Matthew 28

He is Risen

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Sunday morning, a new week, a new hope, a promise fulfilled. Jesus would rise as was the promise. Is it any wonder that the church of the New Covenant in his blood, chooses to celebrate on Sunday? It is celebration day! The Sabbath, was from the law that pointed out sins, and those sins lead to death. Jesus took our sins and was buried on Passover day, a Sabbath day. Sunday is resurrection day and new life! We receive Grace through faith in our risen savior; the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Angels are messengers of God and they are very strong. They give protection to the redeemed, fighting in the spirit world in our behalf. One angel slew 10,000 men. These are powerful creations. Some angels look like men and some are very big. I always laugh at the expression "angels under your pillow" that could be quite a lump. An angel by himself rolled the heavy stone that blocked the entrance, and sat upon it. He completely overpowered and terrified the tough Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb with their life.

Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mat 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

His appearance wasn't just white or light, but as lightning! Lightning is powerful and bright and quick. That stone may have been moved as quickly as lightning. He completely overpowered and terrified the tough Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb with their life. They were as dead men in fright and in knowing that death was the sentence they would receive from Rome, if a prisoner escapes. Instead of death, they were given bribe money to spread a lie (vs.11-15)

In the book of Acts, angels let Peter out of prison and also Paul and Silas; the guard knew he would be killed, and was going to kill himself when Paul intervened.

Acts 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Acts 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Jesus arose from the grave to bring salvation to all who would believe. Yes, the jailer and even the Roman guards could receive eternal life through faith in Jesus.

Mat 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

The evidence was an empty tomb and an angelic messenger with a command; go tell his disciples that he is risen. Go tell all who would hear, Jesus is risen. Would they believe? One more promise was given; Jesus himself will see you on the road to Galilee. Now that is proof; a risen Jesus! I have known people on the Internet through words shared, but to see them and to touch hands with them, that is to know that they are really there. No tricks, no playing games but real evidence!

Mat 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

They had a good fear, a reverent fear of the power of God, and excitement with great joy. Do we still have this kind of excitement as we go out to witness of the risen savior?

Mat 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Wow, I can imagine doing this, submissive in a bowing position, worshipping him, holding on to those precious nail pierced feet. How could those feet with holes in them walk? They were Holy feet, new resurrected feet, not changed, because the evidence is there for all to see that it truly is Jesus risen bodily.

Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Be not afraid, if this were an angel, he would have said, I am not to be worshipped; I am a creation as you. But, this was no angel; this is the eternal Son of God, the firstborn of a new creation of spirit filled people.

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Glory to God, Jesus has risen!

The plot

Mat 28:11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

The guards did not go to the governor, but to the chief priests, showing them all that had happened regarding the resurrection of the Messiah. They all should have immediately repented on their knees, asking the LORD for forgiveness and praising God for this great sign, because Jesus did exactly what he had prophesied, he had risen from the grave.

Mat 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Mat 28:13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
Mat 28:14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Mat 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Wow, not only do they not fear God, but also they believed the report and bribed with money the Roman guard to spread a lie. The soldiers in any other such incident, would have paid with their own lives. They would even fix this with the Roman governor, making some underhanded deal with him .Oh, the bitter guile of these Jewish leaders, the hardness of their hearts. If there was a plot, it was they who plotted. First they plotted to kill Jesus, and then they paid the guards to lie against the truth. They paid the guards to be false witnesses even as they paid Judas to deliver Jesus to them. They were murderers and liars, law breakers after their father, the devil. Not all Jewish people were like this. Remember the Lord's words when he met Nathaniel, early in his ministry?

John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Simple Nathaniel was a Jewish man with no guile. God revealed to him the true identity of Jesus, " thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." The Jewish leaders were forced to see Jesus came from God, but they wished to stay in the darkness, for their deeds were evil. No man or priest can hide the truth of Jesus. Though through traditions he has been hidden from many. What will you do with Jesus? Receive him now, for every knee shall bow before him, now or at the judgment. Now is the time of salvation.

Worship Him

Mat 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
Mat 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

They all had doubts at first.

Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mark 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mark 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

Even his apostles did not believe the report of his resurrection.

Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

Another form, apparently Jesus left the scars for our benefit. He is Lord of all, and creator, he is able to do anything, but he cannot sin.

Mark 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Still they had no belief; don't feel bad if people do not believe your witness of Jesus. His disciples, who heard that he was to rise on the third day, still did not believe.

Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Here is one more favorite story about "doubting" Thomas.

John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

There is enough evidence here, for the hearer and seer to receive Jesus and to be saved from his sins. The evidence demands a verdict; I believe that Jesus is my Lord and my God. Will you agree with me?

Share the Good News

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Our Father, the LORD GOD, has given not just some power, but ALL power unto the Son, in heaven and in earth. What does this mean to us?

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

2 Tim 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Wonderful and beautiful things come to us through Jesus. What then shall we do until he returns? Shall we be at ease, as we have entered into our rest, Jesus is our rest, our dwelling place? Always we have his peace, and we must share this new life with others because Jesus has given us a great command, from the one who has all power, so we had best obey this command.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

As you go, teach the word of God:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Which word do we teach?

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

What is the message all need to hear first?

Paul had the answer for us; we will do as the greatest evangelist and preacher of the New Testament.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

We baptize believers, fully immersed in water, as a sign of the New Covenant. This identifies the new believer with the body of Christ and signals the spiritual powers that they are now identified in Christ Jesus, the one who has all power.

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We teach through the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
John 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Go forth in His Spirit and in His peace and share the good news.

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