He has risen

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MT 28:2There 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. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.… 11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, “You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So 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.

When news spread among the Roman guards that Jesus had risen from the dead, the Jewish priests and elders were greatly alarmed. They knew they had put to death an innocent man. The spirit of truth was now breaking forth.

Stricken by sheer panic, they devised a plan to cover-up the truth. They resorted to bribery. They instructed the Roman guards to spread lies that the disciples stole the body of the Lord from the tomb while they were sleeping.

Just like all lies, the conspiracy between the Romans guards and the religious leaders eventually collapsed.

After three days, the tomb of Jesus was empty. He had risen from the dead just as he predicted. No matter how the conspirators tried to make their lie airtight, it simply cracked under the pressure of truth. Jesus indeed rose from the dead.

In the next 40 days, he would be seen and heard by many. The Bible documents 11 post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. He appeared to Mary Magdalene; to two travelers on the road to Emmaus; to Peter in Jerusalem; to 10 disciples in the Upper Room; to seven disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee; to 11 disciples on the mountain in Galilee; to more than 500 men later; to his brother James; and finally, to a number of his disciples in Mount Olives just before he ascended to heaven before their very eyes.

Jesus is not a liar

Matthew 27:63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver/liar said, `After three days I will rise again.’ A liar is not just one who makes untruthful statements. The more complete definition is that a liar is one who makes untruthful statements with an intention to deceive.

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, he was always questioned about his intentions. Some thought his intention was to build a kingdom for himself. Some thought his intention was to make trouble for the religious authorities. Some even said his intention was to usher in a new kind of religious movement by the use demonic powers.

But you see, none of these was ever true. Jesus’ true intention was to seek and save the lost. His intention was to fulfill God’s salvation-plan. His intention was to open the life-gate that all may go in. In short, the intentions of Jesus were pure, holy and trustworthy.

We are living in world that does not understand trustworthiness. For our generation, phrases like “hidden-motives”, “double-agent” and “secret-agenda” are heard all the time.

In politics, business circles, religious communities and even in family relationships, deception and betrayal are ordinary occurrences. The effects are quite devastating, and we do not even realize it.

As a result, people do not know how to trust. We are suspicious and skeptical. We are defensive and protective of ourselves. We feel vulnerable, insecure and unsafe, even in matters concerning our faith and our relationship with God.

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is God’s powerful way of restoring the spirit of faith and trust in our hearts. When Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would, the world came face to face with a trustworthiness that it had never seen before.

It was a kind of trustworthiness that opened our eyes to the Lord’s sovereign rule over life and death. It was a kind of trustworthiness that restored our confidence in the wisdom and purposes of God. It was a kind of trustworthiness that silenced our every insecurity and fear. It was a trustworthiness that made the world realize that in Christ, God is for us and not against us.

When our lives are shaken, and when we are overwhelmed by the trials of life, it is difficult to turn to the trustworthiness of the Lord.

As a pastor, I have journeyed with so many people in their struggles with life. When we are visited by sickness, when our financial resources are depleting, when our families go through periods of shaking, we cannot help but feel unsafe, vulnerable, and even skeptical.

But you see, this is the very message of the Lord’s resurrection. When these seasons of life come, our spirits must be quick to turn to the trustworthiness of Jesus. He is our risen Christ. Those who put their faith in him will also be raised up when they fall.

Jesus Christ is Lord

In the account of Matthew, we read that a very violent earthquake shook the earth. An angel of the Lord came down from the heavens and rolled the stone away. When the women saw the angel, they were simply told, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said..”.

After his death, the corpse of Jesus was placed in a solid rock tomb owned by a rich man, Joseph of Arrimathea. By means of levers, an extremely large stone weighing approximately two tons was rolled against the entrance of the tomb. Elite Roman guards were stationed to guard the tomb upon the strict instructions of Pilate.

But you see, all these elaborate military precautions were not enough to hinder God’s hand. It was the day of vindication. God had set the stage for his victory to be displayed in Jesus Christ. He is Lord over life. He is Lord over death. The resurrection is too powerful to be explained humanly.

How can a lifeless corpse suddenly just come back to life after three days in a closed tomb? How can a tortured body suddenly just rise up in full glory for all the people to see?

The world will always trivialize the Christ we are worshipping. The world will always underestimate the kingdom he has built.

But you see, no matter how much the world would belittle and undermine it, the truth cannot be hidden or denied. The tomb is empty. He is alive, just as he said! What an awesome hope… What a breathtaking truth…What a glorious guarantee that in Christ, death has been conquered and eternal life has become ours. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

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