April 12, 2020 –Resurrection Sunday Sermon by Rev. Jessica Johnson
The Gospel Story
Lectionary Readings for Resurrection Sunday 2020
Easter Morning
Easter Evening
Sermon – Matthew 28 (See also Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21.)
In the beginning, God separated the light from the dark. God, the Ultimate Creator, created the world and all that is in it. God is the Creator of all existence, not just our little world. As part of His creative efforts, God created mankind. He created us. God created a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden for humans to live in, but then the serpent tricked the first people, Adam and Eve, into questioning God. Sin entered the world and corrupted God’s beautiful Creation. People were cast out of the Garden of Eden as they fell into sinful behavior, following their ways rather than God’s ways. This struggle with sin continues today.
But God’s love never ends. And even though there are consequences to the bad, sinful choices that Adam and Eve made, to the choices that we make, God still loves us no matter what. Ever since, the Fall from grace of the first people, God has pursued us to return to Him. The entire story of the Bible documents God reaching out to us, waiting patiently for us to reach back to Him. God is eternal, and His patience is long. God loves us and wants us as His children. He wants you and me. Even when we ignore His presence, God is working in our lives and is with us, watching over us. Some people have turned to Him, but some people have rejected God.
In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites the Law. The Law was given in order to teach the people how to be in relationship with God and how to be righteous. But time and time again, people would fail and fall back into sinful ways. Some people turned to God, but some people rejected God. God promised a Savior that would bring salvation for all. God’s love and grace continued to shine through as He promised redemption for mankind.
The New Testament opens with the words, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” in Matthew 1:1 (ESV). Jesus Christ is that promised Messiah. He is the Savior that came to save us all. The Gospel is His story, and it is the greatest story ever told.
Do you know that Gospel? Could you tell it to someone else clearly and concisely? For the first century Christians, they knew the Gospel by heart with powerful accuracy.
Throughout the four Gospels of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we find the essential Gospel. God’s kingdom is at hand. Jesus is the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. Jesus is the Son of God who came to this earth in pursuit of us, in accordance with the Hebrew Scriptures, and He is fully God and fully man. Jesus died for our sins so that we could be restored to God. Jesus defeated death and rose from the dead. He appeared to others and gave final instructions in the Great Commission. Jesus calls us to repent, believe, and FOLLOW HIM. Following Jesus is not the end; it is merely the beginning of a life with God.
Today, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Read with me as I read about the Resurrection from Matthew 28:1-10 ESV.
The Resurrection
28 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.”
Most people look to the Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus as the central point of the Gospel. However, His Resurrection is the core of Christianity. The truth of Christianity rests solely on the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. Because He defeated death and rose again, that is what makes Christianity true. And there is evidence of it, specifically through Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances. Jesus spent another 40 days on the earth where He appeared to individuals as well as groups and to friends as well as enemies. These events are recorded by more than one source in the Bible as well as writings outside of the Bible. Jesus’s first appearance was to a woman, Mary Magadalene. At that time, her testimony would not have been admissible in a court of law. Therefore, she would not have been ideal if it were some grand cover-up.
There was actually a cover-up recorded. But it was not a cover-up by Jesus and His followers. Rather, the Roman soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went to the Jewish religious leaders and told them what had happened. The Jewish leaders, men who knew the Messianic prophecies and the teachings of Jesus well, still rejected the truth. The religious leaders paid off the soldiers and conspired with them to attempt to cover up that Jesus had risen from the dead. The cover up is still believed by some to this day. Let’s read about it together in Matthew 28:11-15 ESV.
The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
But for the disciples and other followers of Christ, there was no conspiracy of cover up. They were no longer in mourning, because their friend and teacher, Jesus, had come back to them from the dead. They were excited and empowered by the truth of what had occurred. They wanted to tell the world which was good, because that is exactly what Jesus commanded them to do. Throughout His 3-year ministry, Jesus had mostly attempted to keep His ministry quiet. He told people not to speak of what He had done or of who He was. But the time for silence had passed into the grave. Now was the time for speaking. In His final instructions, Jesus told the disciples and followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV) And that is exactly what the disciples did until the end of their lives: they preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They shared the story of the life, ministry, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and they shared of His promise to be with us always and His promise to return to us again.
If someone asked you, “What is the Gospel?” Could you tell them? Could you tell them in a brief, clear way what Jesus had done for all of us and why we need Jesus? When God began to create, the first thing He did was to bring light into the darkness. The Gospel continues to do that today. It is the light into the darkness. By sharing the Gospel story written on our hearts, that is how we spread the light into the darkness. We have to actually speak the words of truth. We are called to be storytellers. I said earlier this week that we all have a story to share, and as Christians, we have the opportunity to tell the greatest story ever told. Ecclesiastes 3:7b (ESV) states: “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…” Now is the time to SPEAK.
Bring light into the darkness and calm into the panic. Bring hope into the misery and love into the isolation. As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, let’s also remember to share what He did with others. His final words to us were just that: to speak of Jesus.
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
The Gospel Story
Lectionary Readings for Resurrection Sunday 2020
Easter Morning
- Acts 10:34-43 OR Jeremiah 31:1-6
- Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
- Colossians 3:1-4 OR Acts 10:34-43
- John 20:1-18 OR Matthew 28:1-10
Easter Evening
- Isaiah 25:6-9
- Psalm 114
- 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
- Luke 24:13-49
Sermon – Matthew 28 (See also Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21.)
In the beginning, God separated the light from the dark. God, the Ultimate Creator, created the world and all that is in it. God is the Creator of all existence, not just our little world. As part of His creative efforts, God created mankind. He created us. God created a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden for humans to live in, but then the serpent tricked the first people, Adam and Eve, into questioning God. Sin entered the world and corrupted God’s beautiful Creation. People were cast out of the Garden of Eden as they fell into sinful behavior, following their ways rather than God’s ways. This struggle with sin continues today.
But God’s love never ends. And even though there are consequences to the bad, sinful choices that Adam and Eve made, to the choices that we make, God still loves us no matter what. Ever since, the Fall from grace of the first people, God has pursued us to return to Him. The entire story of the Bible documents God reaching out to us, waiting patiently for us to reach back to Him. God is eternal, and His patience is long. God loves us and wants us as His children. He wants you and me. Even when we ignore His presence, God is working in our lives and is with us, watching over us. Some people have turned to Him, but some people have rejected God.
In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites the Law. The Law was given in order to teach the people how to be in relationship with God and how to be righteous. But time and time again, people would fail and fall back into sinful ways. Some people turned to God, but some people rejected God. God promised a Savior that would bring salvation for all. God’s love and grace continued to shine through as He promised redemption for mankind.
The New Testament opens with the words, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” in Matthew 1:1 (ESV). Jesus Christ is that promised Messiah. He is the Savior that came to save us all. The Gospel is His story, and it is the greatest story ever told.
Do you know that Gospel? Could you tell it to someone else clearly and concisely? For the first century Christians, they knew the Gospel by heart with powerful accuracy.
Throughout the four Gospels of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we find the essential Gospel. God’s kingdom is at hand. Jesus is the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. Jesus is the Son of God who came to this earth in pursuit of us, in accordance with the Hebrew Scriptures, and He is fully God and fully man. Jesus died for our sins so that we could be restored to God. Jesus defeated death and rose from the dead. He appeared to others and gave final instructions in the Great Commission. Jesus calls us to repent, believe, and FOLLOW HIM. Following Jesus is not the end; it is merely the beginning of a life with God.
Today, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Read with me as I read about the Resurrection from Matthew 28:1-10 ESV.
The Resurrection
28 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.”
Most people look to the Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus as the central point of the Gospel. However, His Resurrection is the core of Christianity. The truth of Christianity rests solely on the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. Because He defeated death and rose again, that is what makes Christianity true. And there is evidence of it, specifically through Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances. Jesus spent another 40 days on the earth where He appeared to individuals as well as groups and to friends as well as enemies. These events are recorded by more than one source in the Bible as well as writings outside of the Bible. Jesus’s first appearance was to a woman, Mary Magadalene. At that time, her testimony would not have been admissible in a court of law. Therefore, she would not have been ideal if it were some grand cover-up.
There was actually a cover-up recorded. But it was not a cover-up by Jesus and His followers. Rather, the Roman soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went to the Jewish religious leaders and told them what had happened. The Jewish leaders, men who knew the Messianic prophecies and the teachings of Jesus well, still rejected the truth. The religious leaders paid off the soldiers and conspired with them to attempt to cover up that Jesus had risen from the dead. The cover up is still believed by some to this day. Let’s read about it together in Matthew 28:11-15 ESV.
The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
But for the disciples and other followers of Christ, there was no conspiracy of cover up. They were no longer in mourning, because their friend and teacher, Jesus, had come back to them from the dead. They were excited and empowered by the truth of what had occurred. They wanted to tell the world which was good, because that is exactly what Jesus commanded them to do. Throughout His 3-year ministry, Jesus had mostly attempted to keep His ministry quiet. He told people not to speak of what He had done or of who He was. But the time for silence had passed into the grave. Now was the time for speaking. In His final instructions, Jesus told the disciples and followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV) And that is exactly what the disciples did until the end of their lives: they preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They shared the story of the life, ministry, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and they shared of His promise to be with us always and His promise to return to us again.
If someone asked you, “What is the Gospel?” Could you tell them? Could you tell them in a brief, clear way what Jesus had done for all of us and why we need Jesus? When God began to create, the first thing He did was to bring light into the darkness. The Gospel continues to do that today. It is the light into the darkness. By sharing the Gospel story written on our hearts, that is how we spread the light into the darkness. We have to actually speak the words of truth. We are called to be storytellers. I said earlier this week that we all have a story to share, and as Christians, we have the opportunity to tell the greatest story ever told. Ecclesiastes 3:7b (ESV) states: “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…” Now is the time to SPEAK.
Bring light into the darkness and calm into the panic. Bring hope into the misery and love into the isolation. As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, let’s also remember to share what He did with others. His final words to us were just that: to speak of Jesus.
Happy Resurrection Sunday!