articlesforchristians

Christ Lives

• God’s plan was for the Messiah to come forth out of the grave, death could not hold
  Him.
• Jesus predicted how long He would be in the grave.
  • Matthew 12:39-41 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous
    generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of
    the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s
    belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall
    condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater
    than Jonas is here,

1. A WATCH PUT OVER HIS GRAVE

• The chief priests were afraid that the disciples would steal the body of Jesus, then
  claim that Jesus had risen.
• Pilate put guards around the grave and secured it the best way possible.
  • Matthew 27:63-65 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was
    yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre
    be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him
    away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be
    worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make
    it as sure as ye can.

2. JESUS CAME FORTH

• There efforts to keep Jesus in the tomb were to no avail. The angel of the Lord
  descended from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like
  lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
  • The keepers of the tomb (guards) shook and became like dead men.
  • Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and the mother of James, and Salome,
    along with others made their way to the tomb. They wanted to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. As they came close they wondered who rolled the stone away. Christ was risen!
    The tomb was empty.
  • Matthew 28:1-8 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

3. MANY SAW HIM