Matthew 28:1-7

A Day of New Beginnings

April 16, 2006

Introduction: “Today is the first day of the best days of your life.”  It is so often that persons use this day as a day to throw stones at not so frequent church goers.  But the purpose of this sermon today is to focus on this day being a day of newfound opportunity.

The gospels do not share the birth story of the Messiah.  But they do share the death story of the Messiah.  They all share the resurrection story.  There are a few things a person should know on this very special day.

I.       Know that there is no obstacle too great for Jesus.

·        Cp. Matt. 27.60 and 28.2  in how there was a stone in front of the grave.  The stone was there to keep people out and Jesus in. 

·        Illustration using Abraham and Sarah, “Is there anything too hard for God?” 

·        Illustration using the 2 fish/five loaves of bread

·        Illustration using Lazarus in the grave and Jesus calling him back to life, “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

·        There is no sickness, disease or epidemic that he cannot cure.

II.      Know that Jesus will do just what He says.

·        It is easy to possible to lack faith in God.

·        Compare Mt. 17:22-23, “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men; And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again…”

·        “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path.”

III.    Know that the resurrection/gospel about Jesus still needs to be heard.

·        (v.7) Go quickly and tell

·        It is an urgent message

·        It is a message that must be told by all who experience his power and presence and forgiveness

Conclusion:  Know that there is still JOY in knowing Jesus.

·        Illustration-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. His mind, wit and work earned him the unofficial title of "the greatest justice since John Marshall." At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: "I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers."

·        (v.9) “All hail”  means “O, joy!” 

·        They worshipped at his feet.

·        A conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they weren't free to say "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord." All through the service balloons ascended, but when it was over 1/3 of the balloons were unreleased. Let your balloon go.