Let us turn in God's holy word to Matthew chapter 28. Matthew chapter 28, and we'll read the entire chapter. Let us hear the word of the Lord. Matthew 28, you can find it on page 1542 in your Pew Bible. Let us hear the word of the Lord. Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who is 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 indeed, he is going before you into Galilee. There you will see him. Behold, I have told you. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring his disciples' word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, Rejoice! So they came and held him by the feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priest all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldier saying, tell them his disciples came at night and stole his way, stole him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure. So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 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 Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. bless the reading of his precious and infallible word, and also add his blessing on the exposition of it. Dear congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have been looking at gospel pictures as we've really gone through this passion season and leading up to the remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And really, if we even go back a little farther to Advent season, when we remembered the promise that was given in Genesis chapter three, really a gospel picture as well as the promises given to Adam and Eve after the fall, that indeed, the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. He would be victorious over sin, over Satan, over hell, over the grave, over death, and he would crush the head of the serpent. What a glorious gospel picture that we see fulfilled even in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, where he triumphs as a king. one who lives and reigns forever, who has all power given to him, both in heaven and upon earth. And as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as those women and the disciples rejoice to see the Lord risen indeed, this day was a gloomiest day in hell for Satan and all his angels. We recognize that the cross is not the final word in any one of the Gospels, neither is it the final word in Matthew. But the cross opens the way for the day of resurrection. And the resurrection is the final word in the Gospels. Because in the resurrection we have this picture of an empty, open tomb. Remember when we looked at the picture of the Day of Atonement? On the Day of Atonement, only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies with that blood. That would be a propitiatory, a full atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people. And as that high priest was the only one who could go into that Holy of Holies, what we have here on Resurrection Day, is that the stone is rolled away. The tomb is empty. There's no sacrifice lying in the tomb. Because that ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ultimate sacrifice was accepted by His Father. And it opens the way where we might have access to God. What a glorious picture. I'd like to look at this picture of an empty tomb with three thoughts. First of all, we'll see its shocking message. Secondly, its gospel message. And thirdly, its enduring comfort. As these women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, come very early on Sunday morning, the first day of the week. They come expecting a dead Jesus. They came to the tomb to see the tomb. They came, as we find in Luke, prepared with spices to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus, since there wasn't time to finalize the anointing and the proper burial of the Lord Jesus on the day of his death. And they're coming to a dead Jesus. They're coming to one who is in the grave. They've witnessed what has happened on the cross. They witnessed him dying. They witnessed him in the grave. There wasn't even one thought. of him being alive on this day. They come to remember a dead Jesus. And they come with dedication. Early in the morning, the very breaking of dawn, really even the darkest part before the dawn, they're coming with diligence. Diligence and dedication. to care for their Lord, a dead Lord. And as they expected to find the dead body of the Lord Jesus, they come to this tomb. And what they all saw of what happened, very likely, according to the other Gospels, it doesn't appear as if they observed this, but what had happened was that there was a great earthquake. And an angel of the Lord had descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door, and he sat on it. And so as they come to this tomb, they witness an angel sitting on the stone, and the stone being rolled away from the tomb. It's an open, empty tomb. And this angel must have been a shocking appearance to them with this stone rolled away and his countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. So brilliant and bright that the guards themselves shook with fear and became like dead men. But he had a different message for the women who had come to the tomb. The message to the women was, do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. This is why they were there. They were coming to seek a dead Jesus, a dead Lord, and to give him a proper burial. But the angel says this shocking message. He's not here, for he is risen. Their confusion and their perplexity Their sorrow, their sadness, all their depression, their exhaustion, it all is totally turned upside down at this very moment. I'm sure there were many, many questions. I'm sure they were filled with great fear and awe by what had just happened. that the woman found was that they couldn't find Jesus. They couldn't find a dead Jesus. The reality was now this, the tomb is empty. And they're invited to come, to come in and to see where the Lord lay. It's as if there's a present tense. It's as if, I want to show you, says the angel, I want to show you exactly where he lay. There's still evidence that he was here, really here, but now he's alive. What a shocking message, but what an amazing message. To confirm to them the reality of His glorious resurrection. Not only to do it with words, but with very evidence that He is risen indeed. As we find in Acts 1. Acts 1, it testifies of that very truth. That Jesus was risen indeed. In Acts 1, we find that he was seen by many and that God, through infallible or unmistakable proofs of real evidence for these early converts, these early disciples, testify of a risen Savior. It's not just because God said so, but God showed that it was true and it was real. He's risen indeed. No amount of betrayal, no amount of bribery that would lead the soldiers to say, no, somebody just stole away and confuse the people. No, no amount of deception would do. Jesus indeed is risen. See the proof. Hear the truth. He is risen indeed. The picture is one of an empty, open tomb. Shocking as it may be, it's conveying, in our second point, the gospel message. The angel said to the women, do not be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus, the one who was crucified. He's not here. He has risen as He said. Notice those three little words. As He said. Has He not told you He has risen and He was going to be raised from the dead? Has He not told you that you could break down this temple, this body, and on the third day it will be raised again? Has He not told you? of all of these gospel truths throughout his ministry? Has not the Old Testament testified of all of these gospel truths? Have you not understood the pictures that are formed in the Old Testament testifying of one who would have to die for sin, whose blood would have to be shed for sin? Has he not confirmed that to you, that he must go to Jerusalem to be betrayed by men, to be crucified by men, and to die? Have you not said that you will go with him even to death? Has not Jesus told you that you will all scatter and I will die alone for the sins of my people? Has he not told you that on the third day he will be raised again This is the gospel truth. The gospel truth doesn't end in a crucified dead Savior. Because what kind of truth would that be? Paul would say in 1 Corinthians 15 that if that's the truth, then our preaching is in vain, our hope is in vain, our faith is in vain. No, we serve and we worship a risen Lord just as he said. He was crucified. But now he is risen. And that is an immense gospel message. Sometimes I think we focus on the cross. I would say if I asked how many of you, how do you know if you're saved? Say, well, Jesus died on the cross for sinners such as me. His blood was shed to pay the price of my sin, to deliver me from hell. to make the payment that I deserve as he bore the wrath of God. And that's where most of you would probably end with telling me how you know Jesus is a Savior, is your Savior. I'm not saying that's not true. And it's absolutely true. But don't end there. Don't end in a dead Jesus. End in a living Jesus. Because this, if Jesus saved us from hell and the curse of sin, where does that really leave us? It leaves us neutral. It leaves us without any debt. But what is required to get to heaven? What's required to get to heaven is absolute perfect obedience, and how many of you have that? Even if your sins are paid, you still don't have perfect obedience. Just as amazing is the fact that Jesus bore our wrath, bore the wrath of God on our behalf. Just as amazing as that is. This amazing truth that Jesus is perfectly righteous. And he died a perfectly righteous, obedient death. and that God, his Father in heaven, looked on what he did and said, that is sufficient. When Jesus cried out on the cross, it is finished. It was finished. And he could commend his spirit into the hands of his Father in heaven. And although his body went into the grave, his soul went to heaven, and his work was fully accepted by God. Not only that he bore the wrath of God, but that he earned the righteousness that we desperately need to enter into glory. And the open tomb testifies of that truth. Jesus was perfect and righteous, and therefore God raised him from the dead. He has power to give life. And that power to give life is a sure pledge that he has power to give you and me life. And whoever would believe in him would not perish, would not even remain neutral, but have eternal life. And it all comes through Jesus' perfect death and righteousness. that he displayed throughout his whole life. That is the significance of the gospel. And an open, empty tomb testifies of that truth in a powerful way. He's alive, and because he's alive, you can have life. Not only is that a glorious gospel message that comes to us as we believe it and trust it, but it also gives us, as we see thirdly, an enduring comfort, an enduring comfort. These women who come to the grave and encounter then this angel, and look into the grave, and see an empty, open tomb, and they see where the Lord lay, and they see and hear all of these truths, and they're confirmed in their minds and their hearts that indeed what Jesus has said is true. This angel tells them to go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead. He doesn't want Mary and Magdalene and the other Mary, he doesn't... The angel doesn't want them to just hold it into themselves and just have this temporary comfort for themselves. No, I want you to know this comfort, I want you to see it, I want you to hear it, I want you to believe it, and I want it to be an enduring comfort, a comfort that needs to be spread through the whole world even. Go and tell His disciples, He's risen. He's risen indeed. And go into Galilee. Go also into Galilee. And Jesus is going to meet you there. This isn't the only thing that you're going to see is this empty, open tomb. But because of this picture of this empty, open tomb, you can be assured that if you go into Galilee, He will meet you there. You will see him. You will meet with him. He's not alive just for a few moments here to remind you. No, he's not even present here for just a few moments, but for 40 days, he's going to be meeting with them. That they can hear from him, that they can see him, that they would believe. It's his confirmation of his resurrection and enduring comfort also to the church throughout the ages since, and even to the end of the age. And as they go and they're going to tell the disciples what happens, they're still filled with fear. Maybe some perplexity, what in the world just happened? I have this picture in front of them. of an open, empty tomb. They saw where the Lord lay. As they go to bring the disciples' word, they're doing so running with fear and great joy. And as they're doing so, Jesus met them, and he says to them, rejoice! Rejoice, I'm alive! And what did they do? They came and held him by his feet and they worshiped him. Oh, what comfort is afforded to these women. Jesus meets with them and they worship him. They could hold on to his feet and worship him. Rejoice, says Jesus. You came seeking a dead Jesus. Rejoice, here I am, a living Jesus. And he says to them, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. You might have been afraid what's going to happen. I suffered on the cross, was buried, was dead. What happened to our Lord? What happened to our Master? Oh, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid of this shocking picture. Don't be afraid of what the angel has revealed to you. Don't be afraid, but go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. He commissions them again. He speaks comfort to them. He commissions them, and he promises to meet with them again. This is an enduring comfort, reminding them day by day that Jesus is truly alive. He's alive forevermore. And not only is he alive, But as we come just before Jesus ascends to heaven, and he comes and he's teaching the disciples and those around him, he's telling them at the end of Matthew 28, all authority is given to me in heaven and upon earth. I am the king of kings. The grave could not hold me. I'm alive and I am a king and I have power. All authority, both in heaven and upon earth. So therefore, don't just hold this to yourselves, as women, as the disciples, and all who would have seen Jesus in that day, but go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Incorporate them into me, and my power, and my glorious resurrection, because that is an enduring comfort. and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And then he says this, this beautiful testimony. Lo, I am with you always to the end of the age. You see how this is such an enduring comfort? He's not, he wasn't just with us for 33 years. Actually, he's been with us for all eternity. And then he was with us physically for 33 years. He died, but he rose again to be with us even in a more special, intimate way. for the rest of the age and for all eternity. Lo, I am with you always to the end of the age. You see the picture that an empty, open tomb gives us. It gives us a picture of an ascended savior who's seated in power at the right hand of God, who sends forth his spirit into his church, into his people, making them alive, giving them life, being with them in a way that far exceeds physical presence of Jesus with us today. Women, you're seeking a dead Jesus, just a physical corpse. No, seek a living Jesus who's alive forevermore and who holds the very keys of the grave and of death. He has conquered it. And he gives life and he gives everlasting life to all who believe in him. He gives true meaning and value to life even today. If you think about people throughout the ages, have wrestled with the meaning of life. I would say maybe today, it's maybe more prevalent than ever. It's like people are trying to fix a jigsaw puzzle. And they just can't find the right piece. And they've been searching for all of these pieces. place into a key spot in the jigsaw puzzle so that they can keep building off it better. And as they're searching for this piece, they're trying all these different pieces. It might look about like the right color. It might look the right size. But they're just not fitting. And it's not fitting. That's kind of what these women were when they came to the tomb. They had the wrong jigsaw puzzle piece. There's a jigsaw puzzle piece that thought it fit their own reality. A dead Jesus that they saw buried and they're trying to smash it in. But that empty tomb and that open tomb transforms their whole life as God puts the right jigsaw piece right in their hands. And they put it in and it all makes sense. You see, when we see all of the challenges and the difficulties in life, and we see death all around us, and death is ugly, and we live in a world that can't figure out the meaning of life, that sees life as just this cycle, and they're trying to jam The right jigsaw puzzle pieces in to try to make sense of what life is all about, and they just can't do it. But when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to an empty, open tomb, testifying of a risen Jesus, it radically changes everything. You see, in Hamlet, Macbeth said, life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury. Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. That's the wrong jigsaw puzzle piece. at seeking life among the dead and the dying. But the right jigsaw puzzle piece is life. It's in the hands of the one who's given all power both in heaven and upon earth. It's full of purpose. And it signifies that we have a creator. It signifies that there is a Redeemer. It signifies that there's an empty, open tomb to testify that those who believe in a risen Christ will live forevermore. And so when we face all of the challenges of our day, and even face death itself, we can know, because he lives, I can face tomorrow. This is really, we could call one of the culminating gospel pictures. For risen Lord. You've been taught it at Sunday school. Been taught it in your homes. You've been taught it from this pulpit. It has entered your mind. You maybe even believe it in your mind. But do you believe it in your heart? Do you truly believe that Jesus is alive? He is risen indeed. Because that jigsaw puzzle piece will help you make sense of everything else in this life and for eternity. Amen. Lord, we can't comprehend the glory that was revealed on that morning when the earth shook, a stone was rolled away, and an angel was seated on that stone in such a glorious appearance. We can't comprehend what the picture of an empty, open tomb meant for these women and the disciples. It's a picture we have before us even this morning. Pray, O Lord, that you would take that picture of life, a living, risen Savior, and impress it upon not only our minds, but our hearts, helping us to make sense of life, to make sense of death, to make sense of eternity. Oh Lord, we pray that you would take us and give us that life, that comes through a risen Savior, and grant unto us eternal life, we would live forevermore. That we would know that true comfort in life and death, that we belong to Jesus Christ, a crucified and risen Savior. Lord, we pray that as we go forth in the rest of this day, that you would bless our fellowship together. We give thanks for visitors among us also. We pray, Lord, that you would be pleased to encourage us together and help us direct one another to a risen Savior day by day. knowing that comfort that you are with us always, even to the end of the age. We give thanks for your word and your spirit. And so we pray, do your work also in this day. For Jesus' sake, amen.