A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. TRUTH REJECTED BY UNBELIEVING JEWS
A. REPORT
1. FAITHFUL
Mt 28:11a After the women left [the garden]
2. FACTS
Mt 28:11b behold, some of the guard went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had occurred.
(also Rom 1:18)
B. REMUNERATION
1. FRAUD
Mt 28:12 And having assembled the elders and counseled together, they gave a large sum of silver to the soldiers
(also II Cor 4:4)
2. FALSEHOOD
Mt 28:13 and said, “Tell people, ‘In the darkness His corpse was stolen by His disciples while we were asleep.’
3. FIXED
Mt 28:14 And if the governor hears, we will convince him to keep you from worry.”
C. RESULTS
1. FINANCES
Mt 28:15a So they took the money and did as they were told.
2. FICTION
Mt 28:15b And this report has circulated among the Jews to this day.
II. TRUTH REVEALED TO UNBELIEVING DISCIPLES
A. REMORSE
1. FLIGHT
Mk 16:12 After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two people as they were Lk 24:13 going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
2. FOG
Lk 24:15-16 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself joined them as they walked. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
3. FAILURE
Lk 24:19b-21 “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it’s already three days since these things happened. “
4. FERVOR
Lk 24:22-24 Additionally, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find His body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Some went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.”
B. REVELATION
1. FULLNESS
Lk 24:26-27 “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
(also Isaiah 53:3-5; 50:5-7; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 12:10
2. FAVOR
Lk 24:30-31 When He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight.
C. REFLECTION
1. FIRE
Lk 24:32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
(also John 5:39-40; Acts 26:22-23; Acts 8:35; Acts 10:42-43)
2. FLAME
Lk 24:33a, 35 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. They told what had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Doubt sees the obstacles, Faith sees the open way;
Doubt sees the darkness night, Faith sees the sunlit day.
Doubt dreads to take the step, Faith sings and soars on high;
Doubt questions, “Who believes?”, Faith answers, “Even I”.
I’m on the upward way, for that still holds the sun;
I climb thru the night pastures where the starry-river runs.
And if you seek me in my old and dark abode,
‘Tis written o’er the door: “I’m on the Upward Road”.
We HAVE the light. What we need is HEAT. Join the “fellowship of burning hearts”.