He is Risen Indeed
Matthew 28

“Part of a journey is the end.” (Tony Stark).  Jesus came to bring salvation to mankind.  His closest followers spent about three years with him; they were his disciples.  They learned from his teaching and by imitating his example.  Toward the end of his earthly ministry Jesus made a shocking announcement to his disciples.  He said he was leaving.  Jesus’ disciples did not want him to leave.  They were not aware of Jesus timetable; they never thought that Jesus would be taken away from them.  Every time Jesus spoke about leaving, he also talked about coming back.  Just like whenever he spoke of his death, he always mentioned his resurrection.

The gospel of John tells us many of those time Jesus told his followers he was leaving.

• John 14:1-3  Don’t let your hearts be trouble.  I am going to prepare a place and come back for you.
• John 14:15-16 I will give you another counselor-the Spirit of truth.  I won’t leave you as orphans.
• John 14:28  You heard me say “I am going away, and I am coming back to you.
• John 16:5 I am going to him who sent me.
• John 16:7  It is for your good that I am going away; if I go, I will send the Spirit.
• John 16:16 In a little while you will see me no more and then you will see me.
• John 16:17-20  The meaning: you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.  Your grief will turn into joy.  Ex. A pregnant woman and her time to give birth comes.
• John 16:22 Now is your time to grieve, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
• John 16:28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
• John 16:32  A time is coming and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home.  You will leave me all alone.  Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
• John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.

When Jesus was taken away that Thursday evening; the disciples were all scattered just as he said.  Jesus was arrested, tried and condemned to die.  That Friday afternoon was devastating for the disciples of Jesus since their hopes and dreams came to an end by a cross.  They never expected Jesus to come back from that one.  They saw the end to their movement.  The cross was the “Game over” sign for the apostles of Jesus.

They missed Jesus’ words about his coming back.  Matt.16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Sunday morning came and we are told that the disciples of Jesus were behind locked doors for fear of the Jews.  They did not get it.  They did not expect the resurrection.  Early on Sunday morning some women went to the tomb expecting to anoint a corpse, but the unthinkable happened.  I would like to read Matthew’s account of that day.  Matt.28:1-10

The women were the first witnesses of the empty tomb.  They had gone to the tomb and found it empty.
The tomb was guarded by Romans, as a request of the Jews. (v.4) (they remembered Jesus’ words about resurrecting on the third day. (Matt.27:63).  They wanted to make sure his body would remain in the tomb.

The angel’s news (v.5)  “I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”
Go tell his disciples the news that he has risen and he is going ahead of you to Galilee, there you will him.
The women hurried away with mixed feelings: (v.8) with fear and great joy.

Jesus appeared to them (v.9)  Greetings!  The women were not only the first witnesses of the empty tomb, they were the first ones to see Jesus and worshiped at his feet.
Jesus commissioned them to go and tell his disciples to go to Galilee where they would meet.
The women went on their way to tell the disciples and the soldiers went to the city to report to the chief priests everything that happened (v.13)

The disciples meeting with Jesus (16-20)
Here is what Jesus had told them.  In a little while you will see me no more and then you will see me.  Here is the part where the disciples’ grief would turn into joy.  There is joy now that Jesus is back.  He did exactly what he said.  The resurrection proves that Jesus is who he claimed to be, the Savior, Messiah, Lord of all.
(v.17)  They saw Jesus, they worshiped him, but some still doubted.

Jesus Christ is the only one worthy of our worship for he is Lord of all.  He proved it by rising from the dead showing that death had no power over him.  All authority in heaven and earth is his.  He commanded his disciples to go and make disciples by spreading the news that he is Lord.

Jesus’ final words to his followers were to make disciples of all nations:  baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus’ teaching.  You and I must tell others that salvation is only found in him.  There is no other name given to men by whom we are to be saved.  Our Lord conquered death.  Christianity exists today because Jesus was risen from the dead.  Your faith is not placed on a dead God.  Our God is not dead, he surely alive.  The lion of the tribe of Judah, had triumphed. (Rev.5:5)

Do you want to begin a journey that has no end?  Make Jesus Lord of your life and he promised eternal life with him.  This journey my friends has no end.