Matthew 28:1-10 (NLT)

The Resurrection

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

John 1:14,18 (NLT)

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE RESURRECTION?

1. We choose not to live in fear.

Matthew 28:5 (NLT)

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

John 3:16-17 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

1 John 4:15-19 (NLT)

15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE RESURRECTION?

1. We choose not to live in fear.
2. We choose to investigate: "Come & See."

Matthew 28:6 (NLT)

He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE RESURRECTION?

1. We choose not to live in fear.
2. We choose to investigate: "Come & See."
3. We choose to go & quickly tell.

Matthew 28:7 (NLT)

And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

For My Personal Time With God This Week:

[#1] Carefully read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection this week (Matthew chapters 26-28). As you saw the story unfold, what does it make you stop to think about, or consider?
[#2] This week we saw that the resurrection story reminds us not to live in fear, to investigate faith further (take one step closer to Jesus), and to be quick to tell others. Which of these do you believe God most wants you to work on this week? Why? What might happen — what do you think would change — if you did?
[#3] Pastor Dave showed a video clip of an author named Jon Tyson this weekend about why we can trust in Jesus. Take some time to watch a few more videos like this at www.exploregod.com, and perhaps even share one or two of them online with someone else (it is a way you can “go and tell”!).