Easter Imperatives
Introducution
Matthew 28:1-10
1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first {day} of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; 4 and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me." (NAS)
I believe the Word of God is precise and accurate. I believe every once in a while you will run across a significant illustration of this truth you had over looked. This week my mine was refreshed concerning the credibility of witnesses. Did you know that in Bible times the credibility of women as witnesses was less than that of a male witness?
Think about that as you note the Bible tells us women were the first to witness the resurrection. If the Bible were man's doing he would surely have jumped to the record of the male witnesses.
But God in His Word simply reports truth. In that truth today I want you to notice some Easter Imperatives.
1. Do Not Be Afraid.
2. Come and See.
3. Go and Tell.
I. First: Do Not Be Afraid. verses 5 - 6 a
5 And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
A. Do Not Have A Fear of Circumstances. v 1 - 5 a
1. From the . . Quaking of the Earth. v 1-2
2. From the . . Presence of the Guards. v 4
“… and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.”
“…Fear not ye . . . “ KJV - - - - - Don't be like the guards.
3. From the . . …Power of the Priest. (Inferred)
4. From the . . Presence of the Angels. v 5 a
5. From the . . Removal of the Stone.
B. Do Not Have A Fear of Consequences. v 5 b
"… looking for Jesus who has been crucified."
1. GREEK = He is Eternally the Crucified One.
2. If God says it is finished in the Crucified One what can you or I add to it?
C. Do Not Have A Fear of Consideration. v 6 a
"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. . . "
In the final months of Jesus teaching on this earth He never talked about His death without also mentioning the resurrection.
Illustration: My granddaughter awakened from her nap and did not hear anyone. She called out and got no answer. She started crying. Teri (my daughter) heard her and came, and said honey didn't I tell you I would not go off and leave you. Savannah said, "Yes, but I thought maybe you forgot." Jesus did not forget His promises.”
Illustration: Most major religions of the world adore some great but dead leader or philosopher. Christianity alone declares its faith in a living, resurrected Savior.
A missionary was explaining this truth to some people. He said, "I am traveling and have reached a place where the road branches off in two direction. I look for a guide and find two men: One is dead and the other alive. Which of the two should I ask for directions, the dead or the living?" The people responded, "The living." "Then," said the missionary, "why do you follow a leader who is dead instead of Christ, who is alive?"
If we believe in the actual, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, then we will have no difficulty in believing anything else in God's Word.
Application Everyone has some reoccurring Fear.
Adolescence: I know a young boy who liked a little girl. His dad said you will have to tell the girl's father you like his daughter. The boy did and the Father said,"Well you are SOS around our house. Some One Special.
Teens: What will I do in my future? What will I major In? What about boyfriend or girlfriend?
Single Adult: Who will I marry?
Young Adult: Can I be a good parent, provider?
Median Adult: Can we provide, am I a good parent?
New Senior Adult: Do we have enough for retirement?
Older Senior Adult: What about my mate if I die first. Will I be able to live alone or go to Nursing Care?
The message of the resurrection is fear not.
1 Pet 5:7-8 (NAS) casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.8 Be of sober {spirit,} be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Matt 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and {yet} your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (NAS)
Matt 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (NAS)
A Easter Imperative is "Do Not Fe Afraid”
II. Second: Come and See. v 6 b
6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
A. This is an Inviting Imperative.
1. We in Missouri are Show Me Folks.
2. I like that. I prefer to see for myself.
3. You are invited to "come and see"
B. This is an Investigative Imperative.
GREEK See = perceive or know John 8:14
14 Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of myself, My witness is true; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, or where I am going. (NAS)
1. There is nothing hidden.
2. If you want to know you can.
a. Great Minds Embrace Christianity.
b. Some Great Minds reject Christianity.
1) Why? Morality and a commitment.
Illustration: I am so glad that God's word includes every one on earth. He said: "Whosoever will, may come and have Life everlasting." All a man has to do is to will to come, and he will be all right. If a man should go to hell who had never had a chance to go to heaven, I believe there would be such a commotion raised in the devil's domain that the angels of damnation would sympathize with him. But no one is going to heaven unless he wills to go, for it is very much like one old fellow observed, "No one will be elected unless he or she is a candidate."
Application
Are you a candidate? Do you Investigate.
An Easter Imperative is Come and See.
III. Go and Tell. v 7 -10
A. Tell with a Priority. v 7 a
". . . "And go quickly and tell . . . "
Illustration: In the Cafeteria at the hospital I saw a Lady, and her boy, and she had ear rings, and necklace with a cross on them. I asked her, “Why do you wear jewelry with a cross on it?” She said, “Because I am a Christian. Believe me that's the only reason.” I said, “Amen,” and she said, “Thanks for asking.”
B. Tell with a Plan. v 7 b
". . . His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going
before you into Galilee, . . . "
Illustration: 30 years ago there was a revival of the God is Dead Philosophy. The Great Negro preacher in San Diego California S. M. Lockridge said< “That can't be true. I am part of the next of kin and I was not notified!"
The angel says tell the disciple first.
C. Tell with a Passion. v 7 c
“. . . there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
Illustration: When I went to visit Chuck Rowlett this week his roommate chimed into our discussion. He said, "You’re a Baptist aren't you?" I asked him how he could tell, and told him I was glad it showed. I thought I heard him say he was going home on that day, so I asked, "Are you going home today?” and he said, "One home are the other." I asked, "What do you mean?" and he said, “My heavenly home.”? I asked, "Do you know you’re going to heaven:?” He said, "Well, as much as you can know." I asked, "How do you know?" and he went all around the world, and then said, "Well, the only way anybody is going is through Christ.” Latter Chuck said to me, "It took him a long time to get to the right answer didn't it.” I said, “I think he took the Episcopalian door to get to a Baptist answer, but I believe he knew the Lord.”
D. Tell with a Proof. v 8-10
8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me." (NAS)
1. Proof: Their Joy outweighed their Fear. v 8
"Their joy is due to all that the women saw and heard; and this joy predominated over the fear, for "MEGALAS" does not modify both nouns but only the last, the nouns have different genders." Lenski p 1156
2. Proof: Meeting and Worshiping the Risen Lord. v 9
"Saints running in the way of obedience are likely to be met by Jesus." Spurgeon p 255
3. Proof: Confirmation of the Angelic Message. v 10
"Christ endorses the Obedient Angels." Spurgeon p 256
Conclusion
OUR DAILY BREAD - Friday 10th April 1998
A little girl was critically injured in an accident and taken to a hospital. She had lost a great deal of blood and needed a transfusion, but her blood type was rare. Finally it was discovered that her 7-year-old brother had the same blood type. The doctor took him into his office and told him, "Your sister is very sick. Unless she gets some blood, I'm afraid the angels are going to take her to heaven. Are you willing to give your baby sister your blood?" The boy's face turned pale, and his eyes widened in fear. After some agonizing moments he whispered to the doctor "I'll give my sister my blood." As the transfusion took place, the boy watched as his blood passed through a tube to his sister. The doctor noticed that the boy seemed nervous and said, "It will all be over before long." At that moment, big tears welled up in the boy's eyes and he said, "Will I died pretty soon then?" He thought he was giving his own life to save his little sister!
There is no greater love. Jesus lay down His life for us even before we were His friends. "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God.
We Have the Privilege to participate in these Easter Imperatives.
1. Do Not Be Afraid.
2. Come and See.
3. Go and Tell.