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Matthew 28:6 - JESUS IS RISEN ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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

INTRODUCTION

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 the 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.] 

COMMENTARY

   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 

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] 

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] 

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:

He is Risen! - Hallelujah! By Keith Green.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCBNszXdlqk

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