He has given us a great calling to declare in this world that He is alive! And we have the comfort of knowing in all of it that He is our Brother, and we are the children of His Father!

Therefore, “Rejoice!”