THE PROOF IS IN THE RESURRECTION
Matthew 27:62-28:15 King James Version (KJV)
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Text: Matthew 27:62-28:7, 11-15
1. We Heard What He Said (Mt. 27:63-67)
The enemies of Jesus
They come to Pilate saying, “Sir, we remember how this man said that he would rise from the dead after three days.”
They didn’t believe that. If they did, then they would have believed He was who He claimed to be. And if they believed, they would be His followers, and He would be their Lord.
2. We Hear What You Are Saying (Mt. 28:11-15)
The soldiers return to Jerusalem, find the chief rulers, and tell their story.
“We hear what you are saying, but we refuse to
3. We Refuse To Believe The Truth (Mt. 27:40-42; Mt. 12:38-40)
The religious leaders tell the soldiers to tell a lie – His men stole the body from a guarded tomb – to cover up the truth of how an angel rolled the stone back and revealed that the tomb was empty.
Why tell the lie? Because they
Disbelief in Jesus is never an intellectual problem. It is a
People refuse to accept and believe in Jesus because they do not want to.
The sign of all signs, the proof of all proofs is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
You don’t have to see to believe. Seeing isn’t