1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10
Introduction: We just heard the moment everything changed — “He is not here, for He has risen.” That first Easter morning, fear turned into faith, and mourning gave way to awe. Jesus didn’t just come back to life—He rose as King. Today, we celebrate the risen Christ—our AWESOME KING who came, who conquered sin and death, and who WILL COME AGAIN.
Big Idea: Jesus is our awesome King and is worthy of our praise for His
1. Marvel at the Glory of the King Who came
- a. Colossians 1:15-17 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through Him and for Him.”
- b. Worship is the natural response to His greatness. He is King over everything-from galaxies to your daily struggles.
- c. Trust Him with what overwhelms you. He names the stars (Psalm 147:4)-He sees you.
2. Rejoice in the Victory of the King Who Rose
- a. Romans 6:9-10 “We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death he died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God.”
- b. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “…The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ…”
- c. Matthew 28:6 “He is not here; He has risen” (οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἠγέρθη, ouk estin hōde, ēgerthē). The passive verb ēgerthē (has risen) emphasizes that God the Father raised Jesus—His victory is an act of divine power.
The gospel is not “
God has
3. Long for the Return of the King Who Reigns
- a. Revelation 21:3-5 “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with Man…He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former. Things have passed away.”
God makes His home
- b. Kainos (καινός) – “new” doesn’t mean brand new from scratch but made new, restored, redeemed to perfection. (v.5)
- c. We are not waiting for an ending but for a beginning that never ends.
Jesus came in
Let this Easter fill your soul with
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
What is your story of coming to faith in the person and work of Jesus?
Why do we often forget or minimize the power of the resurrection in our daily
lives?What emotions or hopes come to mind when you think of Jesus returning?