A Reason To Rejoice
Matthew Twenty-Eight
In the end of the Sabbath or
after the Sabbath was over Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to see the
tomb where Jesus was buried. When they got near to the tomb 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. The angel's "countenance
was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow." He said that Jesus was
not there; He had risen from the dead. The women were invited to, "Come,
see the place where the Lord lay."
The angel told the women to
"go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is raised from the dead; and,
behold, he goeth before you into
Matthew twenty-seven closed with a
scene of sorrow and grief, Jesus dead and buried. In Matthew twenty-eight we
see that humanity found reason to rejoice, Christ arose. The death, burial and
resurrection of Christ are the heart of the gospel. "Moreover, brethren, I
declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and
in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word
which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you
first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the
third day according to the Scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:1-4)
The Risen Lord
Matthew 28:1-8: Near dawn on
the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary became the first to
know that Jesus had been resurrected. When they came to the tomb the seal had
been broken and the stone was rolled away. The angel did not roll away the
stone to let the Lord out, but rather to let the witnesses in. Our hope in the
hereafter is that God or some angel may roll the stone from our grave and that
we may arise. The angel urged the women to believe that Jesus had been
resurrected. "He is not here; for He is risen, as
He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."
(Matthew 28:6)
He also urged them to tell what
they had learned. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from
the dead, and indeed He is going before you into
The Rejoicing
Women Matthew 28:9-10: When
Jesus first appeared to the women He gave two commands: (1)
"Rejoice", (2) "Go and tell my brethren..." When He met the
women He said, "All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and
worshipped him." When the women saw Jesus they recognized Him, and they
knew for a fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.
Our Savior is divine, and as
the women fall down at His feet, and worshiped Him, Jesus said to them,
"Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into
The Rejecting
Soldiers Matthew 28:11-15: The
guards were placed at the tomb by Caiaphus so that the disciples would not
steal the body. These guards saw every thing that happened, and reported it all
back to the chief priests. They told how the angel came and rolled back the
stone. Imagine how it was when these unbelievers rehearsed the story of the
resurrection.
Judas received thirty pieces of
silver to betray the Lord. The soldiers were given "large money" to
keep silent about the resurrection. The guards took bribes to say, "His
disciples came at night and stole Him away while we were sleeping."
(Matthew 28:13) Keep in mind that this is the high priest, Caiaphus, and those
guards are religious people that are involved with this cover-up.
The guards were told that even
if this came to the ears of Pilate that they were telling these lies that their
freedom would be secure. The result of their lie was disbelief among many of
the Jews. "So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and
this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." (Matthew
28:15) This synagogue of Satan led many astray with their lies. Their plot was
evil but thank God, good and right always prevails. Truth prevails! He arose
and no one could silence the believers!
The Reaction
To The Resurrection Matthew 28:16-20: The resurrection called attention to Jesus' POWER. "Jesus came
and spoke to them, saying, All authority (power) has been given Me in heaven
and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) Through His power the GREAT COMMISSION was
given. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
(Matthew 28:19) The
If Jesus commission is carried
out He promises His PRESENCE. "Teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age." (Matthew 28:20) Do you believe in the resurrection? Jesus'
resurrection is essential to our future. "But now Christ is risen from the
dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since
by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in
Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." (I Corinthians
15:20-22) Victory comes through His resurrection.
Jesus' death, burial and
resurrection are the result of God's amazing love for lost mankind. "Love
so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." If Jesus would
die, be buried and resurrected for us, surely we can live for Him! To prepare
for eternity you must obey the gospel NOW and keep faithful to God. Purify your
heart by faith (John