Sermon Notes
24 September 2006
Morning Worship
The Great Commission
PART TEN A:
THE MOTIVATION:
THE EMPTY TOMB
The five accounts of the Great Commission are in:
Acts 1
Introduction:
a. Now we will study four points about “The Empty Tomb.” Keep in mind the
words of the Lord in
“Now, I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am”
I. Before that Day:
A. They did not comprehend the things He said were going to happen to Him
18
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us,
seeing that thou doest these things?
19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I
will raise it up.
20
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and
wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21
But he spake of the temple of his body.
22
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he
had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which
Jesus had said.
31
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to
Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the
Son of man shall be accomplished.
32
For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and
spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33
And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall
rise again.
34
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them,
neither knew they the things which were spoken.
1. They had no desire to believe it
21
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he
must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee,
Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an
offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those
that be of men.
2. They did not believe it
38
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master,
we would see a sign from thee.
39
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:
40
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.
Jonah 1:17
41
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.
42
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation,
and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to
hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
b. They feared when they heard Him speak of the things that were coming
30
And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that
any man should know it.
31
For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered
into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed,
he shall rise the third day.
32
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
1. In summary, unbelief characterized the early reaction to the news of the
death, burial, and resurrection
II. On That Day - the reaction of the apostles and others to the
resurrection when it occurred:
a. Love enough to visit the tomb
1
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.
1
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James,
and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
1
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came
unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain
others with them.
1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark,
unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
b. Disappointment at the empty tomb
6
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the
Lord lay.
6
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which
was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid
him.
7
But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into
Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
2
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
11
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she
stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at
the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because
they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
c. Perplexity
4
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men
stood by them in shining garments:
d. Fear
2
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.
3
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that
ye seek Jesus, which 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,
behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have
told you.
8
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and
did run to bring his disciples word.
5
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right
side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which
was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid
him.
7
But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into
Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled
and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were
afraid.
E. Confidence
6
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the
Lord lay.
6
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which
was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid
him.
8
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre,
and he saw, and believed.
9
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the
dead.
10
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
f. Hope
8
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and
did run to bring his disciples word.
8
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled
and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were
afraid.
4
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men
stood by them in shining garments:
5
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said
unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet
in Galilee,
7
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and
be crucified, and the third day rise again.
14
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing,
and knew not that it was Jesus.
15
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She,
supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne
him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni;
which is to say, Master.
17
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father:
but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your
Father; and to my God, and your God.
18
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and
that he had spoken these things unto her.
G. Joy
8
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and
did run to bring his disciples word.
8
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled
and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were
afraid.
8
And they remembered his words,
9
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven,
and to all the rest.
10
It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other
women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
h. Unbelief
11
And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her,
believed not.
12
After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and
went into the country.
13
And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided
them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not
them which had seen him after he was risen.
11
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
i. Wonder
8
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled
and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were
afraid.
12
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld
the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at
that which was come to pass.
1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark,
unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom
Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the
sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the
sepulchre.
4
So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came
first to the sepulchre.
5
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went
he not in.
6
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and
seeth the linen clothes lie,
7
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes,
but wrapped together in a place by itself.
j. The appearances of Jesus, the commission, and the ascension followed
24
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it
even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
1
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,
which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,
unless ye have believed in vain.
3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to
the scriptures:
5
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the
greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet
not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature.
16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and
a cloud received him out of their sight.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
Part Ten B:
The Motivation:
The Empty Tomb
III. AFTER THAT DAY - What the resurrection
meant to the first century Christians, and what it should mean to us:
a. The empty tomb made them “GO!” - They went from Jerusalem to the world
with the gospel of Christ
44
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I
was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in
the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures,
46
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to
suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48
And ye are witnesses of these things.
14
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be
granted unto you;
15
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof
we are witnesses.
4
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the
word.
23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from
the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
B. The empty tomb made them bold! There are many examples in Acts of this
And when
they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name,
have ye done this?
Then Peter,
filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and
elders of Israel,
If we this
day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he
is made whole;
Be it known
unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even
by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
This
is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the
head of the corner.
Ps
118:22
Matt 21:42
Mark 12:10
Luke 20:17
Eph
2:20
1
Pet 2:7
Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
29
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that
with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be
done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled
together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the
word of God with boldness.
27
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto
them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and
how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28
And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the
Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
46
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word
of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles.
And it came to pass in Iconium,
that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake,
that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil
affected against the brethren.
3
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave
testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be
done by their hands.
26
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and
Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way
of God more perfectly.
27
And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting
the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which
had believed through grace:
28
For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the
scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
8
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three
months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
c. The empty tomb compelled them TO GIVE the word of LIFE TO others
17
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first
day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all
seasons,
19
Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and
temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed
you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God,
and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the
things that shall befall me there:
23
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me.
24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,
so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have
received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the
kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of
all men.
27
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he
hath purchased with his own blood.
29
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock.
14
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one
died for all, then were all dead:
15
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live
unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have
known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation.
20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him.
d. The empty tomb made them win!
What shall
we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that
spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not
with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall
lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he
that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is
written,
For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. Psa 44:22
Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
IV. The Empty Tomb Is Still Empty!
a. Jesus arose! That tomb has the same power for the faithful today
B. What is your response to the empty tomb right now?
C. the next and last lesson in this series will be a review
