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Mathew 28:1-7 “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the stone away and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow.  The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

The angel, who announced the good news of the Lord’s resurrection gave the ladies five messages in the above three verses:

           

1. Don’t be afraid – the first thing the angel said

Fear is the weapon Satan employs very successfully to trap men.  Ten of the men Moses sent to spy out Canaan (see Numbers 14) brought back frightening news about the land and the people and the Israelites were numbed with fear. They were sure they were all going to die at the hands of Canaanites. God’s anger was aroused against them and He sent the people back into the desert to wander for forty years until the last person among those who left Egypt died out. The Philistine giant Goliath had held the whole Israelite army under the grip of fear through his frightening challenges; David dared to fight him and secure victory for Israel (1 Sam 17). The Bible commands us not to be afraid:

Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom will I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom will I be afraid?

Proverbs 29:25 Fearing any human being is a trap, but confiding in the LORD keeps anyone safe.

The high priest and the religious establishment were afraid of Jesus. They were frightened that Jesus would expose their hypocrisy and that they would lose their positions of authority if they allowed Jesus to go on. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but he was afraid of confronting the religious leaders and losing His position; the disciples were frightened of the authorities when Jesus was arrested and took to their heals, and Peter was afraid to admit he was a disciple of Jesus. It was only Jesus that fateful day at Mount Calvary who was unafraid and went ahead courageously and embraced the cross.

 

Christians today are afraid to witness for Jesus and would prefer to blend with the crowd. You are the light of earth – what do you do with your lamp? You ought to serve God wherever, in whatever position you are. 

God wants you to be courageous. It is said the command not to afraid is mentioned 365 times in the Bible.

            2. He is not here - He’s risen – He’s alive

There is only one empty tomb in the world, the tomb Jesus vacated. There are many incidents of dead people coming back to life, but they all died again. “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?” the angel asked of the ladies (Luke 24:5). Men are looking for God at all the wrong places. Dead religions hold people in their grip worldwide. Religion is man’s invention; Jesus is God’s revelation. Jesus completed His work on the cross, died and resurrected and returned to His Father’s right side. He just didn’t come back alive, but continues to be alive.

Jesus is the living God. He lives in the hearts of His followers. He lives

in the hearts of believers, poor, persecuted, victimized, and the marginalised people. He is present wherever there is a human need.  

             

Jesus lives through Gospel – in His spirit – in His promises – in the prayers of believers. He has been living in testimonies of His followers down the centuries.

           

            3. Come and  see – check the evidence – the angel invited women to take a look.

·       The tomb was empty – the body was not there.

·       The stone was removed so that anyone can go in and make a personal inspection. Jesus had vacated the tomb before the stone was removed!

·       Resurrection is a historical fact – IT HAPPENED!

·       The Resurrection is a victory Jesus achieved over Death/Satan.

·       1Corinth 15:13 …if the Messiah has not been raised, then our message means nothing and your faith means nothing.

·       He physically appeared for 40 days after the resurrection and was once seen by 500 at the same time.

·       Eye witness report of Peter and John – they were 100% sure –

      (Acts 4: 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have     seen and hear)

·       His living presence has changed the lives of believers over twenty centuries.

·      The courage of martyrs – their testimonies - believers’ accomplishment.

·       Power of Spirit which brought Jesus back is available today for us.

·       Evidence in His promises – He was going to the Father, will return.

·       Promises fulfilled, yet to be fulfilled, Christian hope.

           

            4. Go quickly and tell - Matthew 28:19 -- the great commission

·       God Himself is an evangelist, for He “preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham” (Galatians 3:8);

·       Jesus Christ was an evangelist, for He “preached the gospel”

      (Luke 20:1)

·       Paul: Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! (1Corinth 9:16)

·       Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry. (2Tiimothy  4:5)

·       All the early disciples who, on being driven out of Jerusalem, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4)

·       Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have (1Peter 3:15)

·       You are light of earth…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

·       Phillip’s effective witnessing earned the first Ethiopian convert to Jesus and through him the Gospel reached Africa (Acts 8:26-40).

·       Peter’s witnessing brought Cornelius, his household and friends to the Lord; The Holy Spirit amazingly descended on them and the Gospel was opened to the Gentile world (Acts 10).

            5. I have told you – God has told us –

God has told us of the veracity of the resurrection through the experience of the women. Today we know the truth through the Bible—told to us from cradle to grave. We have no excuse.

Romans  1:20  For since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been understood and observed by what he made, so that people are without excuse.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the unique One, who is Himself  God is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

Hebrews 1:1, 2 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son, he created the universe.

Millions are perishing for lack of knowledge. God depends on you to go and tell them. What will you do?

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