HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID

HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID

PROCLAMATION

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He is risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.’ ”  Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  After the body of Jesus was placed in Joseph’s tomb, a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance. (Matthew 27:59-60)  The chief priests and the Pharisees convinced Pilate to post a guard at the tomb to prevent the Jews from stealing the body and claiming that He had risen from the dead. (Matthew 27:62-66)  After the Sabbath, at dawn there was a violent earthquake.  An angel of The Lord came down from heaven, went to the tomb, rolled the stone away and sat on it. (Matthew 28:1-2)  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb and they saw the angel.  That was when the angel spoke to them and told them that Jesus, The Christ, had risen as He said that He would.  After the women left the tomb to tell the disciples the good news, Jesus appeared to them. (Matthew 28:8-10)  Later Jesus met with His eleven disciples and they worshiped Him.  He spoke with them and gave them what is referred to as “The Great Commission,” to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:16-20)

APPLICATION

The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, is recorded in all four of the gospels. (Matthew 27:26 to 28:8; Mark 15:15 to 16:8; Luke 23:23 to 24:9 and John 19:16 to 20:10)  It was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-6)  The resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, was not witnessed; it must be believed.  Thomas believed after he saw for himself and touched the wounds in His hands and side.  Blessed are those of us that have not seen and yet believe. (John 20:27-29)  However, after He rose from the grave, He appeared for man to see Him on more than forty different times before He ascended to heaven. (Matthew 28:9-10 and 28:11-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-50; and John 20:11-29 and 21:1-23)  For forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3) Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them, touched Him, and at times He ate with them.  His ascension to heaven from a mountain in Galilee was witnessed by the disciples. (Acts 1:9)  The Word of God says it and that settles it.  He is risen.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

PROCLAMATION

 “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.  Come see the place where The Lord lay.”  Matthew 28:6 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the apostle Matthew.  When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the mother of James, arrived at the tomb where the body of Jesus had been placed, they encountered an angel who was sitting on the rock which had sealed the door of the tomb. (Matthew 28:2)  The angel told them that he knew that they were looking for Jesus, who had been crucified, but He was not there. (Matthew 28:5-6)  The angel said, “He is not here; He is risen, as He said.” (Matthew 28:6)  The angel said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!  Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”  Then they remembered. (Luke 24:1-8)

APPLICATION

Each of the four gospels gives an account of the post crucifixion resurrection of Jesus, The Christ. (Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, and John 20:11-12)  Belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is essential for salvation of our lost soul. (Romans 10:9)  There are recorded witnesses to His death on the cross and the placing of His body in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.  There are also many witnesses to His resurrection.  He appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9 and John 20:14-18), then to two of His disciples as they walked towards the village called Emmaus. (Mark 16:12 and Luke 24:13-32)  He appeared to His disciples in the upper room as they ate without Thomas, (Mark 16:14, Luke 24:35-51, and John 20:19-22) and again in the upper room with Thomas present. (John 20:26-29)  He also appeared to His disciples at the sea of Tiberias. (John 21:1-14)  For forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3) Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them, and at times He ate with them.  His disciples witnessed His ascension to heaven from a mountain in Galilee. (Matthew 28:16-17 and Acts 1:9)  The resurrection happened and there are multiple witnesses to verify it.  His crucifixion was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-12)  The only thing left for us to do today is to accept or reject the account of the resurrection of Christ as it is presented in The Bible, The Holy Word of God.  He is risen.  Have a blessed and happy celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.