The Two Kingdoms

Ps David Jones
6 days ago
6 min read

Pastor David Jones

Sunday Morning’s message 4th of May 2025

citywestchurch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOxZCtV7z8k

Leader: Please choose what best suits your group and fits the time well. You do not need to discuss every question. Choose two or three areas to discuss. Have fun Jesus People!

Theme: The resurrection of Jesus reveals the clash between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of deception.

Two Reports, Two Kingdoms

After His crucifixion, Jesus was placed in a new tomb, sealed with a large stone, guarded, and declared finished by the world. But the story did not end there. Over a period of forty days, the risen Jesus appeared to more than 500 people, offering undeniable proof of His victory over death

The First Report - The Two Mary's

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.

2 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The response of the two Mary's to the empty tomb is a powerful example of faith, obedience, and joy in the face of the miraculous. As recorded in Matthew 28:1–10, they came to the tomb expecting to mourn but instead were met with a great earthquake and an angel who declared, “He is not here; he has risen.”. They respond in action. The angel instructed them to go and tell the disciples, and they ran “afraid yet filled with joy” to share the news.

On their way, they encountered the risen Jesus Himself, who greeted them and reaffirmed their mission: “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee.”. Their report was one of truth, hope, and resurrection power. It was the first proclamation of the gospel after the resurrection, and it carried with it the joy of fulfilled promise and the urgency to spread the message.

Unlike others who would later distort the truth, the Mary's became faithful witnesses to the reality that Jesus had truly risen, just as He said He would.

Discussion:

What would your response have been if you had been one of the women at the tomb?

A Second Report: The Guards

Matthew 28:11–15 "While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day."

The guards’ response to the resurrection stands in stark contrast to that of the two Mary's. They were terrified by the angel whose appearance was like lightning, and they “shook and became like dead men.” These were hardened Roman soldiers, yet the supernatural event overwhelmed them. Instead of taking their testimony to the public or seeking truth, some went straight to the chief priests (the others were likely too afraid to speak). The religious leaders bribed the guards with a large sum of money to spread a false report—that Jesus’ disciples stole His body while they slept.

Despite having seen undeniable evidence of the resurrection, the guards chose self-preservation over truth. Their silence and cooperation allowed a lie to be spread, one that, as verse 15 notes, “has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” The guards had the same evidence as the Mary's, but their response helped birth a counterfeit message—one rooted in fear, deceit, and denial. Their report reminds us how easily truth can be traded for comfort, and how powerful the temptation is to protect position and reputation rather than stand for what is right.

Discussion:

Why do you think the guards chose to report to the chief priests instead of the Roman authorities or the public? What does this reveal about their motives or fears?
The guards witnessed a miraculous event—why do you think that wasn't enough to change their hearts or beliefs?
How can we respond differently when faced with uncomfortable truths?

Recognising the Language of the Two Kingdoms

The resurrection of Jesus exposes not only the power of God but also the voice of two opposing kingdoms. While the Kingdom of God speaks life, hope, and freedom, the kingdom of the enemy operates through lies, confusion, and fear. The false report spread by the religious leaders reveals the devil’s strategy: to distort what God has made clear. Jesus is clear about the strategies of the enemy.

John 8:44 "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies"

This same deceptive language is still active today, seen in the widespread claims that Jesus isn’t real, the Church is outdated, all religions lead to God, or there is no heaven or hell. These are not just random opinions—they are the language of a counterfeit kingdom trying to blind people to the truth. As 2 Corinthians 4:4 explains, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel.”.

We must learn to recognise and reject these lies, measuring every voice and teaching against the unchanging truth of Christ’s resurrection and His Word. Anything that draws us away from Jesus leads us toward a different report—and a different kingdom.

Reflection Question:

What lies do you see being promoted in the culture around us?
What do these verses (John 8:44 and 2 Corinthians 4:4) teach us about the nature of spiritual deception?

The True Report: Resurrection Power

In contrast to the lies spread by the religious leaders, the true report is this: Jesus Christ is risen, and His resurrection changes everything. As 1 Corinthians 15:20–21 declares, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

His resurrection is not only proof of His victory over death, but also a promise of our future resurrection. Death no longer has the final say for those who are in Christ. This truth is not just historical—it is spiritual and personal. According to Romans 8:11, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us, empowering us to live with purpose, strength, and victory. Through Christ, we are made new; as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” The resurrection report is a declaration of new life, real hope, and the ongoing power of the Holy Spirit at work in believers today. This is the message we are called to carry—boldly, joyfully, and without compromise. The resurrection of Jesus is not just history—it’s our present and future hope.

Discussion Questions:

What do these verses tell us about our future and our present life in Christ?
How does knowing the truth of the resurrection shape how we live today?

Personal Reflection: Which Report Are You Living By?

Ask the group to reflect quietly:

Do my words and actions reflect the truth of the resurrection?
Am I living in faith, hope, and surrender—or am I living under fear, compromise, or doubt?
Which kingdom does my life proclaim?

Encourage open sharing if people feel comfortable.