Ressurrection Sermon: Jesus is Live Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon on Ressurrection: Jesus is Live

The resurrection is not merely a historical event; it is the foundation of Christian hope, victory over sin and death, and the assurance of eternal life. This framework equips leaders to preach the resurrection with biblical depth, evangelistic clarity, and pastoral encouragement, strengthening believers in faith and inspiring confidence in the living Christ. As a Professor of Homiletics, I have developed this Resurrection Sermon framework to share pastors, teachers, and Christian leaders proclaim the central truth of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This sermon is part of the series Salvation Bible Study and Sermon Series:

Introduction: The Living Anchor of Our Faith

Jesus' resurrection changed everything about his life. It made him an example for us to follow. Jesus was raised from the dead after he died on the cross. His death and resurrection were proof that God loves us and has power over evil.

We cannot be saved without the resurrection of Christ (Mk. 16:9; Mt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 15:1ff; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 1:4; 4:25; 5:16-18; 6:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)

After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples and then to hundreds of others. He told them that he would soon leave them and go back to heaven. Then he ascended into heaven.

Consider the major world religions

Which one has a savior who died for the sins of others? (Lk. 2:11; 1 Peter 3:18)
Which one has a central leading figure rise from the dead? (Matt. 28:1-6)

God has raised Jesus

Conquering death (Acts 2:22-24; Heb. 2:14-15)
Providing the ultimate proof of Sonship (Rom. 1:4)

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Because He is alive, every true Christian can declare with absolute certainty: "I know whom I have believed." Let us look deeply into the Word of God to understand the necessity, the historical proof, and the life-changing lessons of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Part I: The Absolute Necessity of the Resurrection

Why must Jesus have risen from the dead? Scripture outlines four divine reasons that made the resurrection absolutely necessary:

1. His Sinless Life Made Death Powerless

Jesus was entirely without sin. Because He never broke the law of God, death had no legal hold or claim over Him. His sinless life made it completely impossible for Him to be retained or held captive by the cords of death (Acts 2:24).

2. The Vindication of His Claims

Throughout His ministry, Jesus made bold claims about His divine identity. He promised that if they destroyed the temple of His body, He would raise it up in three days (John 2:19). He told the generation seeking a sign that no sign would be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah—just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:38-40). The resurrection was necessary to vindicate His words; it proved He always told the truth.

3. The Ultimate Sign of Divine Approval

The resurrection stands as the supreme monument of God's public approval of His Son. It was the undeniable demonstration that Jesus was exactly who He said He was, fulfilled through the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, who loosed the pains of death and exalted Him to His right hand (Acts 2:23-24, 31-33).

4. God’s Acceptance of the Redemptive Work

How do we know our debt is paid? The resurrection is the proof that God the Father fully accepted the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. He was delivered up because of our offenses, and He was raised because of our justification (Romans 4:23-25).

Part II: Out of the Pit of Despair to the Eternal Rock

The prophetic words of Psalm 40:1-3 beautifully illustrate the resurrection of Christ.

Jesus willingly descended into the deepest, darkest pit for us. He took our place and literally became sin for us, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). It was truly a "pit of despair" and a horrible pit when you consider that Jesus bore the collective weight of the sins of all humanity from all ages upon His perfect, sinless body.

Hebrews 5:7 gives us a glimpse into the raw horror of His experience in Gethsemane and Calvary. It informs us that Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to the Father, who was able to "save [bring Him out] from death."

Christ is risen to never die again! His substitutionary work is finished; His feet are set firmly upon the Rock. The new song in His mouth is a glorious shout of victory and praise to God (Psalm 22:22-25; Psalm 40:9-10). The cross did not defeat Him; He has successfully put all His enemies under His feet!

The Threefold Significance of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Christ carries a deep, threefold theological significance that alters human history and eternity:

1. A Divine Declaration: It was the Father’s public declaration that the ultimate enemy, death, had been completely conquered. The legal penalty had been fully paid, and the righteous condition upon which eternal life was promised had been perfectly satisfied.

2. A Holy Symbol: It serves as a physical symbol of what is destined to happen to the members of Christ’s mystical body. It mirrors our justification, our supernatural spiritual birth, and our glorious future resurrection (Romans 6:4, 5, 9; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:20–22; 2 Corinthians 4:10, 11, 14; Colossians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:14).

3. An Instrumental Causality: It is instrumentally connected to the actual mechanics of our justification, our daily regeneration, and the final resurrection of our physical bodies on the last day (Romans 4:25; 5:10; Ephesians 1:20; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:3).

II. The Architecture of Exalting Grace

The resurrection of Jesus is the long-awaited "Hour" of His glory. This hour was anticipated early on by the miraculous sign at the wedding in Cana (John 2,4), pointing forward to when Jesus would definitively enter into His glory. The upper room discourses constantly invoke this approaching reality (John 13:31; 14:13; 17:1).

His return to the Father began with His physical elevation on the cross and was completed through His literal ascension. Once seated in glory, He draws all people to Himself.

The exact moment Jesus died, the heavy veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This broke down the barrier of separation, opening a brand-new way of life for all of humanity (Hebrews 10:19ff). By seating Himself at the right hand of the Father, He established Himself as the absolute source of life.

The Phase of Christ's Exaltation	The Believer's Parallel Experience	Scriptural Reality
1. The Resurrection	He gave us life.	We are regenerated out of spiritual death.
2. The Ascension	He raised us up.	We are delivered from the kingdom of darkness.
3. Seating on the Throne	He seated us with Him.	We share in His heavenly positioning.

III. Lessons from the Resurrection Morning

Turning to John 20, the morning of the resurrection provides profound, practical lessons for our daily walk of faith:

• The Stone Removed: When the women approached the sepulcher (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1–2; John 20:1, 2), they worried about the massive stone. Likewise, when we pursue Jesus, we will face many obstacles—prejudices, past errors, and cultural blockades. But the resurrection proves that every obstacle will be completely removed by divine power.

• Investigate Closely: When Mary brought the news, the disciples ran to verify it. Peter investigated closely, observing the orderly grave clothes. Christianity does not demand a blind faith; it invites careful, observant investigation.

• Divine Order: The neat arrangement of the linen clothes demonstrates that Christianity is a faith of order, mirroring the cleanliness and order of the ancient sanctuary. Our lives must reflect this same divine order.

• Perseverance and Tears Reward: Mary Magdalene stayed at the tomb weeping, persistently seeking her Master. Her tears were beautifully rewarded (Psalm 34:18). She became the very first person to hear and recognize the voice of the Risen Master and receive a direct message from Him (John 20:16–18). As sheep of His pasture, we must intimately know the voice of our Master (Song of Solomon 2:8).

• The Joy of Fellowship: When Jesus appeared in the room, the disciples were flooded with immense joy (John 20:19, 20). However, Thomas missed this encounter because he was absent. We must never abandon the gathering of the saints, remaining firmly united with the community of faith (Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 122:1).

Part III: The Evidence of the Empty Tomb

When we look at Matthew 28:1-10, we must marvel at the devotion of the women who went to the sepulcher. God richly rewarded their love by allowing them to be the very first to see the empty tomb and hear the angelic message of the resurrection.

The Purpose of the Moved Stone

We must understand a critical truth: the angel did not roll away the stone to let Christ out! He had already passed through death in His glorified body. The stone was removed to allow men to look inside and see that He was already gone!

The true message of the resurrection is two-fold: "Come and see... go and tell!"

The Miracle of the Shroud

Inside the tomb lay an undeniable piece of evidence: the empty burial clothes. The shroud was still intact, retaining the exact shape of Christ’s body—resembling an empty cocoon. This proves a physical miracle occurred. Jesus did not unwrap Himself; He simply passed right through the linens, leaving them behind as a silent, powerful testimony.

If anyone argues against this miracle, they face an impossible logical dilemma:

• If His body was stolen, it had to be stolen by either His enemies or His friends.

• If His enemies stole the body, they could have easily produced it to silence the disciples and stop Christianity in its tracks. But they couldn't.

• If His friends stole the body, they would not have been willing to brutally lay down their lives for a known lie. Furthermore, the gospels show that His friends didn't even believe He would rise from the dead in the first place!

Conspiracies and Eyewitnesses

The resurrection of Christ is an established, accepted historical fact (Matthew 28:11-15). The same Satan who tried to destroy Christ on the cross now desperately wants humanity to believe that the Lord is still dead. Satan, the father of lies, was the true author behind the conspiracy where the chief priests bribed the soldiers to spread a false rumor.

Yet, the character of Christ demands His resurrection. He always spoke the truth, and even His bitterest enemies could find no fault in Him. He either came out of that grave, or He was a liar. And we have overwhelming evidence: numerous eyewitnesses testified boldly that they saw the living Christ with their own eyes, touching Him, eating with Him, and conversing with Him over a period of forty days (Luke 24:33-36; John 20:19, 26; Acts 1:3, 21-22).

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Part IV: The Manifestation and Power of the Resurrection

In Matthew 28, the raw power of the resurrection is visibly manifested in four distinct dimensions:

1. The Power of Life: Demonstrated in the triumphant angelic declaration: "Come, see the place where the Lord lay. He is alive!" (Matthew 28:6).

2. The Power of Love: It was a deep, burning love for Christ that drove the women to the tomb at the dawn of the first day (Matthew 28:1).

3. The Power of Angels: Manifested when a single angel descended from heaven with a great earthquake and effortlessly rolled back the massive stone (Matthew 28:2-4).

4. The Power of Testimony: Unleashed in the urgent command: "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen!" (Matthew 28:7-8; Luke 24:33-34).

The Ultimate Results for the Believer

What does this historical reality mean for you and me today? The facts are concrete: Christ was buried, and He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4; Ephesians 1:20). Through this monumental event, death has been swallowed up in absolute victory (1 Corinthians 15:54).

The purpose and results of His resurrection completely rewrite our destiny:

• It is the permanent, divine seal of our justification (Romans 4:25).

• It completely guarantees our eternal life, for Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25-26).

• Because He lives, we have been raised up together with Him to live a new life (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).

• We have been begotten again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:3-5).

• It provides the absolute assurance of the final resurrection of all His people and our asleep loved ones who died in faith (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith and the source of our hope. Through His resurrection, we are assured of victory over sin and death, confirmed in the divinity of Christ, and justified before God. Let us cling to the promise of our own resurrection and live in the power of Christ's victory. May the reality of Christ's resurrection inspire us to walk in newness of life, proclaiming the good news of salvation to a world in need.

A Call to Action

To the Church and the Brethren: Let us unite in one heart and one mind. Let us stop playing small and go out to announce to a dying world that we serve a LIVING CHRIST!

To those seeking and interested: Do not look for the living among the dead. Open the door of your heart today and accept the risen, living Jesus (Revelation 3:20). Receive Him tonight so that you may instantly experience the unshakeable peace and radiant joy that only the living Christ can give (John 20:19-20).

Ref.: Peixoto da Silva Mil Esboços de Sermões

Brinke, Georg, Mais Mil Esboços Bíblicos: de Gênesis a Apocalipse / Georg Brinke; tradução de Fred R. Bornschein. -- Curitiba: Editora Evangélica Esperança, 2001.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament

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Ronaldo Gomes da Silva is a Professor of Homiletics and Education Specialist (UFF, Brazil). A recognized authority in ministerial training, his homiletical frameworks are used globally and were recently cited by the newspaperCEADEMA of State Convention (June 2025).