Evidence, Grace, and Mercy

 N.T.#321 "Evidence, Grace, and Mercy"

June 6, 2024 

Matthew 28-Part 4

LET IT GLOW 

There must be evidence to convict someone of a crime beyond a shadow of a doubt. There was evidence, first-hand accounts, that Christ arose from the dead. It takes faith, though, to believe it and to be saved from our sins' penalty-dead eternally. Have you experienced this grace and mercy that Jesus provides?

Christ is risen! The other Gospels give mor specific accounts of Peter and John running to the tomb; Mary meeting Jesus; His appearance in the upper room; His appearance to more than 500 believers at once, and the undeniably literal incident on the seashore, (John 21)

On their way to tell the disciples, (with exceedingly great joy) the four women who came to the tomb early, and sent by the angel, were met by Jesus, who greeted them. Immediately the women recognized Jesus, held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. 

It was no prank, no hoax, no religious metaphor. Jesus was alive, out of the tomb, and on the move! What an experience! It was an unexpected meeting with the Risen Messiah! Jesus calmed their fears. And the excitement, can you imagine the excitement those women had?

And the angels sing, Holy; all creation sings, Holy.

Holy is the Lamb that was slane, worthy of praise and glory!

Have you sang praises to Christ Jesus today? How worthy He is! The One who took our place for punishment of our sins, such love shown! Do we get excited when we encounter our Savior?

LET IT GROW

They were on a mission-going to tell the disciples they would soon see Jesus.

In the meantime, those Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb and fainted went to tell the chief priests what took place. (verse 11)

• The elders assembled and took counsel with the priests.
• They gave the soldiers large amounts of money to say His disciples came by night and stole Jesus' body away while they slept. 
• If the governor heard about the incident, the religious ones would stand up for them so they would not get into trouble. (verse 14)
• The guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told. 
• Their story is spread widely among the Jews,and is still told today.
• IT was a lie, plain and simple. The Jews refused to believe Jesus to be their Messiah, The Son of God, and The Risen Savior. 

How could the soldiers have known what happened if they were asleep? Even if they had been awake, no small band of civilians could overpower armed and trained Roman soldiers. What flaws were in their story.

A supernatural event is replaced with a natural explanation. The resurrection is the greatest event of human history and is proof that Christianity is true. Without it, we have nothing. Wit it, we have hope in history for eternity. (1 Cor. 15:12-19)

Are you a believer? Are we sharing this love story?

How do we know Jesus is living? He is living in my heart today.

LET IT GO

What an awesome plan, for Jesus, You are awesome!

You are the One and Only Savior.

Oh, how we love You!