THE MIRACLE OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

Welcome, friends, to this special broadcast. This season is a great season in Christendom: a week popularly called Holy Week. Why should the week of the remembrance of the sufferings, death and resurrection of our LORD JESUS be termed a Holy Week? The death and resurrection of our LORD JESUS CHRIST is the center of Christianity.

Easter remains a day of great joy. Satan thought it was over for JESUS, and the salvation plan of GOD for man has been shattered. However the day became the beginning of victory for man – a day of great accomplishment for our LORD JESUS CHRIST. It was awesome that Sunday Morning.

Let us take some time to talk about, The Miracle of CHRIST’s Resurrection.

THE MIRACLE OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

We shall take our reading from Matthew 28:1-10

Matthew 28:1-10

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Let us Pray.

PRAYER

Our FATHER in Heaven, may YOUR Name be blessed. We’re again in a season to celebrate YOUR death and resurrection. May YOUR Spirit reveal YOUR glory to us. Help us to experience the same power that resurrected JESUS from the dead…in JESUS’ Mighty Name I pray. Amen!

Yes – the miracle of CHRIST’s resurrection.

The account of resurrection by the Gospel Writers listed some miracles accompanying the major one: HIS resurrection. Let us list and talk about these miracles:

1. The earthquakes prior and during the resurrection,
2. The rolling away of the large stone from the entrance of the tomb,
3. The appearance, passion and announcement of Angels,
4. The peculiar position of the grave clothes.

Each of these miracles can constitute a complete sermon; but let us precisely talk about them.

1. The earthquake prior and during the resurrection.

Matthew records that there was earthquake accompanying the tearing of the veil of the temple. You will find that in Matthew 27:51.

Matthew 27:51

51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

Right. That’s what you read in the scriptures there. This happened after our LORD JESUS had cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up HIS Spirit. The earth shook as JESUS yielded the Spirit. It was as if the earth was protesting and asking, Who shed the blood of my Maker? Do you also notice that the earth shook again to eject his Maker from the grave? What a display of power!

Recall that when some disciples were imprisoned GOD sent an earthquake to shake the foundation of the prison, and all doors were flung open necessitating the jailer to attempt to kill himself.

That same power is available today. The activities of man cannot hinder the purpose of GOD even in your life. GOD will bring HIS power to bear on any circumstance of situation in your life…in the Mighty Name of JESUS CHRIST.

It may not necessarily be that GOD will bring an earthquake, but HE will frustrate any power that wants to hold you down and keep you in bondage.

2. The second miracle is the rolling away of the large stone from the entrance of the tomb. The great massive stone probably needing the strength of two or three men for its removal had been rolled away as if it had been a small stone.

‘Who will roll away the stone’ was the greatest worry of Mary and her companions, though the thought did not hinder them from proceeding to the sepulcher early in the morning. The presence of that stone on the entrance to the tomb is a hindrance and an obstacle enough to discourage any person, but not Mary and her companions.

These were women of faith. What a challenge for us! How many modern day Christians have been hindered from taking a step of faith? How many can trust GOD and proceed further to a task?

Friends, did you notice that the mighty stone was rolled out of its socket, and became the seat of an angel? The angel sat on the stone and invariably was saying, Let me see who will come and roll it back to its socket. It was a sign of victory.

By the way the stone would not have been a hindrance to JESUS. The resurrected body was no longer subject to limitations by walls and obstacles. The rolling away of the stone was an evidence of the defeat of human government: The Roman government who ordered that the tomb be sealed and be guarded. It was an evidence of the victory over death, leaving the tomb empty. O Halleluiah.

The hymn writer captured it this way:

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,

waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose;

with a mighty triumph o’er his foes;

he arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! He arose!

Friends, did you notice their effort to seal the tomb was in vain? The guards they set to watch the tomb was an exercise in futility. I tell you that obstacles or hindrances over your circumstances that is the source of worry can be rolled away.

I should think you should will do yourself a favour by believing in JESUS. JESUS rolls away stones. At one instance HE taught that you can say to this mountain, relocate and it will do so, if you do not doubt.

Friends, all evil spiritual men and entities watching over your life to keep you down are doing so in vain, if JESUS is your LORD. You are saved to be a conqueror or a winner. No other power can hold you captive. Amen!

3. The appearance and action or an announcement of the angels is our third miracle.

The appearance, action and announcement of the angels – friends this miracle shows that a child of GOD has access to angelic intervention when in need. An angel came down, and rolled away the stone, and terrified the guards, and they ran away. Again the angel announced to the seekers, HE is not here, HE is risen, and added, come and see the place where HE laid: not where it was but where it has been. Wonderful! Mourning gave rise to joy and happiness; despondency gave rise to hope. In a moment the world of the women changed. Death was not able to keep its prey. Faith rose from the grave and resumed its trust in GOD.

Friends, we usually sing,

JESUS CHRIST the SON of GOD

O Yes, O yes!

Halleluiah HE arose,

O Yes, O Yes!

Halleluiah HE arose,

The Prince of Peace arose

When I die I will also arise

O Yes, O Yes!

Is that your hope? Do you have assurance of it? Are you meeting the conditionality of rising to everlasting life? The dead all will rise, but some to everlasting life and some to everlasting damnation.

Have you accepted JESUS as your Lord and Saviour? HE is the resurrection and the life. Do not expect to rise to everlasting life if JESUS is not your Master and your Saviour.

4. The next miracle was the peculiar position of the grave clothes. The peculiar position of the grave clothes. They were neatly wrapped together and rolled up (signaling an absence of hurry but an orderly arrangement) and carefully executed. All that was done to convince any person including the disciples that the body was not stolen. No thief will take all that time to roll the clothes and place them in proper positions, roll the napkins and place them on proper places. These items were not scattered all over the grave showing that the disciples have stolen the body.

Friends, our GOD does all things well. Your life needs divine arrangement. Allow your creator to do the arrangement. Your life lacks divine purpose; and invariably divine destination has become a hoax. You are not certain or sure of your destination and destiny. Allow JESUS to arrange your life and place things where they should be: sin will exit your life – I mean the attraction and desire for sin. Bondage will take its exit, and righteousness and holiness will take their proper place in your life.

Friends, do you not hear the voice of your SAVIOUR in your heart? ‘Give me your heart’ is HIS call. Let this Easter be a turning point in your life.

Let’s pray together. Repeat after me.

PRAYER

My LORD JESUS, I am desirous of knowing YOU more and more. I will like to be raised to eternal glory. I open my heart and receive YOU as LORD and Saviour of my life. Forgive my sins and accept me as your child…in JESUS’ Mighty Name.

Let me pray for you.

Heavenly FATHER, in the Name of JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOUR, let the power of sin and Satan be broken in the lives of all who have heard my voice today. Let the fear of death be broken and defeated in their lives…in JESUS’ Name. Let hopelessness give rise to faith…in JESUS’ Name. Amen! Let every obstacle and hindrance be rolled away from their circumstances and lives…in JESUS Name. Let divine help come to them…in the Mighty Name of JESUS CHRIST. Let their lives be restructured and reconfigured…in the Mighty Name of JESUS CHRIST. LORD JESUS, may their lives bring glory to YOU…in JESUS Mighty Name I pray. Amen!