HE IS RISEN

Hell was having a party!  The light of the world had been extinguished, sealed in the darkness of a tomb.  Satan, the destroyer, reigned supreme over the Prince of Life.  Hate had triumphed over love.  The demons laughed and croaked a blasphemous song.  Suddenly, a shriek brought the celebration to a halt.  “He is risen!”  Terrified voices spread the news, “He is risen!”  It was Easter morning and in hell the party was over, but in heaven it was just beginning--and we’re still celebrating today--and we will for the endless ages!  Christ is alive and because He lives, we will live also!  Come, let’s go back to the empty tomb and that first Easter morning from Matthew's account in chapter 28:1-10.

There we see THE CELESTIAL  MESSENGER,(v.1-4).  Throughout the days of His flesh, Jesus had known the ministry of angels.  They sang at His birth.  An angel warned Joseph and Mary to take the Christ child into Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath.  As He grew up, they had charge over Him, that He did not even dash His foot on a stone.  After 40 days of fasting in the wilderness and doing battle with the tempter, angels came and ministered to Him.  When He prayed in Gethsemane, an angel came, strengthening Him.  I believe that when the first fist struck Him in the face, myriads of flaming swords rang from their sheaths, and the army of heaven was ready to spring to His defense, but the Father said, “No.” When the scourge whistled through the air and snapped across His back, the angels must have ground their teeth and stomped their feet, ready in righteous anger to end this evil, but the Father said, “No.” As Jesus fell beneath the weight of the cross, the angels surely leaned over the balcony of heaven, ready to go and lift Him, but the Father said, “No.”  When spikes were driven into His quivering flesh, I imagine they stamped their feet, flapped their wings, and let out an angry roar that shook the universe. Did they ask, “Can we deliver Him now?”  “No” was the answer.  Then they watched in horror and bewilderment as the Father turned His back and let Jesus die.  Where praises once resounded in ivory palaces, there was only silence--until Sunday.  Then, the silence was broken, when the Father summoned a choice angel and told him, “Go, and roll the stone away!” Like a thunderbolt, he streaked from the sky, struck the ground with such force that it shook. He rolled the massive stone away, picked it up like a toy and tossed it aside, then sat down on it, as the guards fainted dead away!

Then we hear THE COMFORTING  MESSAGE,(v.5-7).  The angel not only had a mission, He had a message.  He said:

• FEAR NOT, (v.5).  Of all things that man fears, death holds the greatest terror.  But, Jesus has overcome it.  So, with David, we can say, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…”  Fear not and:

• COME SEE (v.6).  Did you think the angel rolled the stone away to let Jesus out?  No, he did it to let the women in!  The One who broke the bars of death would have no difficulty moving a rock.  But, the women would, and they were needed to be witnesses of the empty tomb.  Come and see--it’s still empty!  Fear not, come see, and:

• GO TELL (v.7).  The reality of the resurrection is to move our feet and give us voice to spread the good news.  This good news launched the disciples throughout the earth to share it.  2,000 years later, someone told you and you were saved.  Have you told anybody lately?

Finally, we find THE CELEBRATING  MISSIONARIES, (v.8-10).  Note:

• THEIR REJOICING, (v.8).  Nothing gives us joy like a big surprise. The greatest surprise of all time was when the angel said, “You thought Jesus was dead..surprise!”  No wonder they were filled with joy. There was their rejoicing, and also:

• THEIR REVERENCE, (v.9-10).  Jesus met them and they bowed before Him, worshipping Him as their Lord and God.  So we ought to do.

In a world filled with bad news, it’s great to share some good news! "He is risen!"  That message will change your life. It can conquer your fear of death and best of all end your fear of judgment!  Believe it.  Receive Christ and live forever in eternity with Him! If you have trusted in Christ, gather with the people of God and celebrate the Risen Savior on this Lord's Day!

Yours Because He Lives,

Dennis Thurman, Mission Strategist