Matthew 28
-Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus had cast out seven demons, was,
along with James and John’s mother Mary, there first to bring anointing spices
for His body. They were wondering how they would get in to the tomb with the
large stone in front of it, but they found it had been rolled away (Mark 16:3).
An angel of the LORD came with a great earthquake and rolled the stone away,
and the guards who were protecting the site, according to Matthew’s gospel,
became incapacitated from fear and were in the state of comatose like dead men.
Since they went out of consciousness, it stands to reason they never actually
saw the risen Christ and could go along with the deception they were paid off
to keep in confidence (Matthew 28:11-15).
-This all happened in the early morning hours of the first
day of the week after the Sabbath, which was Sunday. Jesus appears to Mary
Magdalene there in the garden according to John and Matthew’s gospels, but she
is told not to cling to Him (a statement meant to say there is much to be done)
as she and the other Mary worship at His feet (Matthew 28:9, John 20:11-18),
but to go and tell of this resurrection and coming ascension to the Father to
the disciples. This is what will initiate the Kingdom eventually in all its
fullness with the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. If Mary had kept
clinging onto this earthly, incarnate One of the Godhead, the Kingdom would be
stuck to a single location. But, and this was Jesus’ point, the message must
now be spread all over not being contained in one spot.
-The recognition is slow and fear abounds, but the Savior’s
appearances begin to erase the unbelief and skepticism as Jesus’ predictive
words start to be remembered and joy abounds in this miracle of miracles. He is
no longer in the tomb! He is raised and will go before them to Galilee as well
as have other appearances in Jerusalem!
-*Application* The
resurrection makes all the difference in the world to our faith. If we believe
that God is raised from the grave we can be saved (Romans 10:9). Without the
resurrection our faith is worthless (1 Corinthians 15). With the resurrection,
however, we have eternal hope and joy forever no matter what the situation is
here on this earth. We have multiple and detailed accounts of the events of
Christ Jesus’ resurrection. Over 500 people witnessed the risen Savior before
His ascension back to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:6) including the disciples
that surrendered their lives and well-being for the King. They would have never
sacrificed so much for a fraud. They had nothing to gain by a deception in this
matter. What changed them was real and should strengthen our faith to live
boldly for the risen Lord!
-The next intriguing account we get from Matthew is the
cover up to the resurrection that was perpetrated by the religious elders and
counselors when some of the guard came to them with the news of what had taken
place. These guards were paid off with a sufficient sum of money to keep up the
front of a lie in spreading false information that the disciples had come by
night and stolen the body while they slept. The guards knew that if they had
not taken the money and been found to have not done their job, they would have
quite possibly been in immense trouble (Acts 16:27-30). This was a good deal
for them to escape possible punishment and make themselves a profit at the same
time. To them it must have seemed a win-win situation, but this heresy infected
the Jewish people. Who knows how many were affected and prevented from hearing
the truth of the gospel in a clear-unadulterated fashion even to this day.
These guards were more than likely dazed and confused over the appearance of
the angel at the tomb and never actually got to see the risen Savior as far as
we can discern. The Scriptures state that they fell as dead men in total shock
and fear (Matthew 28:4), so they could have easily convinced themselves that
what they experienced was a hoax I suppose. Nevertheless, they had been privy
to the most incredible miracle of all time, yet they denounced it for pay.
-Therefore, we see in this passage two parties that were in
the wrong. The religious leaders who wanted to cover up the propagation of the
revelation and resurrection of Christ were certainly at fault. But also, the
guards were of ill character to choose financial gain over the truth in a
matter. *Application* There are
times in our lives when we also face decisions of this kind. What kind of
character do you have? Would you be willing to lay down your job and family’s
stability to do the right thing in your place of work? My perception today is
that there are cowards everywhere who will not stand up for the things of God
for the benefit of the almighty American dollar. It makes me sick to think of
where our country is headed because we simply will not take a stand for what is
true and right because we are afraid of losing a job and financial security
with health benefits. Before you go and judge these guards for selling out,
make sure you are not doing the exact same thing. Christ’s Kingdom wants
sold-out soldiers willing to leave family and die for the cause, not weak money
loving cop-outs who care too much for the pleasures of this world (Matthew
13:22; 19:29, Acts 21:13, 2 Timothy 2:3-4). This may seem radical, but it is
certainly what Jesus taught and the early Christians lived out. What are we
going to do with that? God wants you to live boldly and speak as you ought
(Ephesians 6:20).
-Matthew gives little focus to the resurrected work of
Christ compared to some of the other gospel writers. He makes mention that
Jesus had appeared to some in the region of Jerusalem, but His primary meeting
place for worship and instruction would be back in Galilee at a designated
mountain (Matthew 28:10, 16).
-Incredible truths on how we are to go about our business as
believers are revealed as Jesus gives His disciples, and us, His great
commission. He was sent by the Father, called to do a work, which He completed.
He was about to send His Hoy Spirit in complete fullness to indwell the
believer for amazing power and work in the spreading of the Kingdom. Let’s take
a careful look into the aspects of this commission so that we can obey the
Lord’s directives and commands.
-As He concludes with the fact that all authority in earth
and Heaven had now been given to Him as He had completed His task in saving the
world from sin (Matthew 28:18), He tells us what and how to increase His
Kingdom the proper way. He begins with the word therefore. This indicates that
we are fighting for His purposes through the victory and authority He has
already won. The word “go” is a participle and should have the connotation
“while you are going.” *Application*
This refers to the manner in which we should be operating our lives as
believers. We should never put our Savior on the shelf and act like He doesn’t
fit in with our lives in any way. We always represent the King in every place.
There is to be no dichotomy between the secular and the sacred in our lives. We
are to be totally His everywhere we go and in everything that we do. You are
just as much a minister in the grocery store or at work as you are in the
church building.
-The imperative command in this commission is “to make
disciples of all nations.” Disciple making is the key ingredient to building
His Kingdom on this earth. *Application*
Discipleship is hard work and will take time. We must use the principle laid
out by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2 to his young learner, Timothy. We must invest in
people that will take the Word and train others for the perpetual increase of
the knowledge of the LORD. Pour into people for the purpose of making them
disciples of Christ Jesus and followers of the true Way. In time all the world
will know of Him and then the end of the age will come (Matthew 24:14).
-The manner we are to make disciples is by baptism in the
Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is immersion. They must not
only be baptized by water in obedience to His command, remembering though this
is not a requirement for salvation (Luke 23:39-43), but also baptized into His
Spirit as a believer sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). We are
also instructed to teach them to observe everything that the Lord commanded.
This all revolves around loving the Lord with all the heart, mind, soul,
strength (every ounce of everything), and loving our neighbor as much as we
love ourselves. All else supernaturally flows out of these two commands. And in
fact Jesus gives us an even better and new command that we can love one another
with His love (which is not in our own strength anymore, but by the Holy
Spirit), total agape, as we go through life (John 13:34-35).
-Christ Jesus finally taught us that He is always with us in
this commissioned work in which He sends us. He will never leave us or forsake
us in the mission (Hebrews 13:5). He is the paraclete,
the “One who comes alongside” through His Spirit.
-*Application* Be
renewed and energized by this ancient but very relevant commission today. While
you are going along life’s way, make disciples everywhere you can by doing the
works of Christ who is with you and gives you the strength to do His perfect
will. You can make a difference for His Kingdom!
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