Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Exodus 3:4 "And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I." We concluded our Easter studies with the resurrection appearances in Matthew’s Gospel—public events witnessed by people from all walks of life, including more than 500 at once.  As the accounts spread, no one refuted them. Instead, the testimony was confirmed. The apostles, the primary eyewitnesses, sealed it with their lives, suffering persecution and martyrdom for a message they knew was true. These accounts remind us that we are all called to serve in God’s plan—to love Him and love our neighbors. While few are called to be apostles, every believer has a part to play. This week we turn to one of the most pivotal callings in the Old Testament: Moses. Saved from the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in Egypt’s royal court, Moses later murdered an Egyptian and fled into exile. After forty years in the wilderness,...

1 John 1:1 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;" We studied the events of the first Easter morning in Matthew’s Gospel. The women were the first to proclaim Christianity’s central truth: “He has risen from the dead.” From that moment, the Gospel spread rapidly. Jesus appeared to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus. That evening, He showed Himself to the Ten in a locked room, displaying His hands and side and eating broiled fish to prove He was no ghost. Eight days later, He appeared to Thomas. By the Sea of Galilee, He met seven disciples, provided a miraculous catch of 153 fish, restored Peter, and recommissioned him with the words, “Feed My sheep.” Finally, He appeared to all eleven disciples and more than 500 others, issuing the Great Commission. Over the forty days before His ascension, Jesus made numerous public appearances witn...

Acts 10:39-40 "39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed Him openly;" This week we studied the events of the first Easter morning in Matthew’s Gospel—marked by a violent earthquake, an angel shining like lightning, Roman guards paralyzed with fear, and an empty tomb. The women were commanded by the angel to “Go quickly” and tell the disciples the central truth of Christianity: “He has risen from the dead.” As they hurried away, Jesus Himself met them, confirming the angel’s message with undeniable proof. From that moment, the Gospel spread like wildfire. The women reported to the disciples. That same day, Jesus appeared to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus. That evening, He appeared to the Ten in a locked room, showed them His hands and side, and ate broiled fish to prove He was not a ghost. Eight days later, He appeared...

Matthew 28:9&10 "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 worshipped 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." Jesus’s tomb was a scene of high drama. Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, and the other women arrived to anoint His body. Suddenly, a violent earthquake struck as an angel descended from heaven, rolled back the massive stone, and revealed the empty tomb. The angel’s appearance was like lightning, and the hardened Roman guards shook in terror. The angel reassured the women, confirmed Jesus had risen just as He promised, and invited them to see the empty tomb for themselves. Then came the urgent command: “Go quickly” and tell the disciples the central truth of Christianity—“He has risen from the dead.” As the women ran with fear and great joy, Jesus Himself met them. His appearance confirmed the an...

Matthew 28:7&8 "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." Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached Jesus’s tomb before dawn. A violent earthquake shook the ground as an angel descended from heaven, rolled back the massive stone, and revealed the empty tomb. The angel’s appearance was like lightning. The hardened Roman guards trembled in terror. The angel reassured the women, acknowledging their faithful devotion. While the male disciples had fled, these women had come to care for Jesus’s body. The angel confirmed that Jesus had not been stolen or moved—He had risen from the dead, just as He promised. He invited them to see the empty tomb for themselves. In these verses, the angel gives them an urgent command: “Go quickly” and be the fi...

Matthew 28:5&6 "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." The days and hours before the first Easter were chaotic. In the predawn darkness, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb. Before they arrived, a violent earthquake shook the ground. An angel descended from heaven, rolled back the massive stone, and revealed the empty tomb. The angel’s appearance was like lightning. The battle-hardened Roman guards trembled in terror—an extraordinary reaction that underscores the overwhelming power and majesty of the heavenly messenger. In these verses, the angel addresses the women’s fear, triggered by the earthquake, the dazzling angel, and the open tomb. He recognizes their faithful devotion. While the male disciples had fled, these women came to mourn and care for Jesus’ body. Their loyalty endured even in...