“You Seek Jesus Who Was Crucified”

Matthew 28 – Easter Sunday – April 17, 2022

Introduction

A reading from Matthew 28:1–10.

Interactive: Need some volunteers. Go to:

• nytimes.com
• time.gov
• google.com/calendar

The year?

• The NY Times, US Govt, and Google agree on something!
• 2022 years ago something happened hugely important: Birth of Jesus.
• But this true ONLY because of what we’re talking about today.
• Without Easter Sunday the world would forget about Joseph, Mary and the baby lying in a manger.
• Nothing there would be enough to become a “Year 1” for the whole world.

Let’s look at the miracle big enough to impact the whole world: (1) The Glorious Surprise, (2) The Grand Conspiracy, and (3) The Great Commission.

The goal? Understand. Believe. Give your lives for it.

Prayer

I. The Glorious Surprise

In our opening passage there’s what these women expected and then the glorious surprise they experienced.

A. What they expected

• V1 – Matthew sets the time for us: Being the Sabbath it’s now the third day since Jesus was crucified.
• We’ll see in a minute why being the third day is so important.

V1 – Matthew tells us two of the women who went to the tomb.

• Mary Magdalene had followed Jesus for years. Luke tells us Jesus cast out seven demons from her (Luke 8:2).
• “The other Mary” is mother of Jesus (Luke 24:10), now a widow in her 50s.
• Both saw him crucified, saw the tomb where he was buried.
• They went to the tomb, not expecting a resurrection, or to worship.
• But to embalm him (Mark 16:1), like you do for loved ones who die.

They’re expectations were just like ours. They didn’t expect a resurrection!

• None of the disciples were there.
• No prayer vigil awaiting the risen Christ.
• These women and Jesus’ disciples expected him to be dead.

B. But then, the first surprise.

VV2–4 – Three things happen: Earthquake, angel, stone rolled away.

Like at the resurrection itself, there were visible and audible signs to mark out that what happened here was something special, something divine.

The “angel of the Lord” was there at the birth and infancy of Jesus, guiding Joseph (1:20, 24; 2:13, 19) and speaking to Mary (Luke 1:26–35). Now “an angel of the Lord” is there to announce his resurrection.

VV5–7. Then there’s what the angel actually said.

• Word of comfort, “Do not be afraid.”
• Then the words that continue to echo throughout human history: “You seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said” (V6).

“As he said” – Matthew 16:21

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matt 16:21)

• Then two more times Jesus will echo this same predictive prophecy (17:22–23; 20:18–19).
• Prophesying SUFFERING, DEATH, and RESURRECTION ON 3^rd
• It’s one thing to predict your own death—but completely different to predict your own resurrection after three days.
• Angel says to confirm empty tomb and then “GO QUICKLY AND TELL!”

C. Seeing and talking with an angel would give these women a story to tell for the rest of their lives—but what happens next is even more amazing. This is the glorious surprise.

It was not far to get from the tomb to where the disciples were. They were a hundred yards or so outside the walls of Jerusalem.

• V9 – But as soon as they began to go and tell, they met Christ himself.
• V9 – And then did what any true disciple of Jesus would do: WORSHIPED!
• V9 – Note the physical, historical detail, though, “took hold of his feet.”
• This is Matthew the evangelist wanting to settle an issue for his readers: This is no hallucination and certainly no “group hallucination.”[1]
• Each of these two women “took hold of Jesus’ feet” and worshiped him!

V10 – But then there’s what Jesus said. It’s also a surprise: “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.”

• Don’t miss what Jesus calls his disciples here: “my brothers.”
• Who’s he talking about?
• He’s talking about all those guys who abandoned him just three days ago.
• He’s talking about guys who said they’d never deny him and did just that.
• At Jesus’ arrest they all fled.
• A lot of things Jesus could have called them. “My brothers” is a surprise.
• A commentator said this is Jesus turning “deserters back into disciples.”[2]
• This is Jesus welcoming back his prodigal followers.

GALILEE: The final part of the surprise is the reference to Galilee.

• Both the angel and Jesus talk about Jesus meeting the disciples in Galilee.
• Why Galilee?
• To fulfill another predictive prophecy Jesus spoke.

Matthew 26:31–32:

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away 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 am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” (Matt 26:31–32)

• In other words, the failure of the disciples wouldn’t be the last word.
• Their RESTORATION would be the last word.

That’s a snapshot of what the resurrection of Jesus means to us.

• It’s means that our SIN and FAILURE don’t get the last word—GRACE and RESTORATION do.
• Without Jesus’ resurrection we die in our sins, die in our failures.
• But with it? GRACE and RESTORATION will have the final say.
• Romans 4:24–25:

Jesus our Lord…was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Rom 4:24, 25)

• Delivered up = Good Friday = payment for our sins.
• “Justification” = How we are righteous in God’s sight, approved, accepted.

II. The Grand Conspiracy

READ Matthew 28:11–15.

The empty tomb is a problem for those who don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God. But it’s not a new problem. It was a problem from Day 1.

It was a problem for these guards.

• Either they tell the truth: “Well, there was this angel and this earthquake…”
• Or they make up a lie: “Well, well asleep and his disciples came and…”
• Either way it’s not good for them.
• Getting some money and cover from Jewish leaders was a win.

But the empty tomb for the Jewish leaders is a much greater problem: A resurrected Jesus makes their lives…really…complicated.

Now, notice what they don’t say. Don’t say, “Wait a minute. If the tomb is empty maybe we were wrong about Jesus.”

No, their minds are made up. They refuse to believe. A massive new fact has entered their world: The tomb where Jesus was laid is now empty. There’s no body in it. Their attitude is, “Don’t bother us with the facts, we know who Jesus is, and he can’t be the Messiah.”

They come up with a Grand Conspiracy. We’ll call it the stolen body theory. The disciples came and stole the body to make it look like Jesus was resurrected.

In other words, propping up a lie by making it look real. But…what would the disciples gain by such a lie?

• The earthly costs were so high and the earthly benefits so small.
• Costs: Poverty, self-denial, public ridicule, and likely martyrdom.
• All to follow a religion you know to be false?
• Chuck Colson addressed this idea of propping up a lie.

I know the Resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, and then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned, and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.
Chuck Colson, Sermon 1982[3]

So the stolen body theory just isn’t convincing.

A second theory is the hallucination theory, the early disciples were so distraught from grief they hallucinated seeing Jesus, sometimes even as groups.

• Grief and fatigue and hunger can certainly cause you to hallucinate.
• Navy Seals in their training imagine some crazy things.
• But for so many individuals and groups to have so many coordinated hallucinations or visions? It isn’t convincing.
• An interesting fact here is even Jesus anticipated this kind of concern.
• Luke 24:38–39:

And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:38–43)

The hallucination theory isn’t convincing.

A third theory we’ll call the not quite dead theory, Jesus didn’t actually die on the cross. He appeared dead, wake up in the tomb, and then walked out.

• But then as James Anderson has said, “If the Romans knew anything at all, they knew how to execute people.”[4]
• But a beaten up and bloodied Jesus who would take months to recover would have no impact on the ancient world.
• He’d simply be another in a long line of failed Messiahs.

With all these theories there’s a set of historical realities that just keeps coming:

• The new lives and ministries of the disciples.
• The massive spread of Christianity within cultures openly hostile to it.
• The conversion of the apostle Paul—a faithful Jew fiercely opposed to Christianity who then became one of its greatest martyrs.

In the end, Bono is right:

Assayas: Christ has his rank among the world’s great thinkers. But Son of God, isn’t that far-fetched?
Bono: No, it’s not far-fetched to me.

Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook.

Christ says, No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: “I’m the Messiah.” I’m saying: “I am God incarnate.”

And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet we can take. You’re a bit eccentric. We’ve had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don’t mention the “M” word! Because, you know, we’re gonna have to crucify you.

And he goes: No, no, I know you’re expecting me to come back with an army and set you free from those creeps, but actually I am the Messiah.

At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says… He’s gonna keep saying this. So what you’re left with is either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson…. I’m not joking here.

The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that’s far-fetched.
Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas[5]

As D.A. Carson said, in the end, the only explanation that makes sense is the one the angel gave to us: “He is not here, for he has risen, just as he said” (Matt 28:6, NASB).[6]

III. The Great Commission

Read Matthew 28:16–20.

In these verses something stunning happens. The deserters are made disciples but then something even more.

At this point, you’ve got “the ELEVEN,” and you’ve likely got another group of disciples. In fact, there’s good reason to think that when Paul mentioned Jesus appearing to “more than 500 hundred gathered at one time” (1 Cor 15:8), this was that time.[7]

This group gets swept up into the global mission of God.

They had completely failed Jesus three days before. They woke up Easter morning expecting never to see Jesus again, certainly not resurrected.

But here’s Jesus saying, “No problem. I can work with that.”

Instead of saying, “I’m through with you guys,” Jesus called them to take up the greatest challenge ever given to a group of people.—The Great Commission.

VV18–20: These verses have four great “all” statements: “all authority…all nations…all that I have commanded you….all the days.”

• “All authority” (V18) = Statement work of redemption is complete.
• There is no place and no power and no people outside his authority.
• “Make disciples of all nations” (V19) = The task and target
• Baptizing, Teaching (VV19–20) = Two characteristic tasks of discipleship.
• “In the name of…” = Singular, not plural. Trinity.
• “All the days” (V20) = The promise of Jesus’ presence, not just blessing.

APPLICATION

The resurrection doesn’t just mean SALVATION for us. It also means MISSION.

• Jesus doesn’t just offer forgiveness; he offers you a PURPOSE.
• Being part of his people, making disciples throughout the world.

But even greater, there’s the promise of his PRESENCE. V20.

• This is true of us as a people, but it’s also true of you PERSONALLY.
• Jesus says to YOU, “I am with you always.”

Conclusion

So, let the words of the angel ring in your ears for the rest of your life—“He is not here, for he has risen, just as he said” (Matt 28:6, NASB).

• In fact, if you’re not a Christian, I pray these words will stay in your mind.

We started with audience participation. We’ll end with it.

FIRST, CONSIDER WHAT I’VE SAID.

• These historical realities.
• What is your explanation?
• Is it plausible?

SECOND, BELIEVE.

I invite you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who was crucified, dead, buried, raised after 3 days, and now sits at God’s right hand.

What will it mean for you?

IT MEANS SALVATION.

 9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Rom 10:9–10)

IT MEANS PURPOSE—The Great Commission.

IT MEANS RELATIONSHIP—Jesus saying to you, “I am with you always.”

Prayer and Closing Song (“O Praise the Name”)

 

[1] On the group hallucination idea, see https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2018/appearances-of-mary-and-jesus-resurrection-appearances.

[2] David Turner, Matthew, BECNT, 682–683.

[3] Cited by Marty Angelo, https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2018/04/chuck-colsons-legacy-hope-lives/.

[4] James Anderson, Why Should I Believe Christianity (Christian Focus, 2016), 208. See his work and that of Gary Habermas and that of Michael Licona for more on these issues.

[5] Michka Assayas, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas, (NY: Riverhead, 2005), 204-205.

[6] D.A. Carson, Matthew, EBC.

[7] See the commentaries by D.A. Carson and David Turner for the connection this event and 1 Cor 15:8.