UNCOVERING THE TRUTH
MATTHEW 28:1-15, 16-20; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-8
WESTLAND BAPTIST CHURCH
ROY MEADOWS, LEAD PASTOR
APRIL 27, 2025
Matthew 28:1-15 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Verse 2 Nature took notice of the resurrection.
Verse 2-7 Angels recognized the resurrection.
Verse 8 Women received the news of the resurrection with great joy.
Verse 9 Jesus confirmed His resurrection.
Verse 10 Jesus wanted others to know about the resurrection.
Verse 11 The guards reported the resurrection.
Verse 12-15 The enemies of Jesus affirmed the resurrection by trying to devise a plan to deny the resurrection .
Over 500 people witnessed resurrected Savior.
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 “3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
AND THAT IS WHY THE DISCIPLES WOULD GIVE THEIR LIVES, WHATEVER THE COST, TO TELL THE WORLD ABOUT JESUS!
Matthew 28:16-20 “16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
AND THAT IS WHY, 2000 YEARS LATER, WE STILL CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS AND GO THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, WHATEVER THE COST, PROCLAIMING SALVATION IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
For more insights into the resurrection of Jesus Christ, please read the 90-page book ‘THE CASE FOR EASTER’ by New York Times Bestselling Author LEE STROBEL. Strobel was an atheist and investigative journalist desiring to show evidence of the ‘myth’ of the resurrection. The evidence he uncovered led Strobel to become a follower of Jesus.