Community Baptist Church
April 12, 2026

      • Psalm 118:19–24NKJV

  • Celebrate Jesus
  • Christ the Lord is Risen
  • Living Hope
  • Revelation Song

      • Matthew 28:1–10NKJV

  • “You will see me there…”

    “See you later.’ ‘See you soon.’
    We use those phrases at least once a day - sometimes more often than once!
    When our firstborn was a few months old my wife and I needed to attend a meeting that did not provide childcare. We were fortunate to have a church family who offered to watch our infant for a few hours that evening.
    Leaving our son in the capable hands of another was one of the hardest things we had ever done to that point in our lives.
    Research and experience teach us that children need to learn that parents/guardians will leave…and that they will return.
    ‘See you later.’ ‘See you soon.’ Those phrases are an important part of growing up.
    Matthew 28:1–10 HCSB
    After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.” So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
    Twice in this passage the women - who were the first to experience the resurrection of Jesus - were reminded that Jesus would meet them in Galilee -
    Matthew 28:7 “…/He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.””
    Matthew 28:10 “Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.””
    Just this past week I received news that a friend of many years died. You might think that as a pastor I am accustomed to these kinds of notifications. Let me assure you : I AM NOT.
    The women who were headed to the tomb had certainly lost loved ones and friends to death.
    There is something about Jesus’ death that is different. First, he was relatively young.
    Adult males in the first century typically lived into their early forties on average, though this figure masks significant variation across the ancient world. Life expectancy in antiquity was substantially compressed compared to modern standards, with mortality rates so high—particularly affecting young children—that average lifespans fell within the 20–30 year range. In Rome specifically, average life expectancy is generally agreed to have been about twenty-five years.
    Many newborns in the first century never survived the first week, and fewer than half lived to age five. More specifically, infant mortality reached approximately 33 percent during the first year of life and climbed to 50 percent by the fifth year. Across antiquity generally, roughly half of all babies did not live beyond their fifth year.
    Second, in the three years He had been active He had gathered a very loyal following.
    Finally, if the other Mary identified is indeed Jesus’ mother - she had just experienced the death of her firstborn son.
    There are no words, no strategies, no easy solutions for hearing of a death. Even more signficantly these women had watched Jesus die - in a very public, very humiliating fashion.
    Today we agree - these women were seriously traumatized.
    Early in the morning - following hours in which sleep was likely impossible - these women approached the tomb to do what was appropriate. Because Jesus’ death occured near sun-down on a day of preparation for the Sabbath only minimum preparation of his body had been made.
    Now, after Sabbath, it was time. Grieving is no excuse for not doing what needs to be done. We have all had that experience. Bills need to be paid. Groceries need to be purchased and placed in the pantry. Pets need to be fed. Cars need to be fueled. And the list goes on and on.
    We can’t be certain if the women saw the stone roll away or if it was already moved when they arrived. Two important things to notice:
    a). the women likely could not have moved the stone alone, not even the guards could likely have moved the stone.
    b). Jesus was already gone when the stone was rolled away. In spite of often popular descriptions of that morning the women nor the guards saw Jesus exit the tomb! It was empty!
    An angelic messenger spoke first.
    Matthew 28:5–6 HCSB
    But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.
    There was no body to anoint for burial. The cloths that had been used after taking Jesus down from the cross were folded near the spot where His body had been.
    Matthew 28:8–10 HCSB
    So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
    ‘Departing quickly’ the women left the tomb. Mark’s account more accurately expresses what these women were experiencing:
    Mark 16:8 “So they went out and started running from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.”
    Seeing an angel, seeing an empty tomb - the very place these women had seen Joseph of Arimathea lay Jesus’ lifeless body - of course they were fearful, astonished, overwhelmed and as Matthew notes - a ‘mega-joy!’
    In their rush to tell the disciples these women were interrupted -
    Matthew 28:9 “Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.”
    Now for a second time these women were given a specific assignment:
    Matthew 28:10 “Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.””
    REFLECT AND RESPOND
    Because of the resurrection, one of the most studied historical event, one that is generally accepted as certain even by those who seek to destroy the message of Christ there are three things that are ours for the taking - just as these things were given/promised to those early followers:

    The Resurrection offers hope for the future

    ‘See you soon.’ Jesus had said as much at least three times to the twelve closest followers (which included the follower who would betray Jesus).
    All is not lost. Of all the followers of Jesus only John and a handful of women stayed through the very end. Judas Iscariot had taken his own life, unable to process the grief and pain he’d experienced. The other disciples were in various places throuhgout Jerusalem - places where they could hide.
    These women burst into their rooms…
    HE IS ALIVE
    He promises to meet us there.
    He promises to mee all who trust Him and believe in Him for an eternity together with Him.

    The Resurrection is the antidote to fear

    In both Jewish and Roman culture women were disregarded in cases of law.
    Fear of not being believed. Fear of misapplying the message. Fear of being misunderstood melts away in the presence of the Risen Lord - the one who promises, I will see you soon.
    In Jesus’ day the testimony of women was not simply ignored, women in general were deemed untrustworthy and unreliable.
    Today we who believe are reminded that what is true for us may not be true for others. Facts are no longer important. What matters is feelings, what matters is personal validation.
    There are multiple places across the world where meeting together as believers is enough evidence to convict one of treason or political subversion. Yet in those places where we expect fear to be overwhelming, fear is conquered becuase those who gather know that Jesus lives.

    The Resurrection is the message we share

    The message Jesus gave the women - and later to His followers is not about world peace, economic freedom, justice for the marginalized.
    As one of Jesus’ earliest followers reminded his audeince:
    1 Corinthians 15:3–4 HCSB
    For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
    While we watch this video, consider the following questions:
    Are you living in the certainty of His invitation to meet you:
    in the day to day challenges of your life;
    in the most private spaces where you wonder - does my life really matter;
    in the places where fear often overwhelms - fear of physical disease/decline? fear of being alone? fear of being discarded by those whom you love?
    You can have the kind of certainty that these women illustrated -
    Trust Jesus as Lord and Savior today
    …confess ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and ‘believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead…’ and you will be saved.
    2. Who in your circle of life - family and friends needs to hear the invitation - Jesus will meet you right where you are…
    Will you tell them?

      • Matthew 28:1–10NKJV

      • Matthew 28:5–6NKJV

      • Matthew 28:8–10NKJV

      • 1 Corinthians 15:3–4NKJV

      • John 11:25–26NKJV

Community Baptist Church
sschenewerk@gmail.com
5416799569
http://www.winstoncommunitybaptist.com
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