The resurrection
of Jesus
'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 to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a
great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and
rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like
lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did
shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women,
Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not
here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 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.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did
run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples,
behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the
feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my
brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 'Matthew 28:1-10
Mary Magdalene and
the other Mary came very early in the morning, after the Sabbath, to anoint the
body of the Lord, and they said to one another, who shall roll us away the
stone from the door of the sepulcher? And an angel of the Lord, having rolled
away the stone, sat upon it. Then they saw the angel, and his appearance like a
lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow and they were afraid.
The angel then said
to the women
1. “Why seek you
the living among the dead?
2. “He is not
here, but is risen: remember that he spoke unto you when he was in Galilee,
3. "The Son
of man must be delivered into the hands of the wicked and be crucified, and
rise on the third day."
4. “Come and see
the place where the Lord lay.
5. “And go
quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.”
As told by the
angel, Mary Magdalene saw in the tomb, but what was recorded in her mind was
that there was no body of the Lord.
She hurried to
report to the apostles, and met Peter and John and told them, "They have
taken the Lord from the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him."
It was John who first realized the marvelous message of the Resurrection. He, saw,
believed, and wrote, while others were still unaware of the scripture that
Jesus had to Risen from the dead.
The resurrection
of Jesus is one of the most important parts of the gospel truths.
'For I delivered
unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our
sins according to the scriptures; after that, he was seen of James; then of all
the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due
time. '1 Corinthians 15:3,7-8
The importance of
the resurrection of Christ to all who believe in Him
1. Confirmation
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
‘Therefore doth my
Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man
taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down,
and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my
Father. 'John 10:17-18
'Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life. 'Romans 6:4'And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet
in your sins. '1 Corinthians 15:17
3. He confirms the
authenticity of the Scriptures. Then opened he their mind, that they might
understand the scriptures;
'And the times of
this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 'Acts
17:30-31
4. Our daily
experience and power of Christ will make us victorious over sin.
'I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me. 'Galatians 2:20 'The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the
riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and
set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 'Ephesians 1:18-20
After his
resurrection, Christ remained on the earth for forty days, appearing and
speaking to the apostles and his followers.
1. to Mary
Magdalene. 'Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the
Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 'John 20:18
2. to the women
who returned to the tomb.
'And as they went
to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came
and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 'Matthew 28:9
3. to Peter
'Saying, The Lord
is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 'Luke 24:34
4. On the same
day, two of the disciples
'And, behold, two
of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem
about threescore furlongs. And it came to pass, as he sat at the table with
them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their
eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And
they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked
with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 'Luke 24:13,30-32
5. All who believe
in Christ and his gospel should be baptized in water.
'And now why
tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the
name of the Lord. 'Acts 22:16
6. Christ will be
with his faithful followers through the power of the Holy Spirit.
' And, behold, I
send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,
until ye be endued with power from on high. 'Luke 24:49
' But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth. 'Acts 1:8
