Easter: From Womb To Heart

1. Believing the Promise (Matthew 1:18-25)

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18 (NIV)

2. Enduring the Trials (Matthew 2:13-15)

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Matthew 2:13 (NIV)

3. The Pain of the Cross (Matthew 27:45-56)

“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.”

Matthew 27:45 (NIV)

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.”

Matthew 27:50 (NIV)

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Matthew 27:55-56 (NIV)

4. The Waiting of the Tomb (Matthew 27:57-61)

“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.”

Matthew 27:61 (NIV)

5. The Joy of Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10)

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” 

Matthew 28:1 (NIV)

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

Matthew 28:2 (NIV)

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV)

6. Making it Personal (Your story is still being written)

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:8-10 (NIV)

7. Giving it all (Matthew 16:24–26)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)

Mary once carried Jesus in her ________. Today, through His resurrection, you and I are invited to carry Jesus in our ___________.

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.

Luke 1:38 (ESV)