THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF JESUS
Pastor/teacher Charles e. Whisnant
Easter Sunday April 12, 2009
Jesus is Risen: Matthew 28:1-14, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10
Earthquake and Resurrection
The empty tomb
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 away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. And the angel answered and 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. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me." (28:1–10)
THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. ALL OUR FAITH AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS BASED ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.
THE REACTION TO THE RESURRECTION
- Rationalism
- Unbelief
- Doubt
- Indifference
- Ignorance
- Hostility
- Faith, Affirm, Application
HOW IS YOUR RESPONSE?
THERE IS NO GREATER EVENT IN HISTORY THAN THIS STORY. It's the theme of the New Testament.
Because of the resurrection we have the beginning of the first day of the week for worship.
The resurrection is the Christian believer's HOPE, and FOUNDATION FOR LIFE. John 11:25.
THE RESURRECTION FROM THE WOMEN'S VIEW
Matthew recorded the reaction, attitude, emotion and feelings of the women who came to the tomb of Jesus and how the women experienced the resurrection of Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior.
Mary and Mary Magdalene found Jesus' empty tomb
- The sun had not yet risen in the east, but Mary Magdalene was awake. She had not been able to rest or sleep since Jesus had been crucified She had seen him after he had been beaten and then forced to carry his own cross up the hill to Calvary. That was where they killed him. Now here she was slowly walking toward the tomb where Jesus had been buried. She thought she had run out of tears, but still she cried.
- When she finally reached the tomb, she discovered the heavy stone that had sealed the entrance had been rolled away. Mary carefully stepped into the cold, dark hole that had been carved out of the rock.
1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (the mother of James and Joses) to see the sepulchre. (grave, tomb) Matt 28:1.
Sometime very early Sunday morning, the third day since Jesus had been put in the tomb. At the breaking of light, at the first appearance of daybreak". Thus our Lord rose on the third day; having lain in the grave part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of the following First day.
The Sabbath day, the old covenant came to an end with the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday.. This was the beginning of the new covenant. We begin with the first day of the week not at the end.
WHAT NOW WILL BE THE REACTION OF THE WOMEN WHO COME TO THE GRAVE BELIEVEING THAT JESUS IS DEAD, AND FOUND THAT HE IS GONE.
1A THE EMOTION OF SYMPATHY: Mark 16:1 Luke 23:54 -56
WHY DID THE WOMEN COME TO THE GRAVE? TO BRING SPICES? WHY?
A group of women came to the grave where Jesus was laid. They came not to see the risen Lord but to bring spices and to anoint Him. They had purchased them immediately after the Crucifixion, on the Friday evening, during the short interval that remained to them before sunset, when the sabbath rest began; and that they had only deferred using them to anoint the body till the sabbath rest should be over.
Jewish tradition wrongly held that the spirit of a dead person left the body four days after death because by that time the body had become so disfigured by decay that the spirit could no longer recognize it
So before it came to that they came on the 3rd day to show their love. They didn't have faith in the resurrection, just devotion, love and sympathy, kindness.
WHAT DID THEY DO WHEN THEY CAME TO THE GRAVE? Mark 16:3
"And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?"
They may not have had faith, but they had devotion, and courage.
2A THEY HAD THE EMOTION OF SHOCK: Matthew 28:2 MARK 16.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake Matt 28:2. That got their attention.
Exodus 19:18, I Kings 19:11, Joel 2:10, Revelation 6, 8, 11.
THE EARTHQUAKE: 5.1 A sign of His moving in their midst. (Google gives updates).
An earthquake (also known as a tremor or temblor) is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. ...
Why the earthquake? "for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven," Matt 28:2
To let Jesus out of the tomb? No. "and came and rolled back the stone from the door,"
NO ONE SAW THE RESURRECTON OF JESUS FROM THE TOMB, GRAVE. NO ONE SAW HIM COME OUT OF THE DOOR.
The angels moved the stone to let the women IN. To let them see that Jesus was already gone.
AND the angel "and sat upon it. Vs 2 he is represented as sitting on the stone outside the sepulchre—
Mary Magdalene came into the garden "and see the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she run," John 20:1-2 She doesn't see the angel sitting on the stone.
SO the other women came into the garden "4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. Mark 16:4.
THE ANGEL SITTING OUTSIDE THE GRAVE, CAVE, DOOR, ETC.
Matthew 28. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:" Lighting, blazing, essence, brilliance of God, glow of God, the character of Diety, glowing face. Purity, and holiness. The one expressing the glory, the other the purity of the celestial abode from which he came.
Matthew 28:4 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." (coma you might say.)
THE WOMEN WERE A LITTLE SHOCKED AT THIS. Vs. 5 " And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified." 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. "
JESUS WAS RAISED, 'HE IS ALIVE". Luke 24:5 He is not dead He is alive. HOW? Romans 6:4 and 8:11. "by the power of the Father. And the women remembered. Luke 24:8.
THEN, the angel said COME ON IN, LADIES….. So they went IN.
And the angels showed up on the inside. Luke 24:4-5. One angel at the head and the other at the end of the place where Jesus laid. Here is a symbol of the Mercy Seat. Christ has offered the sanctification for the sin of the world.
THE ANGEL GAVE A THIRD MESSAGE: Luke 24:5-7. "WHY SEEK YOU THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD."
THEN THE ANGEL SAID: 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word Matt 28:7 8.
WHY WERE THE WOMEN THE FIRST TO SEE THE ANGELS AND THE RISEN LORD?
BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE. If you are not there, you are not going to see it.
Personally, I would rather be there experiencing it, than hearing it from someone else.
Personally, I praise God for people who are there:
- They are there when the Lord is working
- They are there when God's people gather.
- They are there when His Word is taught.
- They are there to experience first hand the power and moving of God.
THEY SAW IT BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE.
I pray and hope you will be here at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church to see the working of Christ in this place, and not just read what is happening on the BLOG
:THEY DID NOT FIND JESUS
