Matthew 28:11-16 Sermon for April 5, 2026 (Easter) Split w/ Pastor John Stephen

As they were on their way, some of the guards came into that city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, ‘Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble. They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day. The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. Well, Good Morning and Happy Resurrection Sunday to both Kingdom Bound Church and The Church of New Life! What a privilege it is to worship King Jesus together. Pastor John has just brought forth the Word of God and walked us through Matthew 28:1-10 and I am here to bring us through Matthew 28:11-16, a text we’ve just read. Now, let us remember that Jesus has already Risen in our text (and in reality too!). John has just preached to us two distinct ideas and they are that Jesus turns fear to faith and turns death to life! What an awesome thing to embrace. In the passage that John preached, we see that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. And what do they see? They see that Jesus, who was crucified, is not there and they run off to tell the disciples after an angel speaks to them. As they were on their way to tell the disciples, Jesus appears to them and they take hold of his feet, and worship Him! Jesus then tells them to not be afraid. To go and tell ‘my brothers’ to leave for Galilee and they will see Him there. Alright, now, we get to portion of our story that’s a little shady. On their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported everything that transpired. Then the priests assemble with the elders and agree on a plan, upon which they give the soldiers some money. They conspire together. There’s no body of Jesus in the tomb and that presents a massive issue for these people. So, instead of coming forth and telling the truth and admitting that they were wrong, they conspire and lie about what happened. Just tell everyone that those disciples came while the guards were asleep and stole the body! This story quickly spread among others and even people today believe this nonsense. Then the disciples traveled to Galilee to meet Jesus. Alright, so what are we to take from this? The first thing is that this conspiracy among the priests, elders, and guards reveal a true hardness of unrepentant, unregenerate hearts. They didn’t conspire because there wasn’t enough evidence. They conspired because of a spiritual issue and because of their depraved nature. Listen, they had all the evidence needed. Angels in the picture. Curtain tearing in two. Earthquakes. Empty tombs. There was plenty of evidence as there is plenty of evidence for the resurrection today. What we are seeing here in this passage as we are seeing today everything is a deliberate suppression of truth. Romans 1:18 says, “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” What we are seeing is the depth of human rebellion even when the truth is plain as day and there is an utter futility in resisting God’s redemptive plan and move. So, we might ask ourselves today, “Why is there a rejection of truth today?” It’s not because church isn’t cool enough, or there isn’t enough evidence, or there isn’t enough lights and sound and fog, or there isn’t xyz. It’s because there is a massive clash between the Kingdom of Light and the kingdom of darkness and a suppression of truth. The Kingdom of Light spread the gospel and truth. The kingdom of darkness spreads lies, deception, and fraud. The Kingdom of Light launches a global mission while the kingdom of darkness launches a global lie. There truly exists a spiritual warfare in our passage as there is today. As beautiful, powerful, and true as the Resurrection narrative is, it divides people. It forces people to make a decision of either accepting it or rejecting it. You can’t be on the fence. And when there is a rejection of the gospel, you have no choice but to live a life fueled by deception, lies, fraud, conspiracy, and darkness and you live this live still under the wrath of God. But when we come to receive the free gift of salvation, the imputed righteousness of Jesus, we live a life marked by truth, light, and supernatural transformation and obedience to the things of Jesus. And then the scene shifts in verse 16. While the verse seems basic and simple, we come to grips with two things: first, that yes, it is simple. Second, the thing that is simple is obedience to Jesus. Their obedience sets the stage for the Great Commission, which is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that Jesus has commanded them. It’s also remembering that He is with us always, to the end of the age. We take the truth of Resurrection Sunday and we put it into action in our lives here and now. We obey. We follow in the steps of Jesus. We listen to his voice and follow. I remember going out to bring a container of food out to my chickens the other day and all those chickens came running to me in this aggressive pack. I thought to myself, “How sweet it would be if we all did that to the commands of Jesus.” Just do it. Now more than ever before, we need the church to recover what it means to obey Jesus and live as if we truly believe in that the resurrection actually did happen. We need authentic discipleship. Now, I’m going to leave you with this one glorious truth: as we are doing all we can to be obedient to Jesus in the midst of a world that’s getting darker and darker, remember that human schemes crumble, but Christ’s kingdom advances and there is nothing anyone or anything can do to thwart the decrees of our God almighty. Live as people who believe the resurrection and live preparing for the Second coming of Jesus and we do so by utter submission to God’s Word, obedience to Jesus, and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit.