“He’s Alive (But Don’t Tell Anyone)” - Yea Right!

Back in 2008, 65 new roller coasters opened around the world, adding to hundreds in existence. The top coaster in the world was reportedly the Kingda Ka at Six Flags in New Jersey. It goes from 0 to 138 miles an hour in four seconds and has a completely vertical drop. I know of only one more dramatic ride: Matthew 27 and 28, and the roller coaster of emotions connected with the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. I describe it as a roller coaster because I want you to experience the ups and downs of that weekend, from the depths of horror to the heights of joy. I’d like to ask you three questions:

 Matthew 27:35-40; 57-66 and 28:1–10

Matt 27:35-40
35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
 

57-66
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, `After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. 

Matt 28:1-10
28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.   3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 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; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
 

1. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord (Matt. 27:35–40)?

I know the answer is no, but trade places with Christ Jesus' followers for just a little bit. Experience their grief. Can you imagine the sorrow and confusion of His loved ones as they gazed at His battered body exposed on the Cross? This was suppose to be the Messiah, the one who would save them and now He was nailed to a cross.

The crosses that adorn churches today are polished and smooth, works of art in some cases. But the Roman cross was split rough wood, an instrument of torture. It was jagged, filled with splinters, and perhaps even had some insects crawling on it. When the scourged backside of Christ Jesus was forced onto the Cross, the full weight of His body exposed Him to the tortures of the wood.

But that wasn't the half of it, Christ Jesus was bearing the ugly pain of sin for you, me, and the whole world on that cross. Even worse in taking all that sin on Himself, Christ Jesus for the first and only time in all eternity was separated from God the Father. In dying on the cross Christ Jesus gave His life so that you could have life eternal with God. Won't you take Him up on His offer tonight?

If you were there when they crucified my Lord then you would have experienced the grief of seeing your friend, teacher, Messiah brutely killed. The next emotion you might experience would be despair. 

2. Were You There When They Laid Him in the Tomb (Matt. 27:57–66)

Can you imagine the despair. Can you imagine the depression of that black weekend?

Christ Jesus' family and friends suffered multiple blows. Their dearest had died. He had died young and under torture before their very eyes. 

All of the disciples except for John had deserted Him and were overwhelmed, not only with grief and fear, but with guilt. They had also lost their religion, after all they had based their eternal destiny and spiritual hope on Christ Jesus' Messiah-ship and now He was dead and buried. Virtually everything in their lives had collapsed, and the blackness of despair had fallen over them like the edge of night.

Yes, by now you were feeling grief and of despair. All would look dark with no hope to hang on to. But that was all about to change. You were about to experience, nothing less than overwhelming joy.

3. Were You There When He Rose Up from the Grave (Matt. 18:1–10)?

Can you imagine the intoxicating exuberance that dawned that first Easter Sunday?

The Resurrection of Christ Jesus is biblically logical and theologically necessary. None of us would have invented a story like this. If you are like me and the disciples, Christ Jesus would have come riding in like a warrior to face off with Satan and kick his behind once and for all. Happy endings all around. But God in His infinite wisdom devised the best plan from the foundation of the world.

God was in Christ Jesus defeating sin, and Satan, and destroying death and despair forever. God/man taking back man had given away – a restored relationship with God. No wonder the angels said, “Go and spread the news!” Can you imagine the impossibility of keeping this a secret? “He is alive!”

Marty Halyburton’s husband, Porter, was shot down during the Vietnam War, and Navy representatives came to her home to tell her he had died in action. For several days, Marty was too numb to react. Flags flew at half-staff all over town, and a grave-marker was placed in Porter’s memory in the family cemetery. Eighteen months passed, and though Marty tried to adjust to her loss, it was very hard. Then one day, a group of military experts appeared again at her house, this time with dramatic news. Porter was alive, in relatively good condition, being held by the North Vietnamese. Marty’s emotions leaped as if on a roller coaster. But they told her to keep the information to herself for fear of reprisals against the POWs if the news got out. It was impossible to do. How do you hide the sparkle in your eyes, the bounce in your step, the smile on your face? How do you hide the sudden transformation of your personality? How do you talk to friends without blurting out the news? In the end, the Navy realized this and made it easier by officially changing Porter’s status, and Marty phoned everyone she could with the life-changing news: “He’s alive!”

Conclusion: The joy of the Resurrection is irrepressible. You can’t keep it hidden. You should live out that joy every day; and you can do it by giving your life without reservation to our Lord, Christ Jesus.

What Christ Jesus did was very public before the entire world, but it’s very personal to each of you. In His omniscience Christ Jesus died and rose again for every individual's redemption. He was thinking of you, and today He is calling you to become His follower. He wants to forgive your sins, heal your hurts, and give you everlasting life. But you have to decide if you will allow Him to do this. I pray tonight if you have not done so already, that you will choose Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.