THE MAIN IDEA
We find Jesus when we go in faith and follow Him. 

WE FIND JESUS THROUGH FAITH
The women went to look at the tomb because they  had to get inside. And they had to get inside to finish embalming the corpse with perfumes and  spices. And when they get there, the stone that had sealed the tomb was already rolled away, and  an angel was sitting on top of it. They also see the guards who were posted there, but they had  fainted from fear when they saw the angel. The Jewish authorities had posted the guards so that  the disciples could not steal the body and make up a story about Jesus being resurrected. But  when they were confronted with the plain facts and the clear evidence, they’re the ones who  make up a story because they could not accept the truth that Jesus had indeed been resurrected. They could not accept that truth because they had no faith. A heart that is dead in faith cannot see  the living Christ. A heart that is open to faith can begin to see the truth that Christ is indeed alive. 

WE FIND JESUS IN THE WORD
The angel tells the women in v5, “Do not be afraid”— the most common command in the Bible that God delivers to His people. And God always  delivers that message to His people when His people really need it. The women at the tomb had  just lost their beloved Rabbi and their Messiah—or so they thought. And so, they had lost all  hope. Their world was in complete chaos, and then they find this angel sitting over what  appeared to be two dead guards. But it wasn’t because of the angel that they needed courage and  faith. They needed faith to believe everything that Jesus said. And then they needed courage to  carry out everything that He said. And so do we. If we are looking for Jesus, we must believe  everything that Jesus said; we must be ready to do everything that Jesus said. Jesus is the living  Word of God. 

WE FIND JESUS WHEN WE GO
The women responded in faith and obedience to the  testimony of the angel and the evidence of what they saw. And even though there was a tinge of  fear still inside of them, they were now filled with joy because they were encouraged by faith in  Jesus. And as they were on their way, they run into Jesus Himself. And the women respond in  the way that any true believer would—bowing down before Him and worshipping Him with all  their heart, soul, strength, and mind. Matthew is highlighting that when we step out and respond  in faith and obedience—that is, when we step out and go—that’s when we meet Jesus. Every  step of faith is a step of obedience, and every step of obedience is a step of faith. In particular,  we must step out and go when it comes to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Our  church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention, and every SBC church is a Great  Commission church. We preach about the Great Commission; we teach about the Great  Commission; but more than anything, we do whatever we can to live out the Great Commission. And when we live out the Great Commission, two very important things happen. First, Jesus is  with us. That is His promise. Second, He adopts us as His own brothers and sisters. 

DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is the most impulsive thing that you have done? Why did you do it?  What was the outcome?