Sunday School Lesson
April 11 2004
THE EMPTY TOMB
Matthew 28:1-15
Focal verses Matthew 28:1-15
Devotional Reading—LUKE 24:1-12
1. We should be able to know that JESUS’ BLOOD was shed to pardon our sin
2. We should be able to know that through HIS DEATH and RESURRECTION we can have everlasting life.
“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” (Matthew 28:5-6).
Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on Easter morning. After a great earthquake, an angel came and rolled away the stone so that the women could see inside the tomb. JESUS was no longer there. HE had risen from the dead. As the frightened but happy women ran to tell the disciples, JESUS met them.
By way of background, when the religious leaders conspired to have JESUS crucified, they thought it would be the end of HIM. They hadn’t heard of anyone else dying on a Roman cross and coming back to life. Therefore, they thought their troubles with JESUS and HIS claim to be the SON of GOD were finally at rest. However, little did they know that death could not hold HIM in the grave. JESUS fulfilled GOD’S PLAN to save believers from their sins, defeat Satan once and for all, establish HIS eternal kingdom, and give HIMSELF the glory.
In Matthew 27:52-65, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They remembered JESUS’ WORDS that “after three days, I will be raised from the dead.” Therefore, they wanted the tomb sealed and guards posted at the tomb to ensure that this claim could not be made. The guards used the pretext, however, of protecting the tomb.
1. JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD (Matthew 28:1-7)
The Greek word for “sabbath” is sabbaton. When the sabbath was over, and it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and others went out to visit the grave. Theologians believe that the other Mary, mentioned in Matthew 28:1, was not JESUS’ mother but possibly Mary, the wife of Cleophas (john 19:25). She also could have been JESUS’ aunt, the mother of James and John (Matthew 27:56). They came during the dawn of morning to the tomb.
When the angel rolled the stone away, it was not done so that JESUS could get out of the tomb. JESUS was and is the SON of GOD; HE needed no help. The angels rolled the stone away so others could get in and see that JESUS had indeed risen from the dead, just as HE said (v.2). The appearance of the angel frightened the guards to the point that they shook with fear. They didn’t realize that they were seeing the salvation plan of ALMIGHTY GOD unfold right before their eyes (v.4).
The angel who announced the GOOD NEWS of the RESURRECTION to the women gave them four messages: (1) Don’t be afraid. The reality of the RESURRECTION should bring joy, not fear. JESUS is no longer dead. Therefore, believers can be dead to sin and alive to GOD through JESUS CHRIST. (2) JESUS is not here. JESUS could not be found among the dead. HE had risen just as HE promised. (3) Come and see that JESUS has risen. They could see for themselves that the tomb was empty. It is empty even today. JESUS IS RISEN. (4) Go quickly and tell the GOOD NEWS, the joy of the RESURRECTION, to the disciples (vv.5-7). They were to spread the GOOD NEWS as we are today.
Because JESUS kept HIS promise to rise again, Christians can be confident that HE will accomplish everything that HE promised in HIS WORD. We also can be assured of future life after death because HE conquered death when HE rose again. JESUS has the power to bring all who are spiritually dead back to life when they believe in HIM and give HIM control of their lives. We can witness to a dying, lost world that JESUS is more than just a human leader; HE is indeed the SON of GOD!
2. JESUS APPEARS TO THE WOMEN (vv.8-10)
JESUS first appeared to women, not men. Yes, these were frightened, but they were also filled with great joy. Their humanness made them afraid. Their hopefulness filled them with joy. They were obedient and went to tell the disciples what they had seen (v.8). In their joy and excitement, they met JESUS HIMSELF. These women ran to JESUS, held HIS feet, and worshipped their SAVIOR (v.9). Indeed, HE was to be worshipped. HE had fulfilled GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION. Who could doubt that HE was and is the SON OF GOD? These women saw HIM with their own eyes and believed.
Even though the disciples had denied and deserted HIM (all except John), JESUS forgave them. HE sent the women to tell the brothers the GOOD NEWS: JESUS was no longer dead (v.19). Their relationship would now be even stronger than before. HE would meet them in Galilee as HE had previously told them (Mark 14:28). However, the disciples were still afraid of the religious leaders and they were still hiding in Jerusalem (John 20:19). Therefore, JESUS met them first in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36), and later HE met them in Galilee (John 21).
3. RELIGIOUS LEADERS BRIBE THE GUARDS (vv.11-15)
Some of the guards told the leading priests that JESUS was not in the tomb. What they feared had come to pass (v.11). Of course, an urgent meeting had to be called to strategize. If people were excited about JESUS before the crucifixion, there would be no containing them (and Christianity) once the believers found out about JESUS’ RESURRECTION. The leaders knew they had to do something, so they decided to bribe the soldiers and get them to lie about JESUS and HIS RESURRECTION (v.12).
The religious leaders were in a state of panic. Therefore, lying was not beneath their dignity. They had to stop JESUS and the GOOD NEWS at all costs. In fact, these leaders were willing to support the guards in the lie that JESUS’ disciples stole the body while the guards were sleeping (vv.13-14). However, denying the resurrection, ignoring it, or lying about it did not change the fact that JESUS had died and risen from the dead. The complete work of JESUS’ coming was finished!
In HIS humanity CHRIST partook of our sinful, fallen nature. If not, then HE was not “made like unto HIS brethren,” was not “in all points tempted like as we are,” did not overcome as we have to overcome, and is not, therefore, the complete and perfect SAVIOR man needs and must have to be saved. The idea that CHRIST was born of an immaculate or sinless mother, inherited no tendencies to sin, and for this reason did not sin, removes HIM from the realm of a fallen world, and from the very place where help is needed. On HIS human side, CHRIST inherited just what every child of Adam inherits, --a sinful nature. On the divine side, from HIS very conception HE was begotten and born of the SPIRIT. And all this was done to place mankind on vantage-ground, and to demonstrate that in the same way every one who is “born of the SPIRIT” may gain like victories over sin in his own sinful flesh. Thus each one is to overcome as CHRIST overcame. (Rev. 3:21) Without this BIRTH, DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION, there can be no victory over temptation, and no salvation from sin. (John 3:3-7)
THINK ABOUT IT!!!!
Spiritually Yours,
Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr., DD
THINK ABOUT IT!!!!
Spiritually Yours,
Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD