Alive in Christ | Clinton Methodist Church

Alive in Christ

April 5, 2026 – Alive in Christ – Matthew 28:1-10

This passage from Matthew describes the Resurrection of Jesus, detailing the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene and another Mary, the angelic announcement of Jesus’s rising, and Jesus’s subsequent appearance to the women with instructions for his disciples.

The Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10)

The Discovery at the Tomb

• Timing: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week (v. 1).

• Witnesses: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb (v. 1).

• Divine Intervention:

◦ A great earthquake occurred (v. 2).

◦ An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone from the tomb, and sat on it (v. 2).

◦ The angel’s appearance was described as “like lightning and his clothing white as snow” (v. 3).

◦ The guards shook with fear and “became like dead men” (v. 4).

The Angel’s Message

• Reassurance: The angel told the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified” (v. 5).

• Confirmation of Resurrection:

• “He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said.” (v. 6)

• Invitation: The angel invited them to “Come, see the place where he lay” (v. 6).

• Instruction for Disciples:

• “Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” (v. 7)

Jesus Appears to the Women

• Women’s Response: They “left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples” (v. 8).

• Jesus’s Greeting: “Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’” (v. 9).

• Women’s Worship: They came to him, “took hold of his feet, and worshiped him” (v. 9).

• Jesus’s Command: Jesus reiterated the message:

• “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (v. 10)

Matthew 28:1-10

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Resurrection of Jesus

28 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Tags: 2026 | Easter Sunday | Rev. Jimmy Criddle

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