“Death destroys beauty. Violent death creates obscenity – tasteless, horrid, raw. We cannot beautify death. A corpse is never beautiful…no embalmer’s art can possibly restore it.” (Joe Bayly, The View from a Hearse)
“The idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else; it is a mainspring of human activity – activity designed largely to avoid the fatality of death, to overcome it by denying in some way that it is the final destiny for man.” (Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death)
3 actions that everyone must take to transform the soul-corroding spiritual anxiety of death into fearless living now
I. Intentionally Engage the Evidence of the Resurrection (vv. 1-10)
A. There was an empty tomb (Matthew 28:6)
B. A group of His followers along with many others believed they saw Him living and touched Him after His death (Matthew 28:9)
C. Those believed they saw Him carried out His mission – even though it may have led to their own death.
II. Resist Our Innate Tendency to Deny Reality (vv. 11-15)
III. Embrace the Meaning and Mission of the Resurrection (vv. 16-20)
The Great Commission passage regarding the living Jesus signifies…
A. God has conquered the reign of death
B. There is only one man in history Who has been vindicated by God and there will be no more “sons of…” genealogies – “All authority has been given unto me”
Luke 12:4-5 - I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
C. A new mankind is possible – “Go therefore and make disciples”
i. Forgiveness of sins through repentance – “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”
ii. A transformed way of life – "teaching them all I have commanded”