EIGHT WORLD CHANGING WORDS
MATTHEW 28:5-6
MATTHEW 28:5-6 NKJ
5 But the angel answered and 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 is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew gives a fairly short account of the resurrection story. Luke and John share more details.
But in Matthew's account are eight words that have changed the world. "He is not here, for He is risen." These were the words of the angel. This is the same angel that rolled the stone away and scared the Roman soldier so much they fainted.
The women were seeking Jesus, who was crucified. But He is no longer in the tomb. Death could not hold Him. And now all that is left is an empty tomb and where the Lord lay. But He is not there; He is risen just as He said He would be.
No other religion has this narrative. No other religious figure has made the claim that he has risen from the dead. This is a key truth that separates Christianity from every other religion.
Whenever Paul would preach, people would listen until he got to the part about Jesus being raised from the dead. Then they would laugh him off or make the decision to believe. But the resurrected Jesus was the central point of the gospels and still is today.
Application
We believe that Jesus is not in a tomb somewhere. We believe He has risen from the dead and ascended to the Father. We believe that one day He will return for His people, and ultimately, He will reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And we'll be with Him.
There is no moral Jesus, the good teacher, and wonderful example but just a man. There is a risen resurrected Jesus who taught and gave us the way to live. Who is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to God except by Him.
The world is willing to accept the historical, moral teacher, but the crux of the matter is it can only be one way. He is risen, or He is not. We believe He is, and we are willing to stake our hope and eternity on those eight words. He is not here; for He is risen!
Prayer
Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus and for raising Him from the dead. He is my risen Lord and Savior!