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The Best News Matthew 28:1-10
Introduction
What is the best news you’ve ever heard? You’re Hired! It’s a Girl! You’ve gotten a clean bill of health! I don’t know for each of you in specific, but I do know that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the greatest news
you have ever heard. There is no other event or happening in the history of the world that has had so many effects on humanity. On this Easter Sunday millions of Christians around the world are remembering the death, burial, resurrection, reign and return of Jesus Christ.
Watchman Nee: “Our old history ends at the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.”
Read Text
Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:25-26
Do we believe this? Is it just a fact we acknowledge as true, but have not allowed it to soak into our spirits? “I believe it”.
The message of the Resurrection is one of urgency and joy, even today. Today we are going to look at some things the Resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals to us today as we rejoice in its message.
1. Jesus Has Authority Over Life and Death
John 10:18 “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
This is THE issue of our lives… life, death, loss … these terms define who we are and what our experiences are. Jesus has authority over these issues. Eternal life is a reality.
2. Jesus Has Authority Over Sin and Satan
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The only way we could be saved is for Jesus to have power over the hold that sin has in our life. We are rescued from hell by the blood of Jesus!
3. Jesus has authority over you and me.
We live in a country where freedom of religion is protected under our constitution. People are free to believe or not believe. We may not bow to the authority of Jesus Christ, or we may. The resurrection proves that Jesus is Lord and One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:9-11)
It is our privilege to bow before Him today!
4. Jesus Loves Us deeply
Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We are loved by the eternal son of God who knows everything about us. I’ve given him a million reasons not to love me, and he hasn’t taken me up on one yet.
5. I Will See My Loved Ones Again.
When Jesus rose from the dead he gave us assurance of the truth of eternal life. This gives us the hope of being in heaven with all who lived and loved Jesus Christ. It is so important for us to follow Christ so that our family can be assured that they will see us once again in eternity.
John 14:1-3 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. ...When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
7. I Am Drawn Into an Eternal Family of Believers
1 Corinthians 1:2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
We call upon the name of the Lord and God makes us holy.
Conclusion
1. The Resurrection of Jesus is the core message of Christianity. It
reveals to us:
a. Jesus has authority of life and death.
b. Jesus has authority over sin and Satan.
c. Jesus has authority over you and me.
d. Jesus loves us deeply.
e. We will see our loved ones again.
f. We are drawn into an eternal family of believers.
2. The Resurrection of Jesus is the core of who we are as Christians - we are baptized into the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus
Romans 6:3-5 …When we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.
3. The Resurrection of Jesus is the power behind our baptism, giving us a resurrection into a new life.
4. The Resurrection of Jesus is the source of joy whatever I face in life. It’s the promise that nothing can diminish or destroy. I believe it! Do you believe it?
Scriptures are from the New Living Translation
Resource
Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Matthew by David Platt
