Matthew 28:6: Jesus Is Risen ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Mat 28:6a (KJV) He is not here: for he is risen,

This simply stated fact is the basis of the Christian faith. 
[Ryrie SB] 

Christianity is the only religion whose founder has an empty 
tomb. [CBN News 4/12/09] 

Central to Christian faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. 
By recording over 10 resurrection appearances, the New Testament 
leaves no doubt about this event. 
1. to Mary Magdalene near the tomb (John 20:11-18); 
2. to the women returning from the tomb (28:9, 10); 
3. to Peter (Luke 24:34); 
4. to the disciples on the road to Emmaus in the evening (Luke 
24:13-32);  
5. to all the disciples except Thomas, who was absent (Luke 
24:36-43);  
6. to the disciples, including Thomas, on Sunday night one week 
later (John 20:26-31);  
7. to seven disciples beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25); 
8. to more than 500 people possibly on an appointed mountain in 
Galilee (28:16-20; possibly parallels 1 Cor. 15:6);  
9. to James the half brother of Jesus and the other apostles (1 
Cor. 15:7);  
10. to the apostles at the ascension (Acts 1:3-11). 
11. to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6; 22:1-10; 
26:12-18; 1 Cor. 15:8) [Believers and Nelson SB mod.] 

   All four Gospels give an account of Jesus' resurrection (vv. 
1-10; Mark 16:1-18; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-29). Moreover the rest of 
the New Testament speaks with a tremendous sense of confidence about 
an empty tomb and the triumph of Christ over death. 
   And no wonder. If true, the resurrection is the most amazing 
news the world has ever heard. It means there is a God after all. It 
means that Jesus really is Gods Son. It means that Christ is 
alive"today"and we can know Him and be touched by His life and power. It means 
that we need not fear death the way we once did; we are not destined 
to oblivion but to spend eternity with God. It also means that 
knowing God is of the utmost importance right now, 
   These are important implications, so the question of whether 
Jesus actually rose from the dead is crucial. At least four lines of 
evidence indicate that He did: 
   (1) Jesus really was dead. Every source we have indicates 
that Jesus was publicly executed before large crowds. He was 
certified as dead by both a centurion in charge of the execution"a 
professional whose job it was to determine that death had taken place"and 
by the regional governor, Pilate, who sent to have the matter 
checked.  
   (2) The tomb was found empty. Jesus' enemies would have been 
the least likely to have stolen the body. Even if they had, they 
would certainly have produced it later to refute the claims of the 
disciples that Jesus was alive. What about Jesus' friends? Unlikely, since 
the accounts show them to have been very demoralized after the 
crucifixion. Nor would they have willingly suffered persecution and death for 
what they knew to be a lie. 
   (3) Jesus appeared after His death to many witnesses. In a 
garden, on a road, in an upstairs room, by a lake"over a period of 
forty days.  
   (4) Countless people have encountered the living Jesus and 
been changed by Him. The resurrection is not simply a matter of 
intellectual curiosity or theological argument, but of personal experience. 
From the first century to today there have been innumerable people 
who have turned from being totally opposed or indifferent to 
Christianity to being utterly convinced that it is true. What changed them? 
They met the living Jesus. He has invited them to respond to Him in 
faith and challenged them to live according to His way. Jesus is as 
alive now as He was that first Easter morning. He still invites people 
to know Him today. [Word In Life SB mod] 

A variety of lines of evidence make it very clear that Jesus did 
rise from the dead. 
   1. The Old Testament predicts Christs resurrection: Ps. 
16:10 says, You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let 
your Holy One see decay.  
   2. Jesus predicted the Resurrection: In Deut. 18 the OT 
establishes a principle: prophets are authenticated as Gods messengers 
when the things they predict actually"and always"happen. when 
prediction and fulfillment are linked, there is no mistaking the hand of 
God. True prophets never erred. Thus the fact that the Gospels record 
frequent statements by Jesus that He would be killed by His enemies and 
would rise again after the third day is significant. In fact, each 
time Christ spoke of His death He also promised that He would rise 
again. Thus the Resurrection is a foretold event, and a clear link 
between prediction and fulfillment is established, giving added 
credibility to the resurrection report. 
   3. The reaction of Jesus enemies: Clearly, if the members 
of the Sanhedrin who had arranged Christs death could have 
disproved the Resurrection, they surely would have. How? Simply produce 
the body! If the Sanhedrin really thought the disciples had 
stolen Christs corpse, as the rumor they started suggests, they were 
fully empowered to arrest the disciples and to force them to reveal 
where the body lay. Yet there was no attempt to do anything of the 
sort! The utter failure of the Jewish leaders to stifle the 
resurrection report"In view of the eagerness of the Jewish leaders to 
squelch the Jesus movement, we must take their failure to show the 
Resurrection to be a hoax as strong evidence that it was not a hoax at all, 
but actually happened. 
   4. The transformation of the disciples: One of the most 
powerful reasons for accepting the Resurrection as a fact of history is 
the reaction of Jesus disciples to Christs death and 
resurrection. Jesus death stunned His followers, dashed their hopes, and 
left them in despairThen, suddenly, we see a group of men who with 
great enthusiasm and conviction announce that Christ is risen, and who 
dedicate their lives to bringing this message to the world. If these men 
became rich or famous by proclaiming Christ, as some who have invented 
religions, we might question their motives. But instead of fame the 
apostles of Jesus gave up hope of worldly wealth, suffered rejection and 
persecution, and despite the most terrible hardships felt only delight in 
their privilege of serving Jesus. It is simply unimaginable that this 
could have taken place unless the disciple were totally convinced that 
Jesus was truly the Son of God, and was truly risen from the dead. 
   5. The Gospels: There is unmistakable evidence that the 
Gospels were written within a few decades of the events the authors 
describe, well within the lifetimes of those who claim to have been 
eyewitnesses. And well within the lifetimes of others, both friend and foe, 
who would surely have known if the reports of Jesus activities 
were false! The notion that the story of Jesus and His resurrection 
could be a fable is absurd on its face, for without a basis in fact, 
the stories would have been immediately contradicted within 
Palestine, no vital church would have been formed. [Victor Bible Background 
Commentary mod] 

   Christ arose from the dead as the first fruits of those that 
slept. He was the antitype of the wave sheaf, and His resurrection took 
place on the very day when the wave sheaf was to be presented before 
the Lord. For more than a thousand years this symbolic ceremony had 
been performed. From the harvest fields the first heads of ripened 
grain were gathered, and when the people went up to Jerusalem to the 
Passover, the sheaf of first fruits was waved as a thank offering before 
the Lord. Not until this was presented could the sickle be put to 
the grain, and it be gathered into sheaves. The sheaf dedicated to 
God represented the harvest. So Christ the first fruits represented 
the great spiritual harvest to be gathered for the kingdom of God. 
His resurrection is the type and pledge of the resurrection of all 
the righteous dead.  
   During His ministry, Jesus had raised the dead to life. 
But these were not clothed with immortality. After they were raised, 
they were still subject to death. But those who came forth from the 
grave at Christs resurrection were raised to everlasting life. They 
ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave. 
These, said Christ, are no longer the captives of Satan; I have 
redeemed them. I have brought them from the grave as the first fruits of 
My power, to be with Me where I am, nevermore to see death or 
experience sorrow.  
   To the believer, death is but a small matter. Christ speaks 
of it as if it were of little moment. To the Christian, death is 
but a sleep, a moment of silence and darkness.  
   At the Saviours resurrection a few graves were opened, but 
at His second coming all the precious dead shall hear His voice, 
and shall come forth to glorious, immortal life. {DA 785-7} 

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; 
he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you 
in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of 
sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' ". Then 
they remembered his words. Luke 24:5b-8. 
   He's alive and I'm forgiven and my soul has been set free. 
He's alive and I'm forgiven and my joy I can't contain. He's alive 
and I'm forgiven and my faith is here to stay. He's alive and I'm 
forgiven and my love flows deep and wide. Hes alive and Im 
forgiven, because He did what He promised, He arose after three days. He's 
alive! He's alive! He's alive! 
   What emotions did the friends and disciples of Jesus feel 
when they realized He was real? Certainly they were surprised by the 
joy of knowing Jesus was back, even more larger than life. Even 
though they had watched Him raise Lazarus after four days of death, 
their faith had forgotten. But now they were glad again, because God 
raised up His son to life. 
   If you look for Jesus among the dead you will not find Him. 
He has left the cold cemetery and risen to be with the warm love of 
His Father. Dead churches cannot claim the calming presence of 
Christ, because they have forsaken the faith required to recognize Him. 
Look for the Lord among the living, those who live out their faith 
with bold grace. 
   Remember the words of Jesus and your faith will resound with 
reassurance. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for 
ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 
1:18). You serve a risen Savior who lives in your life by faith. Take 
Him at His word, and joy will fill your innermost being as you 
celebrate His appearing almost 2,000 years later. Enjoy Jesus, and 
anticipate your Lords second return. http://wisdomhunters.com 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   I am the risen One who shines upon you always. You worship a 
living Deity, not some idolatrous, man-made image. Your relationship 
with Me is meant to be vibrant and challenging, as I invade more and 
more areas of your life. Do not fear change, for I am making you a 
new creation, with old things passing away and new things 
continually on the horizon. When you cling to old ways and sameness, you 
resist My work within you. I want you to embrace all that I am doing in 
your life, finding your security in Me alone.  
   It is easy to make an idol of routine, finding security 
within the boundaries you build around your life. Although each day 
contains twenty-four hours, every single one presents a unique set of 
circumstances. Don't try to force-fit today into yesterday's mold. Instead, ask 
Me to open your eyes, so you can find all I have prepared for you 
in this and each precious day of Life. (Mat. 28:5-7; 2 Cor. 5:17) 
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

   I Am the Risen One - your living God. Celebrate the Joy of 
serving a Savior who is exuberantly alive! Rejoice also in My promise to 
be with you continually - throughout time and eternity. These 
truths can sustain you through the greatest trials or disappointments 
you will ever encounter. So walk boldly along the path of Life with 
Me, trusting confidently in the One who never lets go of your hand. 
 
   Consider what I offer you: Myself, forgiveness of all your 
sins, forever-pleasures in heaven. This is all so extravagant and 
lavish that you cannot comprehend it fully. That is why worshiping Me 
is so important: It's a powerful way of connecting with Me that 
transcends your understanding. It also proclaims My Presence. There are 
numerous ways of worshiping Me: singing hymns and praise songs, studying 
and memorizing My Word, praying individually and with others, 
glorying in the wonders of My creation. Serving and loving others with My 
Love can also be worship. Whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of 
God - My Glory! (Mat. 28:5, 6; Psa. 42:2; Col. 2:2, 3) [Jesus Always 
by Sarah Young] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

In His death and resurrection, our Lord defeated the world (John 
18:33), the flesh (Rom. 6:1-7), the devil (John 12:31), and death itself 
(I Cor. 15:50-58). You need not be afraid of life or death, time or 
eternity (Rev. 1:17-18). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren 
Wiersbe] 

SPECIAL RESURRECTION PAINTING:
[3 popular sites for the same video]

http://www.cbn.com/tv/1432091350001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yABivU-AKQ

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KLLLZWNX

SPECIAL RESURRECTION PRAISE SONGS:

Hallelujah, Jesus is alive! By Keith Green.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q7s0VJG7ts

He's Alive by David Phelps & Gaither Vocal Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGa1w_bnvM

I've Just Seen Jesus by Sandi Patti & Larnelle Harris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yLgtd_kkxw

SPECIAL RESURRECTION GRAPHIC:


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6e/c4/a5/6ec4a5cec6b7351e074d10ade9faf3cb.jpg 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/

ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com