日期： 4/24/2011

經文： 馬太福音廿八章一至十節

題目：意料之外的相遇

主旨： 與復活的主相遇後 ， 敬拜祂而且去告訴別人是唯一的選擇

引言：

在三月十一日時，日本發生九級地震，後又連接海嘯，有一萬四千人屍體被找到，還有一萬四千人失蹤，現在日本正受到核子災害的危機。目前仍然有八萬多的人離開他們的家，日本政府至少花五百億美元來重建這個城市。我日本的朋友開玩笑說，讓我們一起搬到亞歷山大州或蒙特那州。也許在一年前，我們沒有期望這個非常具紀律且高科技的社會，會遇到二次大戰後最大的災害，我們每個人都希望可以有預測的生活，按照您自己的計劃或某部份的控制。我們失去健康時，覺得非常的失望，或是我們所乘的飛機被延期或被取消而感失望，也許我們的成績不像我們所想要的，也讓我們失望。沒有一個人喜歡不期而遇的事情。

您們今天來到這裡，也許帶著某些期待，雖然是一年一度的事情，您盼望講道不要太長，也許您已安排了十二點的午餐、也許您期望有個振奮的信息能夠使您脫離現況，也許您來是因為覺得這是一件對的事情，或跟您的太太或家人一起來覺得也不錯。也許您是出於好奇來到這裡。不管您的期望是什麼，但是事實上在我們生活上，在最不注意的時候，突然來的事情卻發生了。常常在這普通的時刻，我們卻會經歷到不尋常的事。

我們剛讀過經文是有關於耶穌基督的復活，當我們分解這段經文前，我們知道四福音的作者也沒有試著解釋耶穌基督是怎樣的復活！也許我們都知道拿撒路從死裡的復活。在四福音的作者，他們更有興趣要知道復活的事，是怎麼樣被發現！

讓我們看看第一節：「 過了安息日，在禮拜日天亮的時候，抹大拉的馬利亞和另一個馬利亞來看墳墓。」在這裡，我們看到在禮拜天早上有兩類的人到這個墳墓，首先是二位馬利亞，有一位我們知道的是抹大拉的馬利亞，第二個馬利亞我們不太確定，很可能是耶穌的母親。她們在二天前親眼看到耶穌被釘在十字架上，當安息日過後，天亮的時候，她們就來到耶穌的墳墓前，馬太並沒有告訴我們她們為什麼來。但是，馬可福音告訴我們她們來膏抹耶穌。在禮拜五耶穌被釘十字架被宣告死亡時，只剩下幾個小時就是安息日，所以，這些門徒趕快的埋葬祂。然後安息日過後，婦女們帶著香膏來膏耶穌，要有一個美好的安葬，她們的期望的是什麼？即使她們一再重複的聽到主耶穌復活，但是，她們來到墳墓前，期待耶穌的屍體在那裡。就像我到我父母的墳墓前，我期待他們的骨灰會在那裡面。

第二組就是那些兵丁，他們從禮拜五晚上就在那裡，因為這些宗教領袖確定當耶穌被埋之後，沒有人會偷祂的屍體。他們用很大的一塊石頭在墳墓的前面，將它封住，然後有兵丁在那看守。

在這特別的主日早上，繼續在兩天前所發生的事，耶穌基督被釘十字架上，而且很緊迫的被埋葬，現在這二位馬利亞要來做很好的安葬，這些士兵堅守他們任務，不讓人接近這個墳墓。因為這是繼續禮拜五晚上的事情，每件事都像尋常一般，第一節告訴我們，是一個安詳、正常的景象。

第二至四節就開始進入一連串驚奇的景況：「忽然，地震得很厲害；主的使者從天上下來，把石頭輥開，坐在上面。他的樣子好像閃電，衣服潔白如雪。看守的人因為害怕他，就渾身戰抖，好像死了一樣。」

第一個驚奇就是地震，沒有人喜歡地震。上禮拜，我那位日本朋友當他要進電梯時，他感覺樓房振動，然後有位年青人大喊：「地震了！」接著，沒有第二個想法就跑到大廳外面到街上，如果您經過地震，您絕不會忘記當時的害怕！

除了地震之外，第二驚奇是天使出現，將封住的墳墓的大石頭挪開坐在上面。對於第一世紀的讀者來說，想到但以理書第七章的經文，神的兒子要坐在磐石上。馬太希望不要忘記他，他這樣的記載是要我們知道不是一個普通的人出現，而是天使的出現。

這二位馬利亞來到墳墓，期望看到耶穌的屍體，而士兵確定沒有人來偷耶穌的屍體，這多麼出乎我們預料之外，沒有什麼事情發生，結果帶來了地震及天使的出現。他們的反應是怎麼樣？從上下文中我們看到這兩位婦女非常害怕。但是，馬太福音的作者卻注重在士兵的反應，他們害怕、戰抖，好像死人一樣。看起來好像不太合理，如果婦女們害怕是可以瞭解的事。可是，士兵應該不會害怕的，他們應該是勇敢的，沒有任何事讓他們害怕的。馬太福音的作者特別描述這些士兵嚇得要死！這是多麼諷刺。第一節所描述的寧靜的早上，卻被這驚奇的事情所震醒。

接著另外一個驚奇，天使向婦女講話，卻沒有向士兵講話。天使在這裡講到兩件事情：那使者對婦女們說： 「 你們不要怕，我知道你們在找被釘十字架的耶穌。他不在這裡，已經照他所說的復活了。你們來看安放他的地方吧。」不要害怕！ 耶穌的身體不在這裡，祂已經從死裡復活了。妳進去看看，墳墓是空的，天使將石頭輥開，讓耶穌出來，讓這些婦女進入墳墓查看。天使非常清楚的說耶穌不只是站起來，且走出去了，而是從死裡復活了。在這裡用一個非常強烈的動詞，是個被動式：「祂從死裡被復活！」所以這裡馬太這裡記載基督被釘十字架，祂死了。一個死的人不可能站起來、走出去。如果我們說耶穌是個人，死了，但是祂是位神，所以祂從死裡復活，這會讓耶穌的人性減少了，而且也減低了祂死亡的事實性。因為當一個真正的人死時，他沒有辦法站起來，他需要別人將他復活起來。這是誰？所以這位作者的最後結論：「是神！讓祂從死裡復活。」

第二節經文說：「 快去告訴他的門徒： 『 祂已經從死人中復活了。祂會比你們先到加利利去，你們在那裡必看見他。 』 現在我已經告訴你們了。 」去告訴門徒，神已經從死裡復活了，祂要與祂的門徒在加利利相見！這是個非常簡單的信息。去！告訴祂的門徒！

他們的回應呢？他馬上就去告訴祂的門徒，他們充滿了喜樂、害怕。誰看到天使的時候會不怕呢？他們不但不期而遇到天使，他們也發現在二天前死了的耶穌，現在已經活著。也許他們現在記憶起祂對他們的教導，祂復活的事情。現在他們就知道耶穌真的就是神的兒子！當他們那天早上來的時候，他們就要結束一個紀元，那個紀元是耶穌基督活過、也死了，是個好人、好老師。祂所剩下的就是祂好的教導和祂的恩慈及憐憫的心。祂死後，也許以後沒有什麼了。但是在這不期而遇當中，就是開啟了另外一個新的紀元！耶穌基督就被認識是神的兒子、也是復活的主！也是神自己！這給他們有莫大的喜樂。更進一步的這一個驚奇還沒有完。

在第八至十節：「 她們立刻離開墳墓，又害怕，又十分歡喜，跑去告訴耶穌的門徒。忽然，耶穌向她們迎面而來，說：「你們好。 」 她們就上前，抱住他的腳拜祂。耶穌對她們說： 「 不要怕，去告訴我的弟兄，叫他們到加利利去，他們在那裡必看見我。 」從十一節開始，婦女去告訴祂的門徒。這些士兵也離開墳墓去向他們 宗教領袖報告。然後告訴他們，他們所見的事。但是宗教領袖給士兵他們錢，去告訴別人祂的門徒將祂的屍體偷走了！所以，在馬太福音中，可以看到這些宗教領袖一直說著這個謊話。結果這些宗教領袖和士兵們，一直將這個謊言傳開。但是，這些婦女卻認識到，是一個新的紀元開始。

另外一個驚奇在等待這些婦女們，當她們去找門徒的時候，耶穌突然向她們出現、問安，不只是問她們好，而是給她們安慰及平安。她們與主相遇，到底做了什麼事？她們抱住耶穌的腳，敬拜祂。當人遇到見耶穌，唯一的選擇是敬拜祂。敬拜是讓耶穌掌管人的一生的生命，乃是一個完全的順服。遇到復活的主，敬拜祂是唯一的選擇！

然後耶穌對他們說，您可以想像到，當他們聽到耶穌講話之後，復活的主跟他們講話嗎？這是多麼的驚奇？也看到這個事件中，一個很大的轉彎。 耶穌對她們說： 「 不要怕，去告訴我的弟兄，叫他們到加利利去，他們在那裡必看見我。 」這裡帶神的安慰！不要害怕！我們也認識到耶穌不再稱他們「我的門徒」，乃是「我的弟兄！」耶穌被捉拿後，他們放棄了祂。當耶穌被釘十字架時，只有約翰在那裡，所有門徒都離開了祂！還有一位彼得三次不認主。如果依我們來說，我們決不會稱他為門徒或兄弟，也許我們會用其他更生動的言詞，來描寫他們這些人。但是，現在耶穌稱他們為弟兄，暗示他們已被赦免了。您記得嗎？耶穌在十字架的時候，在祂最後說了這樣一句話：「赦免他們，因為他們所做的，他們不知道。」這句話同樣也應用到那些士兵和判祂死刑的那些有權柄的人，同樣也包括了背棄祂的門徒們，他們也被神赦免。

天使告訴婦女去跟門徒說，耶穌要在加利利與他們相會。耶穌告訴馬利亞去告訴祂的弟兄，我要在加利利與他們相會。所以，馬太福音的作者在復活節早晨的描寫，表示著這不是一件事情的結束，而是另一件事情的開始，對那倆位婦女在復活主日的早晨的故事。她們不知道當耶穌跟祂的門徒相遇時，會有怎麼樣的事？她們來到墳墓時的期望、然後看見天使，聽到主耶穌的話：「去！告訴門徒。」當她們這樣順服的時候，他們遇見復活的耶穌！除了敬拜祂之外，耶穌告訴他們說：「繼續告訴我的門徒！」他們來的時候期望能摸耶穌，當他們離開墳墓的時候，遇見復活的主！這是真的，實在是不期而遇的驚奇的事。

復活節的故事與我們有什麼關係？在這復活節的早上，就像這二位婦女來到墳墓的前面，也許您沒有特別的期望，今天只是昨天的延續、另外一個禮拜天，然後今天早上過了，我們繼續昨天留下來的事情。您知道今天早上來這裡時，對您來說，也許是第一、第二、第三次聽到主耶穌復活的事。更準確的說：「神把耶穌從死裡復活」。婦女聽到天使的聲音告訴她們，她們也按耶穌所說的去找門徒，然後士兵也聽到同樣的話，那些士兵就是仍然相信人家告訴他們說這是不可能的事。

對我們今天的人來說，我們也許聽到許多次這樣的事。也許我們比那兩位婦女知道更多的事。後面經文繼續說：「耶穌復活的主，向門徒顯現及五百多位顯現。」他們都是見證人！我們也看見這些目擊者，他們生命的改變。他們就像這些婦女一樣，將這個好消息與別人分享。在過去的兩千多年，無以計數的個人的生命因為與主相遇而被改變。如果神可以讓耶穌從死裡復活，祂必定有能力改變我們。

理士查伯是芝加哥時報的一位記者，我們許多人都看過他的著作，就是耶穌基督的案件。他在家裡，常常說褻瀆神、兇惡的話語、並常常不在家。當他相信主耶穌復活的大能後，成為一位基督徒。幾個月後他成為基督徒，他寫著說五歲大的女兒到他太太那裡，對他太太說：「媽媽，我願意神做在我身上，就像神在父親身上所做工一樣。」我相信有些人與主相遇後，整個人的生命被改變。

當我們看到這些後，我們又如何回應？也許有些人會說，我們這些廿一世紀的人，特別是研究科學的人，生活在這物質主義印象之下這麼多年，復活是不可能的事。我們拒絕面對這個事實，我們就好像這些士兵、宗教領袖一樣，選擇拒絕歷史上發生的事。

中間我們些有人曾與主相遇，就像第一世紀的婦女，當我們遇見祂的時候，只有一個選擇—就是敬拜祂！不單單只是在禮拜天敬拜祂而已，而是承認祂是神，祂掌管我的生命。當我敬拜祂時，將自己打開，讓祂來改變我的生命，讓祂帶領，讓我能面對我從沒想過遇到的事情。此外，還有更多。在復活節那天，那兩位馬利亞不知道將會發生什麼事，她們只知道天使跟她們講話，後來耶穌跟她們說：去告訴我的門徒！我將那裡見他們！她們也不曉得是什麼事？她們僅知道的這是一件很重要的相遇。

對我們當中的這些人，在讀馬太福音廿八章後半段，我們都知道發生什麼事。馬太告訴我們耶穌復活了！也沒有告訴我們什麼時候耶穌和門徒相遇？在復活之後？或四十天之後？當祂升天時？這裡讓我們看到什麼時候發生並不重要，重要的是他們與主相遇時所發生的事情。然後，當耶穌基督與門徒們同在的一起的時候，告訴門徒說，「 所以，你們要去使萬民作我的門徒，奉父子聖靈的名，給他們施洗﹙ 「 奉父子聖靈的名，給他們施洗 」 或譯：「給他們施洗，歸入父子聖靈的名」），我吩咐你們的一切，都要教導他們遵守。這樣，我就常常與你們同在，直到這世代的終結。 」天使告訴這兩位婦人，去！告訴門徒。然後，耶穌告訴門徒，你看見我，去！告訴別人我所吩討你們的。看到否？您與主相遇後，您就沒有辦法不將復活的耶穌主基督告訴別人。當您離開這裡回去，當你回家、上學、上班，去！向人宣講主耶穌基督今天復活的事情！

卅五年前，有一批學生從香港、台灣來的學生來曉士頓讀書，在他們當中有許多是基督徒，經過查經班，使更多的人認識神！曉士頓中國教會就成立！最先是在南正街的教會。幾年之後，七零年代末期，明湖中國教會就成立。當有更多的人相信這位復活的主，在一九九二年，又有一群人又成立了曉士頓西區中國教會。一九九七年又有另一批人去了福遍，成立了福遍中國教會。下個主日開始又有一批人要去梨園開始主日崇拜。

我們開始梨園主日的敬拜，不是因為我們有很多的資源，並不像以前那些日子，因為那時我們有很多人。在那時候，有一百位人出去、三百人出去，沒有關係，因為我們有資源。但是，這一次，我們在梨園成立主日崇拜，不是因為有很多資源、也不是我們有成熟的基督徒，在他們當中很多人成為基督徒還不到十年，我們開始了主日崇拜，簡單來說，因為，我們遇見了復活的主！祂對我們說：「去！將福音傳給別人！」

我們當中任何一個人與主相遇，您絕對會不得不去！告訴然後別人！

Date:   04/24/2011

Text:   Matthew 28:1-10

Title:   An Unexpected Encounter

Theme: Having met the risen Jesus, one's only options are to worship and tell others about Him.

Introduction:

  On March 11, Japan was hit with a 9.0 earthquake, immediately followed by a Tsunami. 14K bodies have been found with another 14K still missing. And now, Japan is in a crisis with her nuclear reactors. A year ago today, no one would have expected the highly disciplined and high tech society to experience the most tragic events since WW2. Today, there are still close to 80K people living away from their homes. It will cost the government at least $50 billion to rebuild the ruined cities. My Japanese friend jokingly wrote, “let's just all immigrate to Arizona or Montana.” Most of us like to have predictable lives, according to plan and some control. We experienced disappointments and frustrations when our health is out of control, or our flights are delayed or cancelled. We are frustrated when our grades are not what we expected. No one likes unexpected events in life.

  You may have come here this morning with some expectations. You expected the service to be not too long, for you need to be at a restaurant by 12p. You may expect to hear an inspiring message that will help you to get out of your present rut. Or you have come because this is the right thing to do, or it is nice to accompany your spouse or family members. Or, simply out of curiosity you are here. No matter what those expectations are, isn't it true that in life, it is in moments when we are least expectant that we'll encounter something unexpected? It is in those ordinary moments that we'll encounter the extra-ordinary.

  The passage we read earlier is about Jesus' resurrection. Before we unpack this passage, let's notice that none of the gospel writers made an effort to describe how Jesus rose from the dead. In a sense, we know more about how Lazarus was raised from the dead. The four gospel writers seemed to be more interested in recording how the resurrection was discovered.

  Let's take a look at the two groups of people gathered at the tomb Jesus was buried. First, there were the two Mary's. They saw how Jesus was crucified two days earlier. Now, the Sabbath was over, before daylight, they came to Jesus' tomb. Matthew did not tell us why they came. Mark told us that they have come to anoint Jesus. After Jesus was pronounced dead on Friday, there were only few hours before the Sabbath. So the disciples had to hurriedly buried him. Now that the Sabbath was over, the women came with spices to treat Jesus' body for a proper burial. So what was their expectation? Even though they had repeatedly heard about Jesus' resurrection, they came with full expectation that Jesus' body would be there. It's like when I go to visit my parents' burial place, I fully expect their ashes to be there.

  The second group of people were the soldiers. They were there since Friday evening. The religious leaders wanted to make sure no one would come and steal Jesus' body after he was buried. So they placed a large rock to seal the entrance to the tomb and had the soldiers guard it.

  What we see on this particular morning, was a perfect continuation of what happened two days earlier. Jesus was crucified and was buried in a hurry. Now, the two Mary's came to give him a proper burial, and the soldiers continued their duty to keep people away. It was a continuation of Friday's event. Everything was business as usual. Vs.1 was a picture of tranquility and normality.

  Now, beginning with vs.2, is a series of surprises. “ And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ”

The first surprise was the earthquake. No one likes earthquakes. Last week, when my Japanese friend in Tokyo was just about to step into the elevator, he felt the building moving and a young man shouted: earthquake. Without a second thought, he got out, ran to the lobby and onto the street. If you have been in an earthquake, you won't forget the fear at that moment.

Besides the earthquake, the 2 nd surprise was the appearance of an angel. The angel also rolled the stone away and sat on it. Matthew wanted to make sure we didn't miss him and gave us just enough information to show it was not just another human being.

  The two Mary's came and expected to see Jesus' body in the tomb. The soldiers wanted to make sure no one would come to steal the body. What a surprise. None of the above happened and instead, it was an earthquake and an angel. What was their reaction? From the context, we knew the women were afraid. But Matthew seemed to focus more on the soldiers. They were afraid, trembled and became like dead men. Doesn't make much sense, right? When a woman is scared to death, it is understandable. But soldiers? They were not supposed to be scared. They were supposed to be brave and courageous, nothing can scare them. Yet here we are told they were scared like dead men; how ironic. The seemingly peaceful morning of vs.1 was utterly shattered by the unexpected turn of events.

  Now, there is another surprise. The angel talked to the women, but not the soldiers. There are two parts in the Angel's message to the women. The first part, 5-7,“ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ” There were the words of comfort: don't be afraid. You have come to look for the dead Jesus, his body, but he is not here. He was raised from the dead. Take a look at the tomb, it was empty. The angel rolled the stone away not for Jesus to come out, but for the women to go in and check it out. The angel also made it very clear that Jesus did not just get up and walk away. Instead, he was raised from the dead. You see, Matthew recorded these words to show that when Jesus was crucified on the cross, he was DEAD. A dead person cannot get up and walk away. If we say that Jesus as a man died, but as God, he rose from the dead, this would make his humanity less human and his death less real. A real person, when dead, just cannot get up. He had to be raised by someone. Who is this person? The readers then and now have to conclude that it was God who raised Jesus from the dead.

  The second part of the message was, “ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you .” Go tell the disciples that God has raised Jesus from the dead and he will meet them in Galilee. A very simple message: Go and tell the disciples.

  And their response? They quickly went and told the disciples. They were filled with fear and joy. Who would not be afraid after seeing an angel? They not only unexpectedly met the angel, but also unexpectedly discovered that the Jesus who died two days earlier is now alive. By now, they probably recalled all his teachings about his death and resurrection. Now, they knew for sure that this Jesus was indeed the son of God. They had come to close an era. An era in which Jesus lived and died. He was a good man, a good teacher. All that was left was a memory of his teachings and deeds of mercy. With his death, there was no more. But this unexpected encounter was actually the beginning of another era. An era which Jesus was truly recognized as the risen savior, the son of God, God himself. This brought joy to them. Furthermore, their surprise was not over yet.

  Vs.8-10, “ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "“Greetings!” "And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "“Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” The vs.11ff say that as the women went to tell the disciples, the soldiers also left and went to the religious leaders who had sent them in the first place. They told them all that had happened. But the leaders gave them money and told them to tell others that the disciples had come and took Jesus' body away. The chief priests were very consistent with their story as found in chapter 27. So, here we see, that the soldiers and the religious leaders continued to perpetuate a lie, while the women recognized the beginning of a new era.

Another surprise awaited the women. On the way to the disciples, Jesus appeared to them. He greeted them. It was more than just: hi, how are you? It was a saying to grant them comfort and peace. Meeting Jesus, what did they do? They held on to his feet and worshipped him. Once a person met Jesus, the only option was to worship him. To worship means to recognize that Jesus has full control of one's life, which is a total surrender. Facing this risen Jesus, worship is the only option.

  Moreover, Jesus spoke to them. Can you imagine, after listening to the angel, now listening to the risen Jesus speaking to them. Talk about surprises and an unexpected turn of events. Jesus said, “ "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Again, these were words of comfort: don't be afraid. We notice that it is no longer “my disciples” but “my brothers”. They were the ones that deserted him during his arrest. As he was hung on the cross, only John was there. They had all left him and one of them, Peter, even denied him 3 times. We definitely would not call them brothers, nor even disciples. We'd have some more colorful words reserved for them, right? But now, they were his brothers. This is a hint that they were forgiven. When Jesus was on the cross, he uttered these words; father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. Yes, these words were directed to the soldiers and authorities that put him on the cross. But it is also reasonable to include the disciples that had deserted him. Yes, they too, were forgiven.

  The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen and will meet them in Galilee. Jesus told the Mary's to go and tell his brothers that he will meet them in Galilee. So, Matthew in describing this Easter morning; was hinting this is not the end, but the beginning of something coming up. However, for the two women, this was the Easter morning's story. They did not know what would happen when Jesus met the disciples. They had come to the tomb with their expectations. By the time they left the tomb, they had seen the angel, heard his words: go and tell. And as they obeyed the angel, they met the risen Jesus. Besides worshipping him, they were told to go and tell the disciples. This was certainly an unexpected encounter.

  So, what does this Easter story have to do with us? First, like the women who came to the tomb on the first Easter morning, we may not be expecting anything special. Today is just a continuation of yesterday, just another day. And after this morning, we'll continue what we left off yesterday.

  But do we know that by being here this morning, we are presented for the first time, or the second and third time, Jesus' resurrection? Or to be more exact, we hear the statement that God had raised Jesus from the dead. The women saw the angel, heard the statement and then believed. The soldiers saw and heard the same, yet they continued to live a lie because someone told them this could not have happened.

To some of us, we may have heard this statement more than once. We also know more than the women did. From the scriptures, we read about how Jesus appeared to the disciples and later to 500 people. They were eye witnesses of the risen Jesus. We also read how the lives of these witnesses were changed. Like the women, they had gone and told others about Jesus. Throughout the last 2K years, countless individuals' lives have been changed because of their encounter with this Jesus. If God can raise Jesus from the dead, he certainly has the power to change us.

Lee Strobel was a journalist with the Chicago Tribune. At home, he was known for his profanity, angry, verbally harsh and often just his absence. Then he became a Christian and opened himself to Christ's resurrection power. A few months after he became a Christian, he wrote that his 5 year old daughter went up to his wife and said, “Mommy, I want God to do for me what he's done for Daddy.” I am certain that you also know someone whose lives were changed after their encounter with Jesus.

Seeing this, how should we respond? Some of us may say; being a true 21 st century person, especially studying science or having lived under the influence of materialism for so many years, resurrection just cannot happen. We refuse to face the facts and like the soldiers and the religious leaders, choose to deny this has ever happened.

  Then there are those of us who have met Jesus. Like the women of the first century, having met Jesus, the only option is to worship him. Worship is not just coming to church on Sunday mornings. Worship is about recognizing Jesus as God who has full control over my life. When I worship him, I am also opening myself to him and letting him continue to take me to places and encounters that I would never have expected.

However, there is more. Earlier I mentioned that on that first Easter morning, the two Mary's did not know what would occur, they only knew that they were told by the angel and later by Jesus about the meeting the disciples would have with him. They had no clue what it was about. All they knew was an important meeting.

However, for those of us who read the latter half of Matthew 28, we knew what happened. Again, Matthew did not tell us when did this happen. Is it right after the resurrection or 50 days later, just before Jesus returned to heaven? It appears that the when is not as important as what the gathering was about. In that gathering, Jesus spoke to the disciples: 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," 20 "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”" The angel told the women to go and tell the disciple that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Jesus told them to go and tell the disciples about a meeting. Now Jesus told the disciples, now that you have seen me, Go, and tell others all that I have taught you. You see, once you meet Jesus, you cannot keep it to yourself; you have to go and tell others.

As you leave here today, as you Go home, as you Go to school, Go to work tomorrow, tell others about Jesus.

Over 30 years ago, a group of Chinese students from HK and Taiwan came to Houston to study. Among them were some Christians. As more students came to know Christ through the bible study group, Houston Chinese Church was started, with a meeting at S. Main Baptist church. A few years later, in the late 70's, a church was started in Clear Lake. As more people came to faith in this risen Jesus, in 1992, a group of about 120, went out and started the WHCC. In 1997, a much larger number of church members went to Fort Bend and started FBCC. Beginning next Sunday, another group from this church will venture out and start worshipping in Pearland. We start the Pearland service not because we have plenty of resources, but simply because we have met this risen Lord and He simply tells us: go and tell. Anyone who has an encounter with this risen Jesus, cannot help but go and tell.