04.17.2022 | HE IS RISEN
HE IS RISEN!
Matthew 28:1-2 – “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.”
Matthew 28:3-4 – “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.”
Matthew 28:5-6 – “But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay.’”
Matthew 28:7-8 – “‘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.”
Matthew 28:9 – “And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him.”
Matthew 28:5-6 – “But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay.’”
John 20:5a – “And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there.”
JESUS IS ALIVE! HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
1. Step into His Resurrection Life and Power
Matthew 28:9a – “And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them.”
Because Jesus rose again, we can be born again!
1 Peter 1:3 (NLT) – “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation.”
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are new creations!
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
When we are born again, the power that raised Jesus from the dead is now living in us.
Ephesians 1:19-20 – “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
2. Step into His Resurrection Joy
Matthew 28:9a – “And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them saying, ‘Rejoice!’”
There is resurrection joy in Jesus Christ!
John 16:20 – “Most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”
Psalm 30:5b – “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:11a – “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing.”
Isaiah 61:5a – “…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning.”
Nehemiah 8:10b – “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
John 15:11 – “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full.”
3. Step into His Resurrection Freedom
Matthew 28:9b – “So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.”
Romans 6:6 – “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of death might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:11 – “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We have been crucified with Christ. We have been buried with Christ. We have been resurrected with Christ. We are seated in heavenly places in Christ.
Jesus Christ has defeated every principality and power of darkness through His death and resurrection!
The power of evil has been broken. We can be free through the power of Jesus Christ!
Discussion Questions:
1. Why does the resurrection of Jesus Christ give us such hope and purpose?
2. How has knowing Jesus in a personal way changed your life?
3. Share of a time you experienced the resurrection joy of Jesus Christ.
4. What are some of the things that try to rob us of that joy?
5. What are some of the tombs that Jesus is calling you out of today?