The Resurrection & Me!

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-23

The world is celebrating our Lord's resurrection. – From our scripture reading we can see that the resurrection carried a message to both friends & enemies of our Lord alike! – Today we will examine some attitudes that these same groups have towards the Res.!

•  My Attitude Towards the Resurrection, (Matthew 28)

A. Intro: The People at the Tomb

1. The Women = Followers, ( v. 1 ), “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.” - Came, not to see a Resurrection – but a tomb !
a. Mary Magdalene had been a follower of Jesus – because of what He had done for her during His life.
1) Needs a better PR person. – She is not the adulterous woman ( Jn. 8 ), or a prostitute ( Lk. 7 ).
2) All the Bible says, ( Mk. 16:9 ), “…Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out 7 demons.”
b. ( Mk. 15:47 ), “Mary the mother of Joses were looking to see where He was laid” – ( Mk. 16:1 ), “…Mary the
mother of James & Salome brought spices to anoint Him.” – ( Mk. 6:3 ), “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and brother of James & Joses , and are not his sisters here with us?” – Thus, “other Mary” = Jesus mother.
c. How many “Marys” are here today? – Maybe a family member – or maybe as a follower He has helped!
1) Or maybe you are looking to begin a relationship? – For life has distracted you until now.
2) What are you seeking today? – Jesus guarantees that you will find it, ( Matt. 7:7 ), “Ask and….”

2. The Guards = Enemies, ( vs. 2-4 ), “Behold, a severed earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord had descended
from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. – And his appearance was like lightning, and his garments
as white as snow; - and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.”
a. His enemies are now more afraid after His death – then they were during His life.
1) They ask Pilate, ( Matt. 27:64-65 ), “‘Give orders for the grave to be made secure until the 3 rd day,
[even His enemies understood the importance of the 3 rd day] lest the disciples come and steal Him away
and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception be worse than the first.' –
Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.'”
2) They didn't need to fear His disciples, ( Jn. 20:19 ), “…the doors were shut where the disciples
were, for fear of the Jews.”
b. This was supposed to have been the easiest detail ever – “Guard a dead man's tomb!”
1) Yet God allowed events to strip away their comfort.
2) God still does this – to shake up our lives in order to get our attention!
3) For if Jesus has been raised – then what He said has authority – ( Lk. 6:46; Jn. 12:48 ).
4) For if Jesus has been raised – then I will answer for my life – ( II Cor. 5:10 ).
5) For if Jesus has been raised – then this world is not important – ( Mk. 8:36 ).

B. Attitudes #1: Fear and Great Joy, (vs. 5-8)

1. Two heavenly encouragements and how the people responded…
a. ( v. 5 ), “Angel said to the women, ‘ Do not be afraid ; for I know you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.'
1) Today our nation is racked with fear; Iraq, Afghanistan, National Health, taxes, debt, etc.!!!
2) But in the grand scheme of things – if Jesus has been raised – WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR!
3) ( Heb. 2:14-15 ), Since children share in flesh & blood, He likewise partook of the same, that through….”
4) What could we accomplish if we had no fear?! – Everything you've wanted to do – you could!
5) We are slaves of our fears!! – If our greatest fear is “death” – the resurrection teaches we have 0 to fear!!!
b. ( v. 6 ), “He is not here, He has risen, just as He said. Come see the place where He was lying .”
1) The stone was rolled away, not to let Jesus out – but to let us look in & see that He is not dead.
2) God invites us to investigate His claims – and practice them, ( Jn. 8:31-32; Rom. 12:2 ).
c. ( v. 8 ), “And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear & great joy and ran to report it to the disciples.”
1) The opportunity to report to others this wonderful news – is our great privilege, ( Mk. 16:15 ).

C. Attitude #2: Denial, (vs. 11-15)

1. “Some” of the guards returned, ( v. 11 ), “…behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief
priests all that had happened.”
a. Only some returned and those who did had something to fear!
1) Rome punished those who lost a prisoner. – After an earthquake in Philippi where Paul was
imprisoned, ( Acts 16:27 ), “When the jailer had been roused out of sleep and had seen the prison
doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped.”
b. ( vs. 12-14 ), “And when they had assembled with the elders and counseled together, they gave a large sum of
money to the soldiers, and said, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were
asleep.” – And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.'”
1) Notice the hardness of some peoples' hearts – they are told the truth by men who had every reason to lie.
– And yet still chose not to believe! – Jesus had told us about folks (then/now) who are like this…

c. ( v. 15 ), “And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story had been widely spread
among the Jews, and is to this day.”
1) Their desire to “get ahead in the world” – caused them to lie – and take the money and run!!!

2) What might cause us to not be honest about the truth; fear of losing friends/$$$/job/etc.???!!!
3) Denial is still rampant, ( Matt. 10:33 ), “Whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him….”

D. Attitudes #3: Worship and Doubt, (vs. 16-17)

1. The apostles listened to the women's report, ( vs. 16-17 ), “The eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain
to which Jesus had designated. – And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.”
a. “Doubts” are not fatal – unless we put more faith in our doubts than we place in the truth!
1) Matthew does not record the meeting that night (with the 10) or a week later (with the 11).
2) After these two appearances – His apostles would have been firmly convinced!
3) This was slightly later, ( I Cor. 15:4-6 ), “…He was raised from the dead, according to the
Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the 12. – After that He appeared to more than 500
brethren at one time.”
4) Satan would like for us to believe our doubts & doubt our beliefs, rather than to believe our…!
b. So where are you this morning? – Are you willing to love someone you cannot see??!
1) ( I Pt. 1:8 ), “…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now,
but believe in Him, you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”
2) If you don't think it is possible to love someone you have never seen – just ask a pregnant
woman how she feels about her unborn child!!!
3) So what attitude best describes you: Fear? Joy? Denial? Doubt? Worship?!

E. RESPONSE: (vs. 18-20) . . .

1. The resurrection is the final proof of Jesus, ( Rom. 1:4 ), “Jesus Christ, our Lord, was declared the Son of God with
power by the resurrection from the dead.”
a. Therefore, He has every right to say, ( Matt. 28:18-20 ), “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth. – Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the....”
1) Some people question the necessity of baptism, ( I Pt. 3:21 ), “Baptism now saves you….”
2) Others question the mode of immersion, ( Rom. 6:3-4 ), “Do you not know that all of us….”
3) Still others wonder if it makes a difference, ( Eph. 4:5 ), “One Lord, one faith, one baptism!”

b. So are you ready to become a follower of the resurrected Lord? – Or does FEAR, DENIAL OR
DOUBT stand in your way?!
c. HE IS RISEN!!! – Today is a day of GREAT JOY & WORSHIP! – Come now to be saved…!