My Redeemer Lives

Matthew 28 records the most important morning in human history. The tomb is empty, the stone is rolled away, and the risen Jesus steps into a fearful, confused world with a message of hope, power, and mission. In “The Redeemer Lives,” Pastor Clement reminds us that the resurrection is not just a story we remember once a year; it is a living reality that changes everything about how we face our past, live in the present, and look to the future.

From Despair To Discovery

The chapter opens with women going to the tomb early on the first day of the week. They loved Jesus, but in their minds He was still dead, and they were going to honour Him in the only way they knew how. Their hearts were heavy with grief, their expectations shattered, and their faith shaken.

Many of us can identify with that walk to the tomb. There are seasons when we carry disappointment, unanswered questions, and the feeling that what we hoped for has died. We still love God, but we quietly lower our expectations, trying to honour Him while assuming some situations will never change.

Yet God was already at work before they arrived. An angel of the Lord came down, the stone was rolled away, and the guards were overwhelmed with fear. What looked like a sealed, final situation had already been transformed by the power of God. Pastor Clement emphasized that the same is true for us today: long before we see any sign of change, God is already moving in ways we cannot see.

The women expected a body; instead, they found an empty tomb. Where they anticipated sorrow, they encountered a miracle. Our Redeemer delights in turning places of mourning into places of discovery.

“Do Not Be Afraid” – The Message Of The Angel

The angel’s first words were simple and direct: “Do not be afraid.” Then came the explanation that changed everything: “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” The resurrection is not an accident or an afterthought; it is the fulfillment of Jesus’ own words and the Father’s eternal plan.

Fear is one of the most powerful forces shaping human behaviour. We fear failure, rejection, loss, death, and the unknown. The events of Good Friday appeared to confirm those fears—the apparent triumph of darkness, violence, and injustice. But the resurrection shatters the finality of those fears by demonstrating that Jesus has authority over sin, death, and hell.

Pastor Clement pointed out that the angel did not ask the women to ignore reality or pretend that the crucifixion had not happened. Instead, he invited them to look at the tomb differently—through the lens of what God had done. “Come and see the place where he lay,” he said, and then, “Go quickly and tell his disciples.” Encounter leads to assignment; revelation leads to mission.

In our own lives, God does not deny the pain we have experienced. He calls us to bring that pain to the empty tomb and to hear again the words: “Do not be afraid… He is risen.” The Redeemer lives, and because He lives, fear no longer has the final word.

Meeting The Risen Redeemer

As the women ran to obey the angel’s instructions, something even greater happened: Jesus Himself met them on the way. They fell at His feet, took hold of Him, and worshipped. This was no vague spiritual feeling; it was a real encounter with a living Savior.

Pastor Clement highlighted that Christianity stands or falls on this fact: Jesus truly rose from the dead. The resurrection is not only a symbol of hope; it is a historical, spiritual, and transforming reality. Because the Redeemer lives:

• Our faith is not in a dead teacher, but in a living Lord.

• Our sins are not only forgiven at the cross, but we are empowered to live new lives by His resurrection power.

• Our future is not uncertain; it is anchored in the One who conquered the grave.

Jesus repeated the same message as the angel: “Do not be afraid.” But He also gave a clear instruction: “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” The risen Christ turns grieving followers into joyful messengers. He meets us in our fear and sends us out with a message of life.

For believers today, this means we are called not just to believe that the Redeemer lives, but to live as people who have met Him. Our worship, obedience, and mission flow out of a real relationship with the risen Jesus.

From Doubt To Commission

Matthew also records another group of people responding to the empty tomb: the religious leaders and soldiers who chose denial over truth. Faced with the reality of the resurrection, they created a story to cover it up. Pastor Clement warned that people still do this today—explaining away the power of God, resisting the call to repentance, and choosing comfort over transformation.

Yet even among Jesus’ own disciples there were doubts. When they met Him in Galilee, some worshipped and some hesitated. Jesus did not reject or abandon them; instead, He came near and spoke words that have shaped the church ever since: the Great Commission.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” The Redeemer who lives is also the King who reigns. Because He has all authority, He sends His followers out with a global mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Pastor Clement underlined that the resurrection is not just about personal comfort or private spirituality. It launches us into a life of purpose. We are called to:

• Share the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

• Help people become disciples, not just attenders.

• Live in obedience to Jesus’ teaching in every area of life.

This mission might feel overwhelming, but Jesus ends with a promise: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The Redeemer who lives also remains—with His church, in His Spirit, in every step of obedience.

Living In The Power Of The Risen Christ

“The Redeemer Lives” is more than a sermon title; it is a call to live differently because of the resurrection. Pastor Clement drew out several ways this truth should shape our daily lives:

• We live with hope, knowing that no tomb—whether of sin, failure, or loss—is stronger than Jesus’ power.

• We live in freedom, because the cross has paid for our sins and the resurrection proves the payment was accepted.

• We live with purpose, sent into our families, workplaces, city, and the nations with the message of a living Savior.

• We live with confidence, not in ourselves but in Christ’s authority and His constant presence.

The resurrection does not remove every problem, but it changes how we face them. We no longer walk towards our “tombs” alone and resigned; we walk with the risen Jesus, trusting that He can bring new life where we see only dead ends.

For those who have not yet trusted in Christ, the resurrection is God’s loving invitation. The Redeemer lives and offers forgiveness, new life, and a restored relationship with God to all who turn to Him in repentance and faith. Eternal life is not a reward for religious effort but a gift from the living Savior.

For believers, this message is a reminder not to slip back into a “Friday mindset” of fear and defeat when we are called to live in “Sunday reality.” The Redeemer lives—today, in this moment—and He invites us to trust Him, worship Him, and follow Him wherever He leads.

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