Resurrection: What Happened . . . What Didn’t?

In this message concluding a study of Matthew, Chuck Swindoll examines the miraculous events of Matthew 28, contrasting the impossibility of death with the reality of the Resurrection. He opens with the gripping survival story of Aron Ralston, a climber who amputated his own arm to escape a boulder in a Utah canyon. Swindoll uses this to illustrate that while escaping a physical trap is remarkable, walking out of a grave after death is the ultimate miracle [10–15]. The sermon analyzes the narrative of the women arriving at the tomb, the sudden earthquake, and the appearance of an angel who rolled away the stone—not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in [18–19]. Swindoll focuses intently on the physical evidence left behind: the grave clothes. Citing Peter Marshall and Merrill Tenney, he explains that the wrappings remained in the shape of the body, like an empty cocoon or a glove from which the hand has been removed, providing mute but eloquent evidence that the body had passed through them rather than being stolen [27–29]. Swindoll also addresses "what didn't happen"—specifically the lie concocted by the religious leaders. He critiques the logic of the bribed guards who claimed the disciples stole the body while they were asleep, noting the absurdity of witnesses claiming to know what happened while they were unconscious [35–36]. The message concludes with a focus on hope, declaring that because of the Resurrection, "death is not a wall but a door." Swindoll urges listeners to choose faith over skepticism, reminding them that for the believer, life does not stop at death but continues eternally with Christ.

Message Key Facts:

• The Aron Ralston Illustration: Swindoll recounts the story of climber Aron Ralston, who was trapped for five days by a boulder in Blue John Canyon. To survive, he broke his own bones and amputated his forearm with a dull knife. Swindoll contrasts this human feat of survival with the divine miracle of overcoming death [10–13].
• The Description of the Angel: The angel in Matthew 28 is described as having a face like lightning and clothing as white as snow. Swindoll notes that biblical angels are always male, adult, and incredibly strong, often necessitating the command "do not be afraid" because their presence is terrifying to humans [21–23].
• The Evidence of the Linen: Swindoll emphasizes that the linen wrappings were not unwound or thrown aside (as they would be if the body were stolen). Instead, they lay on the slab in the shape of the body, like a "shriveled shell of a cocoon" left behind by a moth [27–28].
• The "Head Cloth" Detail: Citing scholar Merrill Tenney, Swindoll notes that the cloth around Jesus' head retained the shape of a head that was no longer there, further proving a miraculous exit rather than a robbery.
• The Guards’ "Lie": The religious leaders bribed the soldiers to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were sleeping." Swindoll points out the humor and impossibility of this claim: if they were asleep, they could not have seen who stole the body [35–36].
• Mark Twain’s Wisdom: Regarding how quickly the false story of the stolen body spread, Swindoll quotes Mark Twain: "A lie can go around the world while the truth is still lacing up her boots".
• Death as a Door: Quoting Peter Marshall again, Swindoll offers a definition of death for the Christian: "Death is not a wall but a door." Eternal life is not interrupted by physical death; the soul simply moves on to be with the Lord.
• Tangible Resurrection: Swindoll refutes the idea that Jesus was a "phantom," noting that the women grasped His feet and He later ate with disciples—things a spirit cannot do.

Message References:

• Matthew 28:1–10: The narrative of the women visiting the tomb, the earthquake, the angel's announcement ("He is not here"), and the instruction to tell the disciples [3–5].
• Matthew 28:11–15: The account of the guards reporting to the chief priests, the bribe, and the fabrication of the story that the disciples stole the body [5–6].
• Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (referenced regarding the theology of hymns).
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18: Paul’s description of the future resurrection, where the dead in Christ rise first, followed by those who are alive, to meet the Lord in the air [45–46].

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll