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An Angel Said...



An Angel Said...

Perry Duggar |

An angel shares the good news of Jesus' resurrection and gives instruction for next steps.

Program



An Angel Said…

Easter Weekend 2019

April 20 & 21, 2019

  1. Introduction: Matthew 28:1-4
  2. Matthew 28:1-4 (NLT)— Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary [mother of James and Joseph] went out to visit the tomb.

2  Suddenly there was a great earthquake! [2 nd , also when Jesus died; Mt.27:50-54] For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3  His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4  The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

  1. Two women named Mary were walking toward a tomb in the dim light of dawn on Sunday morning, weighed down by shock and grief, likely weeping.
  2. They were drawn to the place where Jesus, a man they loved deeply, had been buried two days before on Friday evening.
  3. Some had speculated that this wise, caring teacher was the Messiah who would lead an uprising against the oppressive Romans, but now He was dead—with it, was their hope of deliverance; then they encountered an angel!

Let’s hear what the angel said!

  1. The angel said… (Matthew 28:5-8)

  1. #1 – Don’t be afraid ! (Matthew 28:5a)
  2. Matthew 28:5a (NLT)— Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. …
  3. The angel knew these women would be frightened by the sight of him, so he reassured them—and he reassures us also.
  4. Encountering the supernatural should be startling!
  5. Some of us fear approaching Jesus, either because we will be disappointed to learn He is dead, never resurrected, or that we will find that He is alive, which will require us to rearrange our lives to recognize Him as our living God!
  6. APP.: Will He deprive me of my plans, my dreams, my fun, my freedom?
  7. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid,” of One whose purpose in living, dying and being resurrected is to provide you a rich and satisfying life (Jn.10:10).
  8. He knows you fully, loves you completely and know what is best for you!

The angel then said to…

  1. #2 – Come and see ! (Matthew 28:5b-6)
  2. Matthew 28:5b-6 (NLT)— 5b  …he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6  He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
  3. The angel invited these women to take a close look inside the empty tomb.
  4. They hesitantly, slowly, stepped forward, ducked their heads to enter the tomb, then saw strips of linen that were wrapped around Jesus’ body, lying on a shelf cut from the limestone wall, appearing empty like a cocoon after a moth has left.
  5. All of us are invited by God to “come and see” Jesus.
  6. Jesus invites us to, “Ask whatever you want, listen carefully, examine closely and thoroughly, then decide slowly” whether to trust in Him.
  7. The stone was not rolled away so Jesus could escape; He could have passed right through the wall like He passed through the wrappings.
  8. The stone was rolled away so we could look closely where He laid.
  9. Examine the evidence—what the Bible says, but also the personal testimonies of people whose lives have been changed by Jesus. (Thomas; Jn.20:24-29; Acts 1:3)

The angel said to…

  1. #3 – Go and tell ! (Matthew 28:7a)
  2. Matthew 28:7a (NLT)— “And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead,…”
  3. After the women examined where Jesus had laid, the angel told them to spread the Good News!
  4. When you the truth of Jesus’ identity and purpose has dawned on you, you must, you will, tell others! (Acts 4:18-20)

The angel said…

  1. #4 - Expect an encounter ! (Matthew 28:7b,9)
  2. 1. Matthew 28:7b (NLT)— “…and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. …”
  3. They did! Matthew 28:9 (NLT)— And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.
  4. If you believe, you too, will encounter Him personally; you’ll hear His voice (Jn.10:3,14) and be eager to worship Him!
  5. Christian faith is a personal relationship with Jesus that begins with an encounter with the Spirit of Christ that gives you new birth (Jn.3:1-8) and changes you!

Finally, the angel said to…

  1. #5 – Remember ! (Matthew 28:7c)
  2. Matthew 28:7c (NLT)— “Remember what I have told you.”
  3. The angel encouraged these women to never forget what they had experienced: walking into the tomb, becoming convinced of Jesus’ resurrection and His identity, then encountering Him on the road
  4. Don’t forget your personal experiences with Jesus, remember what He’s told you, reflect on how your encounters with His Spirit has transformed your life! (1Pet.1:3-4; Eph.1:19-20)
  1. After hearing the angel speak…
  2. Matthew 28:8 (NLT)— The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.
  3. They knew the truth: Jesus was Messiah, God’s Savior—and they ran with joy!
  4. APP.: Do you believe Jesus has been raised from the dead? What effect does it have on you? Are you joyful? Do you run to reach others with your Good News?
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