Matthew 28:8-10 (KJV)  And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.  [9]  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him.  [10]  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Audio of Sermon: 

Sermon Notes: The first person to see Jesus in the Garden of Eden was Adam. Adam was formed of the dust of the ground. God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life. God gave Adam the command to not eat of the forbidden. Adam disobeyed God, and “by one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”. Eve was made later, and suffered because of Adam.

The first to see the resurrected Jesus was not men, but women.

Why is that?

It is because these women loved Jesus.

God told Israel:

Leviticus 26:21 (NKJV) … if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.

But also,

Proverbs 8:17 (NKJV) I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.

The two Marys loved Jesus very much. A Mary anointed His feet with a broken Alabaster Box before the nails ever pierced them. Though Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea sought the body of Christ and helped with His preparation for burial, it was the Marys that washed His wounds, and rose early on the first day of the week to finish His preparation.

Though these women were not Apostles nor Pastors – and would never be so – they teach us a great deal about the type of faith that God wants us to have.

God Expects Our Faith To Be Obedient To Him

A Faith that is not OBEDIENT does not please God.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please {God}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The Marys came to the Tomb and did not find Jesus, but found an Angel of God. I suspect this was Gabriel, the same Angel that announced the birth of Christ. Gabriel told the Marys:

Go QUICKLY, and tell His Disciples He has risen from the dead (vs 7)

You must GO QUICKLY and TELL.

What you saw, you share.

They were to GO QUICKLY.

When God tells us to GO we are to GO QUICKLY. This is the way of true faith. What is the main example of faith that God gives us in the Scripture but our Father Abraham. God told Abraham:

Get out of your country, leave your family and your father’s house.

Go to a land I will show you.

And I will make you great, and bless the world through you.

Abraham Moved Quickly, But Not Perfectly

Abraham moved immediately. He followed God without hesitation, but he did not follow God perfectly. He took some of his family with him, and because of that Lot brought trouble into his life.

The Marys faith was more obedient than Father Abraham’s. The Angel commanded “Go Quickly”, and they went quickly. They obeyed. They did not add to what he decreed. They went.

They also did not debate the Angel, nor think of reasons why they were not qualified.

God told them “Go”, and they went.

Moses Moved After Much Debate

When God came to Moses and told him – worthy and humble man that he was –

I have heard the cry of My people Israel.

Go to Pharaoh and tell Him “Let My people Go!”

Moses immediately began to argue with God.

Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, that I should bring Israel out of Egypt?

God said “You are My Messenger. I chose you. Now go!”

But Moses continued to argue.

I am not eloquent. I am not worthy.

I am slow of speech, and slow of tongue!

But God said I have chosen you, and I made your mouth.

But if you fear Aaron your brother can speak for you.

He can be your spokesman.

It would had been better that Moses heed God. Making Aaron his spokesman led to trouble, to idolatry, to rebellion.

The two Marys lived in a time when women had few rights, and were treated poorly by men. When the Angel said “Go Quickly” they, like Moses, could have debated God. “Who are we but women, lowly, disrespected by society? We are not Apostles – who are we to tell them?” But they did not debate God. God bless them, they did as the Angel said and went when God said GO.

To Honor God Is To Go When He Says

So many blessings have been lost because of delayed obedience. The Angel told the Marys “Go quickly”. Not to choose when they FELT like going, but to GO when God said go.

Israel Refused To Go When God Said Go

I am reminded of that fateful day when Israel stood at the bank of the Jordan River. Joshua and Caleb told Israel to cross as God had decreed, but Israel refused to listen.

We are as grasshoppers in the sight of those people.

Oh that we had died in this wilderness!

Why did God bring us to this place to be victims, to fall under the sword?

Let us revolt and return to Egypt!

When God says “Go quickly” He means us to do so. When God says “come” He means right now, not later. God told Israel:

Numbers 14:29-31 (NKJV) The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. 31 But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.

At this point Israel chose to go forward, but it was too late. The people said:

We will rise up and go NOW, for we have sinned against God.

But it was too late. They did not go when God said GO, and now they could not go. So they wandered 40 years until all that God said came to pass.

Oh, blessed are the Marys who went when God said GO. They did not wait. Waiting can rob you of the blessings of God. There are many who will never cross the Jordan of faith, and so will never enter Heaven.

2 Corinthians 6 (NKJV) We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you,

And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The Bible says “Come to Christ. Come today.” But some say “Not today. I will go another day.” I know a young man that I spoke to of Christ, a young man dying of cancer. I begged him to get his affairs in order. Cancer is a blessing as it gives you time to make your salvation sure. He spent his days living evilly, hatefully, and unrepentant. Now his heart is hardened, and His Maker calls. Will He see Christ?

1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Go quickly. Do not allow your emotions to hold you back.

Matthew 28:8 (KJV)  And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with FEAR AND GREAT JOY;

The Marys were not hampered by their emotions. Fear has kept many from making an open profession of Christ. Fear has kept many from sharing Christ with others. They departed quickly, both fearful and joyful.

They left the Tomb joyful – but their joy will soon increase!

Why? Because …

The Obedience Of Faith Brings Us Jesus

Matthew 28:9 (KJV) And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ALL HAIL.

I have often heard people say “I’d love to go to the Holy Land”. I’ve often said it myself. But do you know the “Holy Land” is where Jesus is – and Jesus is where His people are obedient!

Please note that the Marys did not meet Jesus at the Tomb. The text tells us:

as THEY WENT to TELL HIS DISCIPLES

This is when they saw Jesus. I have had people tell me:

I do not meet Jesus nor feel His presence in my life.

Alright then – are you being OBEDIENT to Him?

Are you doing what He says?

Are you reading His Word daily?

Are you seeking to worship Him and glorify Him?

Do you do as He says in Church attendance?

Do you do as He says in giving?

He has commanded your Baptism – Have you been Baptized?

Do you follow Jesus, or expect Jesus to follow you?

Have you forgiven and shown love to your enemies?

Are you in a state of prayer, living for Him?

Or are you more concerned about what others say?

Salvation is a free gift of God, but obedience is expected.

The Marys heard the Word of God, and moved to obey that Word.

It was then that that met Jesus. Or actually,

Jesus met them!

Word Study When Jesus met them the King James text says He said “All hail!”. That’s not correct. Jesus said χαίρω chairō, which means REJOICE or BE FILLED WITH JOY. This is the same word that the Angel Gabriel said to Mary, the Mother of Christ:

Luke 1:28 (NKJV) … “REJOICE (χαίρω chairō), highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

The Virgin Mary was to REJOICE because the Savior was coming. God would come to this earth through her. The two Marys were to REJOICE because death, the devil, and sin have been defeated. How do we know? HERE IS THE SAVIOR! He has risen, just as He said. REJOICE.

Obedience brought the Marys to a place of rejoicing. Someone once said:

The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:22 (ESV) … the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. The obedient believer is the joyful believer.

We are commanded:

Philippians 3:1 (ESV) … Finally, my brothers, REJOICE in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (ESV) … REJOICE always,

We rejoice IN CHRIST. In Him death is defeated. In Him life is eternal. Jesus says:

Rejoice, for I do not call you SERVANTS, but I call you FRIENDS

A FRIEND Who will never forsake you

A FRIEND Who will never leave you

Matthew 28:9 (KJV) … Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him. 

Thomas would doubt the Risen Christ. Why? Because the message Jesus went to His disciples was:

Matthew 28:10 (KJV) … go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

“Go into Galilee, and THERE YOU SHALL SEE ME”. Not at the empty tomb. Not sitting at home watching Charles Stanley or Joel Osteen on television. GO TO GALILEE. The obedient went to Galilee … all but Thomas.

I don’t know where Thomas was.

People are always asking me:

Where is so and so. I haven’t seen them in a while?

I’m sorry, I don’t know where Thomas is. I didn’t know it was my day to watch him. Thomas missed the meeting, the Church service in Galilee. He stayed at home. He wasn’t there. Everyone looked around and said:

Where’s Thomas?

The Bible just tells us:

John 20:24-25 (NKJV) Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, WAS NOT WITH THEM WHEN JESUS CAME. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

Thomas, we were at Church the other night when Jesus came. We have seen the Lord. Thomas replies:

Nuh Uh!

I don’t believe it!

Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails,

and put my finger in the print of the nails,

and put my hand into His side,

I will not believe!

Well Thomas, you didn’t believe in the first place. If you had believed in the first place you would have already seen Jesus. You would have touched Him when the others touched Him. Obedient faith touches Jesus. Go back to the Marys once more.

Matthew 28:9 (KJV) … Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and HELD HIM BY THE FEET, and worshiped him. 

The Marys touched Jesus before any of the Apostles did. They HELD HIM BY THE FEET and worshiped Him. They felt Jesus’ body. He was not a ghost, a spirit, a hoo doo. They worshiped Jesus because God is to be worshiped. Christ is the God Man – God become Man to save us from our sins.

So we worship Him.

We glorify Him.

We honor Him.

We love Him.

So Thomas saw Jesus last. Had Thomas never been obedient he would have never seen Jesus at all. So Thomas finally showed up – and Jesus came just as He said. This was the SECOND time Jesus appeared in Galilee. But Jesus is gracious. He told the Marys to tell the Disciples:

Matthew 28:10 (KJV) … go tell MY BRETHREN that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Thomas was a chucklehead, but he was still a child of God. Jesus did exactly as He said. Though we be faithless, He is faithful. He loves us, though we misstep. He came to Thomas and said:

John 20:27-29 (NKJV) “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

When we obey the Lord quickly, we are rewarded for our faith. When we delay in obeying we lose our blessing. Let us go quickly, obeying Him in all that He commands.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.