Mateus 28
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
Mateus 28
Spurgeon - “As it began to dawn, came Magdalene, to see the sepulchre.”—Matthew 28:1 Let us learn from Mary Magdalene how to obtain fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Notice how she sought. She sought the Saviour very early in the morning. If thou canst wait for Christ, and be patient in the hope of having fellowship with him at some distant season, thou wilt never have fellowship at all; for the heart that is fitted for communion is a hungering and a thirsting heart. She sought him also with very great boldness. Other disciples fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were amazed; but Mary, it is said, “stood” at the sepulchre. If you would have Christ with you, seek him boldly. Let nothing hold you back. Defy the world. Press on where others flee. She sought Christ faithfully—she stood at the sepulchre. Some find it hard to stand by a living Saviour, but she stood by a dead one. Let us seek Christ after this mode, cleaving to the very least thing that has to do with him, remaining faithful though all others should forsake him. Note further, she sought Jesus earnestly—she stood “weeping”. Those tear-droppings were as spells that led the Saviour captive, and made him come forth and show himself to her. If you desire Jesus’ presence, weep after it! If you cannot be happy unless he come and say to you, “Thou art my beloved,” you will soon hear his voice. Lastly, she sought the Saviour only. What cared she for angels, she turned herself back from them; her search was only for her Lord. If Christ be your one and only love, if your heart has cast out all rivals, you will not long lack the comfort of his presence. Mary Magdalene sought thus because she loved much. Let us arouse ourselves to the same intensity of affection; let our heart, like Mary’s, be full of Christ, and our love, like hers, will be satisfied with nothing short of himself. O Lord, reveal thyself to us this evening! Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings of the Bible - see page 472 - What Happened at the Resurrection? The story of the resurrection in John is quite exciting and seemingly straightforward. One woman shows up at the tomb, discovers it is open, informs the disciples, who investigate, and then meets first an angel and afterward Jesus. This straightforwardness is true enough so long as we look only at one Gospel. When we examine Matthew 28:1–8 or Mark 16:1–8 or Luke 24:1–10 we discover differing pictures. Can these pictures be put together? If they cannot, what does this mean for the truth of the accounts? In responding to this issue, it would be helpful to look at the events in the four accounts COMPARISON OF RESURRECTION IN THE FOUR GOSPEL ACCOUNTS EVENT When? Dawn Just after sunrise Very early in the morning While it was still dark Who comes first? Mary Magdalene and the other Mary Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others Mary Magdalene What do they find? earthquake with angel who rolls back the stone stone rolled away stone rolled away stone removed from the entrance Whom do they see? angel sitting on the stone young man in white robe, sitting on the right two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning no one What do they do? ran to tell his disciples fled from the tomb, afraid to say anything told what had happened to the Eleven and others ran to tell Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved What happens next? Jesus met them -- Peter goes to the tomb to investigate Peter and the other disciple investigate What is the third scene? guards report to chief priests and are bribed -- story of two disciples on Emmaus road Mary sees two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been When we examine these four accounts, we notice some similarities. First, all agree that the events happened around dawn, although they disagree about whether it was already light. Given that the events happened over a period of time, this difference is hardly significant. Second, all agree that Mary Magdalene was at least one of the ones discovering that the body had disappeared. The purposes of the individual narratives seems to determine how many other women are mentioned (with Luke, who has a special interest in women, noting the most women). Third, all agree that the women find an open, corpseless tomb. Matthew seems to imply that they also saw the opening of the tomb, although he may narrate the opening of the tomb as something that happened while the women were traveling and before they arrived at the tomb. None of the other Gospels mentions the guards, so how the tomb gets opened is less of a problem for them. Fourth, all agree that the women saw one or more angels (only Luke has two). However, the angel in John’s account appears to be functioning in a different narrative role than the ones in the other accounts. It is, perhaps, more accurate to say that John does not inform us if Mary saw anyone at the tomb before going to tell the disciples. What the angels say also differs, although in all cases the women are informed that Jesus is not there. In the various accounts they are told not to fear (and that they were afraid anyway), to report to the disciples and to meet Jesus in Galilee. Finally, all agree that the women left the tomb, and three of the four accounts note that they did inform the disciples. (Mark breaks off with verse 8, the longer ending probably not being part of the original text; it is debated whether an original ending of Mark has been lost or whether he intended to break off with the women in fear and the question of whether they would follow Jesus into Galilee hanging in the air.) Furthermore, two of the accounts agree that the woman or women met Jesus, that they tried to hold on to him, and that he sent them on their way. However, John appears to put this meeting after Peter and the beloved disciple investigate, and Matthew puts it before the women report to the disciples. What can we conclude from this data? First, it is possible to make this data into a coherent story. If we assume that the pre- or post-dawn timing depends on whether one gives the time of the women starting their trip or their arrival at the tomb, if we assume that the earthquake and angelic descent happened before the women arrived at the tomb, if we merge what the angels say into one account, if we assume that the angels moved around, and if we assume that Mary Magdalene remained behind at the tomb while the others went and reported (and thus had a separate meeting with Jesus), one can make a single coherent account out of the various stories. Obviously, if there were two angels, one writer could report only one. Not every writer has to report all of the details another mentions. In other words, these are different stories but not necessarily conflicting stories. All could be true at the same time. Second, while it is possible to make the data fit into a coherent story, we cannot be sure that we have the right coherent story. We have a jigsaw puzzle of information and cannot be sure that we have all of the pieces. Thus, since the Scripture has not given us a single unified story, we must be careful or else we will end up believing that our reconstruction is the truth. A reconstruction may be the truth or it may distort the truth. Perhaps if we had some other critical pieces of information we would make quite a different reconstruction. Third, these stories are exactly what one would expect to discover after a significant event like the resurrection. The chancellor of this author’s university died at the end of an address to the student body. Within an hour of the event a sociology professor had his thirty students each write down their own account of what had happened. Each was instructed to write as honest and detailed account as they could, given the limited time of the class period. When the accounts were later compared, there were numerous differences in detail, although all agreed that the chancellor had died at the end of his address. Presumably each Gospel writer had a series of stories about the resurrection to sort through. For example, we know that Matthew knows and values Mark’s account, but in the resurrection story he obviously has some independent information as well. The Evangelists selected and combined data to get the accounts that they give us. But even the beloved disciple in John is not an eyewitness of most of the events, so we are not surprised to find a lot of differences in their reporting what happened. Finally, when we try to put the stories together, we miss the point of the authors. The church accepted into its canon four separate Gospels, viewing each as inspired by God. It did not put into the canon a harmony of these Gospels (although such existed). The fact is that each writer is trying to bring out his unique perspective and theological insights by the details he includes or leaves out (although, unless Matthew and Luke are differing from Mark, which we know that they knew, we often cannot be sure that the author actually knows a detail and so purposely leaves it out). Matthew wants to underline the miraculous and also explain a rumor that the body of Jesus was stolen. Luke stresses the fulfillment of the words of Jesus and yet the disbelief of the apostles. John, by focusing on a single character and her intimate discussion with Jesus, points out that in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus the promises of John 13–16 are fulfilled. Jesus cannot be held, for it is better for him to go to the one who is not only his Father but is now also our Father. It is when we look at the resurrection through such eyes, informed by the perspective of each Gospel writer, that we see not simply a miracle, nor even the fact of the resurrection, but the message the church has believed that God wanted to communicate in and through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Question - Can the various resurrection accounts from the four Gospels be harmonized? Answer: The events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection can be difficult to piece together. We must remember two things: first, the news of Jesus’ resurrection produced much excitement in Jerusalem, and in the ensuing chaos many people were going many different directions. Groups were separated, and several different groups paid visits to the tomb, possibly more than once. Second, the writers of the Gospels did not attempt an exhaustive narrative; in other words, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John had no intention of telling us every detail of the resurrection or every event in the order that it happened. In the battle with skeptics regarding Jesus’ resurrection, Christians are in a "no-win" situation. If the resurrection accounts harmonize perfectly, skeptics will claim that the writers of the Gospels conspired together. If the resurrection accounts have some differences, skeptics will claim that the Gospels contradict each other and therefore cannot be trusted. It is our contention that the resurrection accounts can be harmonized and do not contradict each other. However, even if the resurrection accounts cannot be perfectly harmonized, that does not make them untrustworthy. By any reasonable evaluation, the resurrection accounts from the four Gospels are superbly consistent eyewitness testimonies. The central truths - that Jesus was resurrected from the dead and that the resurrected Jesus appeared to many people - are clearly taught in each of the four Gospels. The apparent inconsistencies are in "side issues." How many angels did they see in the tomb, one or two? (Perhaps one person only saw one angel, while the other person saw two angels.) To how many women did Jesus appear, and to whom did He appear first? (While each Gospel has a slightly different sequence to the appearances, none of them claims to be giving the precise chronological order.) So, while the resurrection accounts may seem to be inconsistent, it cannot be proven that the accounts are contradictory. Here is a possible harmony of the narratives of the resurrection of Christ and His post-resurrection appearances, in chronological order: Jesus is buried, as several women watch (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42). The tomb is sealed and a guard is set (Matthew 27:62-66). At least 3 women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, prepare spices to go to the tomb (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1). An angel descends from heaven, rolls the stone away, and sits on it. There is an earthquake, and the guards faint (Matthew 28:2-4). The women arrive at the tomb and find it empty. Mary Magdalene leaves the other women there and runs to tell the disciples (John 20:1-2). The women still at the tomb see two angels who tell them that Jesus is risen and who instruct them to tell the disciples to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:2-8; Luke 24:1-8). The women leave to bring the news to the disciples (Matthew 28:8). The guards, having roused themselves, report the empty tomb to the authorities, who bribe the guards to say the body was stolen (Matthew 28:11-15). Mary the mother of James and the other women, on their way to find the disciples, see Jesus (Matthew 28:9-10). The women relate what they have seen and heard to the disciples (Luke 24:9-11). Peter and John run to the tomb, see that it is empty, and find the grave clothes (Luke 24:12; John 20:2-10). Mary Magdalene returns to the tomb. She sees the angels, and then she sees Jesus (John 20:11-18). Later the same day, Jesus appears to Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5). Still on the same day, Jesus appears to Cleopas and another disciple on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). That evening, the two disciples report the event to the Eleven in Jerusalem (Luke 24:32-35). Jesus appears to ten disciples—Thomas is missing (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25). Jesus appears to all eleven disciples—Thomas included (John 20:26-31). Jesus appears to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25). Jesus appears to about 500 disciples in Galilee (1 Corinthians 15:6). Jesus appears to His half-brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7). Jesus commissions His disciples (Matthew 28:16-20). Jesus teaches His disciples the Scriptures and promises to send the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:4-5). Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:6-12). (Source: GotQuestions.org) QUESTION - Do not the many discrepancies in the four Resurrection narratives cast doubt on the historicity of the Resurrection itself? FOR ANSWER SEE Gleason Archer in New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties for a 10 page discussion (GO TO PAGE 347 ON THE PDF) entitled Angel at the Tomb SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 28:1–10 (BORROW Preacher's Sourcebook 2002, page 87) INTRODUCTION: 1. The Angel’s Mission (vv. 1–4). This angel had the ability to materialize, to make the earth quake, and to roll away a massive stone as if it were a marshmallow. Hebrews chapter 1 tells us that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who inherit salvation. 2. The Angel’s Message (vv. 5–7). The word “angel”—angelos—means messenger. And what a message! 3. The Angel’s Master (vv. 8–10). The angel was simply the advance messenger for the Risen Christ, the head over all principalities and powers. CONCLUSION: The reason Christ died is so that we might live, and the reason He rose again is that we might serve a Risen Savior. Living Beyond Fear By Dr. Timothy Beougher (BORROW The Preacher's Sourcebook 2007, page 111) SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1–15 INTRODUCTION: The good news of Easter Sunday is that because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we can live beyond fear. In the passage we are looking at this morning, Matthew 28:1–15, we find the phrase “do not be afraid” repeated two distinct times. 1. We Can Live Without Fear because: A. The Savior Is Alive (vv. 1–10). He rose and He lives today! B. Our Sins Can Be Forgiven (v. 5). Jesus was crucified for our sins, to reconcile us to God (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Is. 53:5). C. The Scriptures Can Be Trusted (v. 6). Notice the phrase “just as He said.” 2. How to Live Without Fear: A. Come and See (vv. 6, 11). B. Believe (vv. 8–9; 12–15). C. Go and Tell (vv. 7, 10). CONCLUSION: Because of the Resurrection we can live without fear. The Most Important Days - Matthew 28:1 On the first day of the week . . . they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. —Luke 24:1-2 This is the time of year when I go on “the hunt”—not for after-holiday deals on decorations but for the perfect calendar. I start looking in December, but I don’t get serious about my search until January. My requirements are simple: I want a week-at-a-glance, book-type calendar that will lie open on the counter near the telephone. It must also begin each week with Sunday, not Monday. It’s this last criterion that complicates my search. More and more calendars start the week with Monday, the day God considers second. This trend, like others in our culture, gives the least prominence to what God considers most important. He chose to give special significance to 2 days of the week, the first and the last. He rested on the seventh day after creating the world (Genesis 2:1-3), and on the first day Christ rose from the dead after redeeming the world (Luke 24:1-7). Under the Old Covenant, the last day was reserved for rest. Today, under the New Covenant, believers celebrate the first day of the week in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection. Although the calendar I use is not crucial to my faith, it does help me remember that my life begins and ends not with the work I do for myself but with the work God does for me as I worship and rest. Thinking It Over Do I make time in my schedule for worship and rest? How can worship transform my thinking and living? How can rest help me to see God and life more clearly? Time spent with the Lord is time well spent. HYMNS RELATED Beautiful Morning He Is Not Here, but Is Risen! Hear the Chiming Easter Bells Lord, Who Late Was Dead, The Tomb Is Empty Now, The Croft Pentz - THE RISEN CHRIST Matthew 28:1–20 I. THE RESURRECTION MIRACLE—vv. 1–4 A. The people—v. 1. Mary and Martha came to the tomb early in the morning to place spices on the body of Christ. B. The power—v. 2. An earthquake came, and the stone was rolled away. Soldiers had been placed at the tomb to guard it, fearing someone might steal Christ’s body. However, He came forth! C. The personality—vv. 3–4 1. The appearance—bright and shining: clothing white like snow. 2. The awe. The keepers of the tomb were fearful, becoming stiff. Some people say that Jesus didn’t die but just fainted and the cool tomb revived Him. The Bible says Christ died (John 19:32–36). II. THE RESURRECTION MESSAGE—vv. 5–8 A. The crucified—v. 5. They knew the women were seeking Christ who was crucified. B. B. The Christ—v. 6. He is risen. He overcame sickness, demons, and nature. Now He overcomes death. Notice that Jesus arose before the stone was rolled away (John 20:5–7). C. The challenge—v. 7. “Go and tell” has always been the message of Christianity. Do you tell others about Christ? D. The consecration—v. 8. They went and told the message. It was wonderful news then, and still is wonderful news today. III. THE RESURRECTION MASTER—vv. 9–15 A. The worship—v. 9. “All hail” was a special greeting. This verse means worship, and to keep worshiping the Lord. B. The work—v. 10. Go tell His brethren where they could see Him. C. The wrong—vv. 11–15. Notice how money can influence people. Too often people become dishonest for the sake of money. IV. THE RIGHTEOUS MESSAGE—vv. 16–20 A. Confused people—vv. 16–17. Some believed and some doubted. Today we face the same problem. B. Complete power—v. 18. All power in heaven and earth was given to Christ. He is equal with God (Phil. 2:5–11). He helped to create the earth (John 1:3). C. Commission presented—vv. 19–20. 1. Salvation—v. 19. Teaching and water baptism commanded. 2. Security—v. 20. He will be with us always. “He’s Alive (But Don’t Tell Anyone)” (BORROW Preacher's Sourcebook 2008 page 87) Scripture: Matthew 27 and Matthew 28:1–10, especially Mt 28:6–7 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead. Introduction: Last year, 65 new roller coasters opened around the world, adding to hundreds in existence. The top coaster in the world is reportedly the Kingda Ka at Six Flags in New Jersey. It goes from 0 to 138 miles an hour in four seconds and has a completely vertical drop. I know of only one more dramatic ride: Matthew 27 and 28, and the roller coaster of emotions connected with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I describe it as a roller coaster because I want us to experience the ups and downs of that weekend, from the depths of horror to the heights of joy. I’d like to ask you three questions: 1. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord (Matt. 27:35–39)? Experience the grief. Can you imagine the sorrow of His loved ones as they gazed at His battered body exposed on the Cross? The crosses that adorn churches today are polished and smooth. But the Romans split rough wood for Calvary. It was jagged, filled with splinters, and perhaps crawling with insects. When the scourged backside of Christ was forced onto the Cross, the full weight of His body exposed Him to the tortures of the wood. He was bearing the ugly pain of sin for us (see Is. 53). 2. Were You There When They Laid Him in the Tomb (Matt. 27:57–66)? Experience the despair. Can you imagine the depression of that black weekend? His family and friends suffered multiple blows. Their dearest had died. He had died young and under torture before their very eyes. They had deserted Him and were overwhelmed, not only with grief, but with guilt. They had also lost their religion, for they had based their eternal destiny and spiritual hope on His Messiah-ship. Virtually everything in their lives had collapsed, and the blackness of despair had fallen over them like the edge of night. 3.Were You There When He Rose Up from the Grave (Matt. 18:1–10)? Experience the Joy. Can you imagine the intoxicating exuberance that dawned Easter Sunday? The Resurrection of Christ is biblically logical and theologically necessary. None of us would have invented a story like this, but as we look back on it we can see the genius of God in the plan devised from the foundation of the world. God was in Christ defeating sin and Satan, and destroying death and despair forever. No wonder the angels said, “Go and spread the news!” Can you imagine the impossibility of keeping this a secret? Marty Halyburton’s husband, Porter, was shot down during the Vietnam War, and Navy representatives came to her home to tell her he had died in action. For several days, Marty was too numb to react. Flags flew at half-staff all over town, and a grave-marker was placed in Porter’s memory in the family cemetery. Eighteen months passed, and though Marty tried to adjust to her loss, it was very hard. Then one day, a group of military experts appeared again at her house, this time with dramatic news. Porter was alive, in relatively good condition, being held by the North Vietnamese. Marty’s emotions leaped as if on a roller coaster. But they told her to keep the information to herself for fear of reprisals against the POWs if the news got out. It was impossible to do. How do you hide the sparkle in your eyes, the bounce in your step, the smile on your face? How do you hide the sudden transformation of your personality? How do you talk to friends without blurting out the news? In the end, the Navy realized this and made it easier by officially changing Porter’s status, and Marty phoned everyone she could with the life-changing news: “He’s alive!” Conclusion: The joy of the Resurrection is irrepressible. You can’t keep it hidden. We should live out that joy every day; and we can do it by giving our lives without reservation to our Lord. What Jesus Christ did was very public before the entire world, but it’s very personal to each of us. In His omniscience, I believe Christ had in mind every individual in the world who needed or would ever need redemption. He was thinking of you, and today He is calling you to become His follower. He wants to forgive your sins, heal your hurts, and give you everlasting life. James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - THE GOSPEL OF AN ANGEL Matthew 28:1–8 Who can reckon up all the omnipotence of grace wrapt up in these words, “The power of His resurrection.” The tragedy of the Cross is over, the sympathetic women still stand gazing on the lifeless form of their Beloved. They fear and watch lest His sacred body should be flung into Tophet, the common grave of the outcast and unclean. They see Him laid in a new tomb. Early in the morning of the first day of the week they come with precious spices to embalm His body and preserve the dead Christ. O how foolish we become when we forget His words! (John 2:19). Unless His words abide in us our devotion is apt to become zeal without knowledge. Earthquakes and angels work havoc to the plans of men; the sealed stone is rolled away before their eyes. From this angel those women received— I. A Word of Encouragement. “Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified” (v. 5). “FEAR NOT”— 1. BECAUSE YE SEEK JESUS. Those who are intent on seeking Jesus will not be satisfied in finding angels. This great and holy angel that so much frightened the keepers did not alarm or satisfy the seekers. “Sir, we would see Jesus.” Jesus the Saviour, my weary, sin-smitten soul needs. “Fear not” 2. BECAUSE YE SEEK JESUS WHICH WAS CRUCIFIED. Those who seek Jesus apart from the crucifixion may well fear. Only those who knew the Crucified One found the Risen One. To His disciples alone did He appear after His resurrection. If we will not die with Him neither will we rise with Him. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live” (Gal. 2:20). II. A Startling Announcement. “He is not here, He is risen” (v. 6). 1. HE IS NOT HERE. Mary said, “If ye have taken Him away tell me where ye have laid Him, and I will carry Him hence” (John 20:15). “Why seek ye the Living One among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). How many there are still on this vain search. Seeking the right thing in the wrong place. Seeking life among dead forms, dead works, and dead feelings. These are wells without waters. Graves. 2. HE IS RISEN. Hallelujah! Yet the slow of heart to believe are blinded with the glory of the light. Mary stands weeping because she thinks they have taken away her Lord. Our own thoughts and natural opinions hinder us from receiving at once the great things of God. May we have the open face and the honest heart to believe without questioning all that the Lord hath spoken. “He is risen” (Matt. 28:6), and we are risen in Him. III. A Tender Invitation. “Come, see the place where our Lord lay” (Syriac) (Matt. 28:6). He is Lord also of the angels. Let us take our stand in the place of death and solemnly meditate on— 1. HIS GREAT HUMILITY. He who was in the bosom of the Father was laid in this borrowed grave—the Son of God buried. 2. HIS SPOTLESS CHARACTER. Holy, harmless, undefiled. No sin in Him. Yet the iniquity of us all laid upon Him. Without spot or blemish, yet made a curse for us. Crucified and slain. 3. HIS MANIFOLD SUFFERINGS. “Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow” (Lam. 1:12). “A Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). “He made His grave with the wicked.” 4. HIS MIGHTY POWER. “is risen,” not “He is raised.” I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it again (John 10:18). His death was voluntary. He died and rose again. 5. HIS GLORIOUS VICTORY. “Through death He hath destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). “O death, where is thy sting. O grave, where is thy victory?” In laying aside His grave clothes He laid aside all that belonged to sin, death, and the grave. He rose a glorified Saviour. 6. OUR OWN PRIVILEGES AND PROSPECTS. “He was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). Through His precious blood a wide door and effectual has been opened for all. This ladder of salvation reaches from earth to Heaven. 7. THE GRAVE FROM WHICH THERE IS NO RESURRECTION. “The wicked shall be turned into hell” (Psa. 9:17). Here the great gulf is fixed, so that they which would pass from hence to you “cannot” (Luke 16:26). IV. A Plain Commission. “Go quickly and tell” (v. 7). This angel from Heaven did not preach any other Gospel than that preached afterwards by the great apostle. Here it is: (1) FEAR NOT; (2) COME AND SEE; (3) GO QUICKLY and tell. Christ is risen, this is the glorious Gospel. Come and see it, and know the power of it; then go and tell it out, and go quickly, for the need is great. There are so many sad and disconsolate and broken-hearted, and the time is short. He is risen to save, be entreated. He is risen to intercede, be comforted. He is risen to judge, be warned. The Easter Outlook Scripture: Matthew 28:1–8 - BORROW Preacher's Sourcebook - 2002 Introduction: In his farewell address to the nation just before leaving office, President George Washington included this sentence: “Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.” But a recent survey, conducted by the non-partisan, New York based agency, Public Agenda, found that 58% of all Americans say that it is not necessary to believe in God to be moral or have good values. We’ve entered a post-Christian consciousness in which people want to have a spiritual dimension to their lives, but don’t want to be tied down to a Christian theology. On this Easter, we uphold the reality of the bodily resurrection of Christ from a Jerusalem grave. It is only the resurrection of Christ that gives us a foundation for morality, spirituality, and even rationality (1 Cor. 15:12–19). More than that, it is Easter that gives us our distinctively Christian outlook on life. What impact did Easter make on the women who made their way to the tomb in Matthew 28? What did it do for them? How did it change them? And how can we have the same experience today? Easter gives us: 1. Steady Nerves. “Do not be afraid.” Many of us are subconsciously dominated by fear, worry, and anxiety. According to current statistics, anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem in the United States. One study showed that the odds of developing an anxiety disorder have doubled in the past four decades (World Health Organization). These women were nervous and afraid, but the first syllables of the Easter message was: “Do not be afraid.” Because of Easter, we can have steady nerves. 2. Awestruck Minds. “For I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Imagine how thunderstruck were these women, full of wonder and amazement. Evangelist Gipsy Smith used to say, “I’ve never lost the wonder.” A fan once startled Mark Twain by telling the famous author, “I wish I had never read Huckleberry Finn.” With a scowl, the great humorist asked the reason for such a remark. “So that I could have the pleasure again of reading it for the first time,” came the reply. Come to the empty tomb and wonder at the Easter miracle as though you were hearing it for the first time. 3. Open Mouths. “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.” A message this great demands sharing. If you were to win a million dollars or be honored in a special way, you’d want to share the news with your closest friends. Notice how brief was the turnaround time between hearing and telling. These women went immediately to share their news. 4. High Hopes. “And indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.” One of the greatest things about the resurrection of Christ is the certainty it gives us of seeing our Lord again. He has gone before us into the heavens; there we shall see Him, just as He has told us (Acts 1:11). Conclusion: This is a day for joy! for a total life change! for a different perspective! Because of our living Christ we can face life with steady nerves, awestruck minds, loosened mouths, and high hopes. He is risen! He is risen indeed! ILLUSTRATION- There is a story relating that years ago in England, two men set out to disprove Christianity. One was a well-known English jurist and literary scholar named Lord Lyttleton. The other was Gilbert West. They agreed that if Christianity was to be discredited, two things were necessary: to disprove the Resurrection and to explain the conversion of Saul of Tarsus in a way that satisfied the skeptics. The two men divided these tasks between themselves, Lyttleton taking the problem of Saul and West agreeing to research the Resurrection. They invested over a year for their studies, then met together to compare notes. Each one was astonished to discover that the other had become a Christian. The evidence was too strong, the truth too undeniable. It still is. So whether the details of this illustration are exactly as stated, the principle is clear that an honest approach to examination of the evidence for and against the resurrection will leave one with little doubt that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a true, historical event. But such a glorious truth that Jesus has conquered death for all who believe in Him demands a response, the nature of which will determine a soul's eternal destiny! As Paul declared "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31) ANOTHER VERSION OF STORY - All of us are familiar with the most exhaustive study of the epochal event of Paul's conversion by the parliamentarian, Lord Lyttleton, and his lawyer friend Gilbert West, both of whom were infidels persuaded that the Bible was an imposture. Lyttleton concentrated on Paul's Damascus experience, and West on the resurrection and as the result of their separate studies, they were both converted. In his published treatise Lyttleton wrote that, "The conversion and apostleship of Paul alone, duly considered, was of itself a demonstration sufficient to prove Christianity as a Divine Revelation." Countless thousands since Paul's remarkable conversion have experienced the same power to transform their lives instantaneously—this writer is one of them (Herbert Lockyer)! It needed a great, sudden crisis to affect a man like Saul of Tarsus who had "so clear a mind, so firm a will, so definite a purpose, so successful a part; a conscience which did not bear the burden of great sin upon it, but rather the satisfaction of duty done, and duty lived, and duty as before. Two things were needed in Saul. A total change of opinion as to Jesus of Nazareth was one; the other was a new revelation to God, not as an obedient servant, but as a forgiven sinner. The two things were to go together, the hated Nazarene was to be the way of approach to the Holy God." Here are words from Lord Lyttleton taken from Lockyer's fascinating book "Last Words of Saints and Sinners" -- LORD GEORGE LYTTLETON, who died in 1773, was another British statesman who was not ashamed to own his Saviour's name and define His cause.....In his last testimony he affirmed that "The evidence of Christianity, studied with attention, made me a firm believer of the Christian religion. I have erred and sinned, but have repented." Here is a quote actually found in Josh McDowell's book MORE THAN A CARPENTER (Chapter 7 Did You Hear What Happened to Saul?).... Two Oxford-educated friends, author Gilbert West and statesman Lord George Lyttleton, were determined to destroy the basis of the Christian faith. West was going to demonstrate the fallacy of the Resurrection, and Lyttleton was going to prove that Saul of Tarsus never converted to Christianity. Both men came to a complete turnaround in their positions and became ardent followers of Jesus. Lord Lyttleton writes: “The conversion and apostleship of Saint Paul alone, duly considered, was of itself a demonstration sufficient to prove Christianity to be a Divine Revelation.” He concludes that if Paul’s twenty-five years of suffering and service for Christ were a reality, then his conversion was true, for everything he did began with that sudden change. And if Paul’s conversion was true, then Jesus Christ rose from the dead, for everything Paul was and did he attributed to his witnessing the risen Christ. What's The Good News? As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country. — Proverbs 25:25 Today's Scripture : Matthew 28:1-10,16-20 What’s the good news today? I ask that question sometimes of people I know. If the person is a Christian, he might smilingly reply, “The same as it was yesterday. God loves us.” And both he and I rejoice that it will be the same tomorrow. Those who don’t know Christ, though, don’t have such good news to share. We can understand why pessimistic novelist T. C. Boyle says, “If God doesn’t exist . . . and you have no purpose on Earth, then it’s a mighty mean place, ruled by accident. . . . I’d like to have a lot better news for everybody, but I don’t.” Despite personal disappointments and the evils we see in this world, life is not just a series of accidents. Our God is in ultimate control, making even man’s wrath contribute to the fulfillment of His wise and loving purposes. Faith in the One who died on Calvary’s cross and rose from the tomb is the antidote to dark despair. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ gives a realistic reason for hope. When Jesus rose from the grave, He told two women to tell His disciples He was alive. Later He commanded His followers to take that news to all nations (Matthew 28:9-10,19). Oh, may our lives ring loud and clear With God's good news for all, So people who are lost in sin Will clearly hear His call. —Sper The good news is not that Jesus lived and died, but that He died and lives. QUESTION - Who was Mary Magdalene? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). The name Magdalene likely indicates that she came from Magdala, a city on the southwest coast of the Sea of Galilee. After Jesus cast seven demons from her, she became one of His followers. Mary Magdalene has been associated with the “woman in the city who was a sinner” (Luke 7:37) who washed Jesus’ feet, but there is no scriptural basis for making that connection. Mary Magdalene is nowhere in the Bible identified as a prostitute or as an immoral woman, despite popular portrayals of her as such. Mary Magdalene is also often associated with the woman whom Jesus saved from stoning after she had been taken in adultery (John 8:1–11). But, again, this is an association with no evidence. The movie The Passion of the Christ made this connection. This view is possible but unlikely, and it is certainly not taught in the Bible. Mary Magdalene witnessed most of the events surrounding the crucifixion. She was present at the mock trial of Jesus; she heard Pontius Pilate pronounce the death sentence; and she saw Jesus beaten and humiliated by the crowd. She was one of the women who stood near Jesus during the crucifixion to try to comfort Him. The earliest witness to the resurrection of Jesus, she was sent by Jesus to tell the others (John 20:11-18). Although this is the last mention of her in the Bible, she was probably among the women who gathered with the apostles to await the promised coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). The fiction novel “The DaVinci Code” made the claim that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. Some of the non-biblical early Christian writings (considered heresy by the early Christians) hint at a special relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. However, there is no evidence whatsoever to support the belief that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. The Bible does not even hint at such an idea. Related Resources: Bob Utley's SPECIAL TOPIC: THE WOMEN WHO TRAVELED WITH JESUS Was Jesus Christ married? How many Marys are in the Bible? What is the gospel of Mary (Magdalene)? Did Jesus have children? Who Moved the Stone? by Frank Morison TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. THE BOOK THAT REFUSED TO BE WRITTEN 2. THE REAL CASE AGAINST THE PRISONER 3. WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY 4. A PSYCHOLOGICAL PARALLELOGRAM OF FORCES 5. THE SITUATION ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON 6. THIRTY-SIX HOURS LATER 7. ON THE BEHAVIOR OF TWO SISTERS AND THE MEN WHO FLED IN THE NIGHT 8. BETWEEN SUNSET AND DAWN 9. THE HISTORIC CRUX OF THE PROBLEM 10. THE EVIDENCE OF THE PRINCIPAL FISHERMAN 11. THE EVIDENCE OF THE PRISONER'S BROTHER 12. THE EVIDENCE OF THE MAN FROM TARSUS 13. THE WITNESS OF THE GREAT STONE 14. SOME REALITIES OF THAT FAR-OFF MORNING 15. THE SERVANT OF THE PRIEST Related Hymns As the Dawn Was Breaking Coming to the Garden Day of God, Thou Blessèd Day Flee Away, Ye Shades of Night! Heaven with Rosy Morn Is Glowing O Glorious Day (play) One day when Heaven was filled with His praises One day when sin was as black as could be Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin Dwelt among men, my example is He Word became flesh and the light shined among us His glory revealed Living, He loved me Dying, He saved me Buried, He carried my sins far away Rising, He justified freely forever One day He's coming Oh glorious day, oh glorious day One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain One day they nailed Him to die on a tree Suffering anguish, despised and rejected Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree And took the nails for me Living, He loved me Dying, He saved me Buried, He carried my sins far away Rising, He justified freely forever One day He's coming Oh glorious day, oh glorious day One day the grave could conceal Him no longer One day the stone rolled away from the door Then He arose, over death He had conquered Now is ascended, my Lord evermore Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him From rising again Living, He loved me Dying, He saved me Buried, He carried my sins far away Rising, He justified freely forever One day He's coming Oh glorious day, oh glorious day One day the trumpet will sound for His coming One day the skies with His glories will shine Wonderful day, my Beloved One bringing My Savior Jesus is mine Living, He loved me Dying, He saved me Buried, He carried my sins far away Rising, He justified freely forever One day He's coming Oh glorious day, oh glorious day Matthew 28:2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. BGT Matthew 28:2 καὶ ἰδοὺ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας· ἄγγελος γὰρ κυρίου καταβὰς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ προσελθὼν ἀπεκύλισεν τὸν λίθον καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ. NET Matthew 28:2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. CSB Matthew 28:2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. ESV Matthew 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. NIV Matthew 28:2 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. NLT Matthew 28:2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. NRS Matthew 28:2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. NJB Matthew 28:2 And suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. NAB Matthew 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. YLT Matthew 28:2 and lo, there came a great earthquake, for a messenger of the Lord, having come down out of heaven, having come, did roll away the stone from the door, and was sitting upon it, MIT Matthew 28:2 See this: A great earthquake had occurred. For an angel of Yahveh came down from heaven, approached the grave, rolled the stone back, and was sitting upon it. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred: Mt 27:51-53 Ac 16:26 Rev 11:19 for: Mk 16:3-5 Lu 24:1-5 Jn 20:1,12,13 1Ti 3:16 1Pe 1:12 Resurrection of Jesus Christ-Devotionals Matthew 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Mark 16:3-5+ They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 Looking up, they *saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man (ANGEL) sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. Luke 24:1-5+ But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men (ANGELS) suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? John 20:1; 12; 13+ Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. (20:12) and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. (20:13) And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” THE ROLLING OF THE STONE And behold (idou in Mt 28:7, 9, 20), Four times in this concluding chapter Matthew uses the word behold (idou) which is given to grip the reader's attention, in this verse to use your sanctified imagination as if you were present at this dramatic scene. As an aside, in a spiritual (albeit somewhat mysterious) sense, we were there, for we have been co-crucified and co-resurrected with Christ. THOUGHT- You might want to pause and ponder the words of Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Well, were you there when the stone was rolled away? Were you there when the stone was rolled away? (Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble) tremble Were you there when the stone was rolled away? A severe (megas - great) earthquake (seismos) had occurred - Only Matthew describes the earthquake. This severe earthquake on the day of Jesus' resurrection, recalls the earthquake that had occurred on the day of His crucifixion (Mt 27:54+). John
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Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" Idou in the Gospel of Matthew - Matt. 1:20; Matt. 1:23; Matt. 2:13; Matt. 2:19; Matt. 3:16; Matt. 3:17; Matt. 4:11; Matt. 7:4; Matt. 8:24; Matt. 8:34; Matt. 9:10; Matt. 10:16; Matt. 11:10; Matt. 11:19; Matt. 12:2; Matt. 12:18; Matt. 12:41; Matt. 12:42; Matt. 12:46; Matt. 12:47; Matt. 12:49; Matt. 13:3; Matt. 17:3; Matt. 17:5; Matt. 19:27; Matt. 20:18; Matt. 21:5; Matt. 22:4; Matt. 23:34; Matt. 23:38; Matt. 24:23; Matt. 24:25; Matt. 24:26; Matt. 25:6; Matt. 26:45; Matt. 26:46; Matt. 26:47; Matt. 26:51; Matt. 27:51; Matt. 28:2; Matt. 28:7; Matt. 28:9; Matt. 28:20 Dictionary of Biblical Imagery - EARTHQUAKE The eastern Mediterranean area is prone to earthquakes. These events, which have caused devastation and loss of life throughout history, are caused by episodic movement of the earth’s crust along a complex network of faults as the African and Arabian tectonic plates progressively collide with the Eurasian plate. In the Palestine area the main earthquake zones are along the line of the Jordan valley where the Arabian tectonic plate is sliding northwards against the African plate on which Palestine occurs. This is a simpler form of the situation in coastal California. Other earthquake zones are along the Jezreel Valley and southern Turkey. A significant feature of Scripture is its refusal to invoke a mythological explanation of earthquakes. Some references to earthquakes appear to be bald statements of historic fact and seem to have little, if any, symbolic value (Amos 1:1, cf. Zech 14:5; Acts 16:26). Most references, however, particularly in the poetic parts of the Bible, accord a high degree of symbolism to earthquakes. Earthquakes in Scripture are often seen as manifestations of the direct action of God’s power. The example that is probably alluded to most is the earthquake at the giving of the law at Sinai (Ex 19:18). In their poetic reviews of the Exodus, later writers seem to have emphasized this element (Ps 68:8; 77:18; 114:4–7) and broadened its scope to cover the whole exodus event. Matthew’s linkage of the earthquake at Jesus’ crucifixion with the rending of the temple veil (Mt 27:54) is thus far more than a statement of physical cause and effect: it is profoundly symbolic. The covenant inaugurated at Sinai is now ended. In Revelation at least some of the earthquake imagery relates back to Sinai (Bauckham). Although earthquake imagery is everywhere associated with God acting, the precise emphasis varies. A number of references invoke the imagery of God marching out to do battle (Judg 5:4; Ps 68:7–8; Joel 2:10–11; Mic 1:4; see Divine Warrior). Other references associate earthquakes with a theophany, a manifestation of God to the world (Ps 97:4–5; 99:1; Is 64:2–3). If there is any symbolism to do with the earthquake at Christ’s resurrection associated with the rolling back of the stone (Mt 28:2) it may lie in this area. Many other references refer to the shaking of the earth (often accompanied by wind and fire) when God judges the nations or the wicked (Is 13:13; 24:18–20; 29:6; Jer 10:10, Ezek 26:18; 38:19–20; Joel 3:16; Nahum 1:5–6). In this context the reference in 1 Kings 19:11 may be a symbolic way of suggesting that this was not a time of God’s judgment. From this association of earthquakes with God’s revealing himself comes the substantial presence of this imagery in apocalyptic literature. Thus Hebrews, drawing on Haggai 2:6, looks forward to the final shaking of the heavens and the earth (Heb 12:26–27). Revelation, also drawing on the many references in Scripture, includes a number of references to earthquakes (Rev 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18–20). The fact that the area of the seven churches in western Turkey is prone to earthquakes (Laodicea, Sardis and Philadelphia suffered in the great earthquake in A.D. 17 and Laodicea was badly damaged in A.D. 60) must have heightened the imagery to the original hearers. Earthquakes reminded men and women then as well as now that the only fixed ground is God himself. Not even the earth is ultimately stable. They also point to the fact that one day God will shake down all human kingdoms with the appearing of Christ in Glory (Zech 14:4–5). C H Spurgeon - The resurrection acts much in the same manner as the pillar which Jehovah placed between Israel and Egypt; it was darkness to Egypt, but it gave light to Israel. All was dark amidst Egypt’s hosts, but all was brightness and comfort amongst Israel’s tribes. So the resurrection is a doctrine full of horror to those who know not Christ and trust him not. What have they to gain by resurrection? Happy were they could they sleep in everlasting annihilation. What have they to gain by Christ’s resurrection? Shall he come whom they have despised? Is he living whom they have hated and abhorred? Will he bid them rise? Will they have to meet him as a Judge upon the throne? The very thought of this is enough to smite through the loins of kings today; but what will the fact of it be when the clarion trumpet startles all the sons of Adam from their last beds of dust? Oh, the horrors of that tremendous morning, when every sinner shall rise and the risen Saviour shall come in the clouds of heaven and all the holy angels with him! Truly there is nothing but dismay for those who are on the evil side of that resurrection stone. But how great the joy which the resurrection brings to those who are on the right side of that stone! How they look for his appearing with ecstasy growing daily! How they build upon the sweet truth that they shall arise and see their Saviour with their eyes! I would have you ask yourselves today on which side of that boundary stone you are. Have you life in Christ? Are you risen with Christ? Do you trust alone in him who rose from the dead? If so, do not fear: the angel comforts you and Jesus cheers you; but if you have no life in Christ, but are dead while you live, let the very thought that Jesus is risen strike you with fear and make you tremble, for tremble well you may at what awaits you. (Full sermon The Stone Rolled Away) The Stone Which Blocked the Way - Ian Paisley "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?" Mark 16:3 Christ was dead. Yes, really and truly dead. He was also buried. Really and truly buried. The Stone Set Note, the stone was set there by man to block the entrance. As long as it stood there the door way was blocked. There was no way out of the sepulchre. That stone is a type of our sin. Sin blocks the way out of the sepulchre of spiritual death for us all. The Stone Sealed The priests were anxious to destroy even the memory of Jesus. His words had stung their memories. A Christless religion allied to a Christless state joined in sealing the stone. That sealed stone speaks of our sin, sealed with Christless Christianity and Godless State-Authority endeavouring to stop the rising again of the Son of God. The Stone Seat "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." Matthew 28:2 The angel made the stone his seat and declared from there the resurrection message, "Christ is not here, He is risen!" So, from the ruin of our once prized fortress of sin, the Gospel goes forth offering full pardon to all who will come and see the place where the Lord lay. Remember, the stone was removed, not to let Christ out, but rather to let you in to see that He was already gone. (See Romans 10:9.) GOD WILL MOVE THE STONE Who shall roll away the stone? Mark 16:3 The women who sought to anoint the dead body of Jesus are to be commended for their tender love and regard for the Savior. Yet as they came near the place of burial, the practical difficulty of moving the heavy stone which sealed His tomb brought them unnecessary anxiety of spirit. Actually it had already been moved, and so their fears were groundless. So, too, we are often needlessly concerned over prospective difficulties which He graciously removes or helps us overcome when we have to meet them. Let us therefore be encouraged to exercise greater faith in facing possible obstructions on the pathway of duty. We may be sure of the Lord's providential assistance in such matters when we advance in His name and for His glory! An anonymous author has given additional practical admonitions concerning this text in Mark's gospel in the following poetic words: What poor weeping ones were saying nineteen hundred years ago, we, the same weak faith betraying, say in our sad hours of woe; looking at some trouble lying in the dark and dread unknown, we, too, often ask with sighing, "Who shall roll away the stone?" Many a storm-cloud hov'ring o'er us never pours on us its rain; many a grief we see before us never comes to cause us pain. Ofttimes, on the dread tomorrow sunshine comes, the cloud has flown! Why then ask in foolish sorrow, "Who shall roll away the stone?" Burden not thy soul with sadness, make a wiser, better choice; drink the wine of life with gladness, God doth bid thee, saint, rejoice! In today's bright sunlight basking, leave tomorrow's cares alone; spoil not present joys by asking: "Who shall roll away the stone?" Oft, before we've faced the trial, We have come with joy to own Angels have from Heav'n descended, And have rolled away "the stone"! —Anon. Take courage: if God doesn't choose to remove an obstacle, He will help you plow around it! RELATED HYMNS All Hail the Morn! Angel of Easter At the Grave Early Ere the Dawn of the Morning God Hath Sent His Angels O Angel Fair On Easter Morn Resurrection Day, The Stone Rolled Away, The Matthew 28:3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. KJV Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: BGT Matthew 28:3 ἦν δὲ ἡ εἰδέα αὐτοῦ ὡς ἀστραπὴ καὶ τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ λευκὸν ὡς χιών. NET Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. CSB Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. ESV Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. NIV Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. NLT Matthew 28:3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. NRS Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. NJB Matthew 28:3 His face was like lightning, his robe white as snow. NAB Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. YLT Matthew 28:3 and his countenance was as lightning, and his clothing white as snow, MIT Matthew 28:3 His appearance was resplendent like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. And his appearance: Mt 17:2 Ps 104:4 Eze 1:4-14 Da 10:5,6 Rev 1:14-16 10:1 18:1 his clothing Mk 9:3 16:5 Ac 1:10 Rev 3:4,5 Resurrection of Jesus Christ-Devotionals Matthew 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Luke 24:4+ While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men (ANGELS) suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; THE ANGEL'S STRIKING APPEARANCE And his appearance was like lightning (astrape) - The simile (term of comparison identified by "like" or "as") points out that the angel's attire was dazzling to the eye even as is a lightning bolt. Compare "dazzling clothing" in Lk 24:4+. Marvin
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Spurgeon points out that "He does not appear to have drawn a flaming sword, nor even to have spoken to the keepers; but the presence of perfect purity overawed these rough legionaries.” (See C H Spurgeon - Exposition of Matthew) And became like dead (nekros) men - Another simile ("like") describes these brave soldiers like stunned mullets, frozen in fear, probably completely unconscious. Not only would the angel's appearance be like nothing they had ever experienced, but presumably they saw his power as he moved the stone (likely with great ease)! There is a touch of irony here for the same word dead (nekros) describes the living guards as like dead men, and in Mt 28:6 describes a dead (nekros) Man as living! Adam
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Spurgeon - Come, Christian, for angels are the porters to unbar the door; come, for a cherub is thy messenger to usher thee into the death-place of death himself. Nay, start not from the entrance; let not the darkness frighten thee; the vault is not damp with the vapours of death, nor does the air contain anything of contagion. Come, for it is a pure and healthy place. Fear not to enter that tomb. I will admit that catacombs are not the places where we, who are full of joy, would love to go. There is something gloomy and offensive about a vault. There are noxious smells of corruption; often pestilence is born where a dead body has lain; but fear it not, Christian, for Christ was not left in hell, in hades, neither did his body see corruption. Come, there is no foul smell, but rather a perfume. Step in here, and, if thou didst ever breathe the gales of Ceylon, or winds from the groves of Arabia, thou shalt find them far excelled by that sweet holy fragrance left by the blessed body of Jesus, that alabaster vase which once held divinity, and was rendered sweet and precious thereby. Think not thou shalt find anything obnoxious to thy senses. Corruption Jesus never saw; no worms ever devoured his flesh; no rottenness ever entered into his bones; he saw no corruption. Three days he slumbered, but not long enough to putrify; he soon arose, perfect as when he entered, uninjured as when his limbs were composed for their slumber. Come then, Christian, summon up thy thoughts, gather all thy powers; here is a sweet invitation, let me press it again. Let me lead thee by the hand of meditation, my brother; let me take thee by the arm, and let me again say to thee, “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Full sermon The Tomb of Jesus) Is There Hope? Read: Matthew 28:1-10 | “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” —Matthew 28:6 I sat quietly at the graveside of my father, waiting for the private family burial of my mother to begin. The funeral director carried the urn that held her ashes. My heart felt numb and my head was in a fog. How can I handle losing them both within just 3 months? In my grief I felt loss and loneliness and a little hopeless facing a future without them. Then the pastor read about another graveside. On the first day of the week, early in the morning, women went to Jesus’ tomb, carrying spices for His body (Matt. 28:1; Luke 24:1). There they were startled to find an open and empty tomb—and an angel. “Do not be afraid,” he said to them (Matt. 28:5). They didn’t need to be afraid of the empty tomb or of the angel, because he had good news for them. Hope stirred when I heard the next words: “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (v.6). Because Jesus had come back to life, death had been conquered! Jesus reminded His followers just a few days before His death: “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Even though we grieve at the loss of our loved ones, we find hope through the resurrection of Jesus and His promise that there is life after death. Thank You, Lord, for comfort and hope. What would we do without You? Your death and resurrection provide all we need for this life and the next. Because He lives, we live. INSIGHT: The “other Mary” (Matt. 28:1) in today’s account is apparently the same woman described as “Mary the wife of Clopas” who was at the cross and burial of Jesus (Mt 27:61; John 19:25). It appears she was the mother of James “the Less” and Joses (Mark 15:40), and despite sharing the same name, she was a sister of Mary, Jesus’ mother (John 19:25). SUMMARY OF THE POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Edwin Blum has an excellent chart giving the timeline of the appearances of Jesus during the 40 days from His resurrection to His ascension. Note the "+" SIGN after the Scripture links to comments on that specific verse. FORTY DAYS—From Resurrection to Ascension SUNDAY MORNING 1. An angel rolled away the stone from Jesus' tomb before sunrise (Matt. 28:2-4+). 2. Women who followed Jesus visited Jesus' tomb and discovered Him missing (Matt. 28:1+; Mark 16:1-4+; Luke 24:1-3+; John 20:1+). 3. Mary Magdalene left to tell Peter and John (John 20:1-2+). 4. The other women, remaining at the tomb, saw two angels who told them about the Resurrection (Matt. 28:5-7+; Mark 16:5-7+; Luke 24:4-8+). 5. Peter and John visited Jesus' tomb (Luke 24:12+; John 20:3-10+). 6. Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb and Jesus appeared to her alone in the garden (Mark 16:9-11+; John 20:11-18): His FIRST appearance. 7. Jesus appeared to the other women (Mary, mother of James, Salome, and Joanna) (Matt. 28:8-10+): His SECOND appearance. 8. Those who guarded Jesus' tomb reported to the religious rulers how the angel rolled away the stone. They were then bribed (Matt. 28:11-15+). 9. Jesus appeared to Peter (1 Cor. 15:5+): His THIRD appearance. SUNDAY AFTERNOON 10. Jesus appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13+; Luke 24:13-32+): His FOURTH appearance. SUNDAY EVENING 11. The two disciples from Emmaus told others they saw Jesus (Luke 24:33-35+). 12. Jesus appeared to 10 apostles, with Thomas absent, in the Upper Room (Luke 24:36-43+; John 20:19-25+): His FIFTH appearance. THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY 13. Jesus appeared to the 11 Apostles, including Thomas, and Thomas believed (John 20:26-28+): His SIXTH appearance. THE FOLLOWING 32 DAYS 14. Jesus appeared to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee and performed a miracle of fish (John 21:1-14+): His SEVENTH appearance. 15. Jesus appeared to 500 (including the Eleven) at a mountain in Galilee (Matt. 28:16-20+; Mark 16:15-18+; 1 Cor. 15:6+): His EIGHTH appearance. 16. Jesus appeared to His half-brother James (1 Cor. 15:7+): His NINTH appearance. 17. At Jerusalem Jesus appeared again to His disciples (Luke 24:44-49+; Acts 1:3-8+): His TENTH appearance. 18. On the Mount of Olives Jesus ascended into heaven while the disciples watched (Mark 16:19-20+; Luke 24:50-53+; Acts 1:9-12+). (SOURCE: Bible Knowledge Commentary - Page 92) Believer's Study Bible lists "Ten distinct resurrection appearances of Christ prior to His ascension can be documented in Scripture (cf. also Mark 15:24; 1 Cor 15:4). The order of those appearances follows: (1) to Mary Magdalene near the tomb (John 20:11-18); (2) to the women returning from the tomb (28:9, 10); (3) to Peter (Luke 24:34); (4) to the disciples approaching Emmaus in the evening (Luke 24:13-32); (5) to all the disciples except Thomas, who was absent (Luke 24:36-43); (6) to the disciples, including Thomas, on Sunday night one week later (John 20:26-31); (7) to seven disciples beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25); (8) to more than 500 people possibly on an appointed mountain in Galilee (28:16-20; possibly parallels 1 Cor 15:6); (9) to James the half brother of Jesus (1 Cor 15:7); and (10) to the apostles at the ascension (Acts 1:3-11). Kenneth Osbeck - BORROW Amazing Grace page 128. HE LIVES by Alfred H. Ackley, 1887–1960 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. (Matthew 28:6) “Why should I worship a dead Jew?” This challenging question was posed by a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings conducted by the author and composer of this hymn, Alfred H. Ackley. In his book, Forty Gospel Hymn Stories (BORROW BOOK - PAGE 32), George W. Sanville records Mr. Ackley’s answer to this searching question, which ultimately prompted the writing of this popular gospel hymn: He lives! I tell you, He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands. Mr. Sanville continues: Mr. Ackley’s forthright, emphatic answer, together with his subsequent triumphant effort to win the man for Christ, flowered forth into song and crystallized into a convincing sermon on “He Lives!” In his re-reading of the resurrections of the Gospels, the words “He is risen” struck him with new meaning. From the thrill within his own soul came the convincing song—“He Lives!” The scriptural evidence, his own heart, and the testimony of history matched the glorious experience of an innumerable cloud of witnesses that “He Lives,” so he sat down at the piano and voiced that conclusion in song. He says, “The thought of His ever-living presence brought the music promptly and easily.” The hymn first appeared in Triumphant Service Songs, a hymnal published by the Rodeheaver Company in 1933. It has been a favorite with evangelical congregations since that time. (PLAY THIS HYMN) I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him He’s always near. In all the world around me I see His loving care, and tho my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading thru all the stormy blast; the day of His appearing will come at last. Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find, none other is so loving, so good and kind. Chorus: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. For Today: Job 19:25; Romans 6:9, 10; Philippians 3:10, 11; Revelation 1:18 Determine to greet everyone in such a way that they will know unmistakably that Jesus is alive and living in your life. Sing as you go— Easter Every Day He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. — Matthew 28:6 Today's Scripture & Insight : Hebrews 10:11-18 A friend of mine, who is a preschool teacher, overheard an animated conversation among her students. Little Maria threw out the question: “Who loves God?” All of them responded, “I do! I do! I do!” Billy said, “I love Jesus.” Kelly protested, “But He died.” Billy said, “Yeah, but every Easter He rises from the dead!” Obviously, young Billy’s understanding of the meaning of Easter is still developing. We know that Jesus died once for all (Rom. 6:10; Heb. 10:12) and, of course, rose from the dead once. Three days after paying the penalty of our sins on the cross, the sinless Jesus conquered death by rising from the grave and breaking the power of sin. It was this final sacrifice of blood that opened the only way for us to have a relationship with God now and a home with Him forevermore. “Christ died for our sins, . . . He was buried, and . . . He rose again the third day” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). He has promised that He is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-4), and He will someday return. One day we will be with our risen Savior. Related Resource: See also SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS' POST RESURRECTION APPEARANCES Jesus Christ Is Risen Today! He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6 Today's Scripture & Insight : Matthew 28:1–10 Before Charles Simeon attended university in Cambridge, England, he loved horses and clothes, spending a huge sum on his attire yearly. But because his college required him to attend regular Communion services, he started to explore what he believed. After reading books written by believers in Jesus, he experienced a dramatic conversion on Easter Sunday. Awaking early on April 4, 1779, he cried out, “Jesus Christ is risen today! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” As he grew in his faith in God, he devoted himself to Bible study, prayer, and attending chapel services. On the first Easter, life changed for the two women who arrived at Jesus’ tomb. There they witnessed a violent earthquake as an angel rolled back the stone. He said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:5–6). Overjoyed, the women worshiped Jesus and ran back to tell their friends the good news. How has God shown Himself to you? How have you changed because of your encounter with Him? Risen Jesus, thank You for coming and dying on the cross that I might have life eternal. I worship You. C H Spurgeon - I felt this afternoon, while I stood by the open grave in Norwood Cemetery, as though I heard a voice saying, ‘Come, see the place where the Lord lay.’ It does not matter much to us now about the precise spot. He lay in the grave: that is a prominent fact that preaches to us a pithy sermon. Any grave may well suit our purpose. In the little town of Campodolcino I once realised the tomb of Christ very vividly, in an affair which had been built for Catholic pilgrims. I was up on the hillside, and I saw written upon a wall these words—‘And there was a garden.’ It was written in Latin. I pushed open the door of this garden. It was like any other garden, but the moment I entered there was a hand with the words, ‘And in the garden there was a new tomb.’ Then I saw a tomb which had been newly painted, and when I came up to it I read thereon, ‘A new tomb wherein never man lay.’ I then stooped down to look inside the tomb, and I read in Latin the inscription, ‘Stooping down, he looked, yet went he not in.’ But there were the words written, ‘Come, see the place where the Lord lay.’ I went in and I saw there, graven in stone, the napkin and the linen clothes laid by themselves. I was all alone and I read the words, ‘He is not here, for he is risen,’ graven on the floor of the tomb. Though I dread anything scenic, histrionic and popish, yet certainly I realised very much the reality of the scene, as I did this afternoon in standing before the open tomb. I felt that Jesus Christ was really buried, really laid in the earth, and has really gone out of it; it is good for us to come and see the place where Jesus lay. (Full sermon A Visit to the Tomb) O Glorious Day! He is not here; for He is risen. — Matthew 28:6 Today's Scripture : Matthew 27:27-31;28:1-6 It was the day after. My favorite team had just lost its final game and the dream of a championship was now over. It was cold out and a bit gloomy as I got in the car to go to work. None of this should have mattered much, but it was shaping up to be a blue Monday. But then a song came on the radio that transformed my perspective. It was Casting Crowns singing “Glorious Day.” “One day they led [Christ] up Calvary’s mountain, one day they nailed Him to die on a tree.” Nothing encouraging yet. “Suffering anguish, despised and rejected”—more bad news. But then the song describes the good news of Christ’s resurrection and His victory over death. Out of that worst of days—out of the noontime darkness on that Jerusalem hillside—has come the only true hope for mankind. Because Jesus “took the nails for me,” as the song says, “He carried my sins far away.” And one day He’s coming back—“O glorious day!” Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely forever; One day He’s coming—O glorious day! —Chapman Christ’s empty tomb fills us with hope. RELATED HYMNS Arise, Sad Heart, Arise in Haste Bells, The Christ Hath Arisen Christ Is Risen (Beasley) Christ Is Risen! (Crosby) Christ Is Risen! (Kimball) Christ Is Risen (Lane) Christ Is Risen! Christ Is Risen! Christ Is Risen from the Dead Christ Is Risen! Hallelujah! Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! Christ Is Risen (Thompson) Christ the Lord Is Risen Again Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today (Crosby) Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today (Hutchins) Clap Hands, O Ye Heavens Come, See the Place Where Jesus Lay Come, See the Place Where Jesus Lies Day of Wonder Easter Bells (Akers) Easter Bells (Cleator) Easter Bells (Miles) Easter Bells (Pettingell) Easter Carol Easter Day Hath Dawned Again Easter Flowers Are Blooming Bright Easter Joy Easter Lilies Pure and Lovely Easter Morning Glad Easter Morn Hallelujah! Christ Is Risen (Hall) Hallelujah! Christ Is Risen (Wordsworth) Hallelujah, He Is Risen! Hark! Bright Angels Sweetly Sing Hark! the Springtide Breezes He Is Risen! He Is Risen (Latta) He Lives! O Fainting Heart, Anew He Rose from the Dead He Rose! O Morn of Wonder! Holy Anthem, The How Calm and Beautiful the Morn I Say to All Men Far and Near In the Tomb, Behold He Lies Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Jesus Will Be with Us Joy-Bells Joy of Joys! He Lives, He Lives Jubilate! Let Us Sing for Joy Lord Appears to Earth Again, The Lord of Life Is Risen, The Love Is Stronger Than Death Moonbeams Are Streaming Morn of Joy Morning Breaks upon the Tomb Morning Spreads Her Crimson Rays O Blessèd Day! O Day of Resurrection O Glorious Easter Day O Story Sweet Our Lord Christ Hath Risen Our Lord’s Resurrection Our Risen Lord Our Risen Savior! Out of the Shadow Rejoice, He Is Risen! Risen! Hallelujah! See! from the Morning Land Sing, Oh Sing Sinners, Dismiss Your Fear Sweet and Clear the Birds Are Singing This Joyful Easter-Tide Uprising from the Darksome Tomb Wonderful Morning Ye Humble Souls That Seek the Lord Matthew 28:7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. BGT Matthew 28:7 καὶ ταχὺ πορευθεῖσαι εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἠγέρθη ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν, καὶ ἰδοὺ προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε· ἰδοὺ εἶπον ὑμῖν. NET Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.' Listen, I have told you!" CSB Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you." ESV Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." NIV Matthew 28:7 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." NLT Matthew 28:7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you." NRS Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." NJB Matthew 28:7 then go quickly and tell his disciples, "He has risen from the dead and now he is going ahead of you to Galilee; that is where you will see him." Look! I have told you.' NAB Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you." YLT Matthew 28:7 and having gone quickly, say ye to his disciples, that he rose from the dead; and lo, he doth go before you to Galilee, there ye shall see him; lo, I have told you.' MIT Matthew 28:7 Proceed quickly and tell his disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and note this: He is going before you into Galilee. You will see him there; note that I told you." go: Mt 28:10 Mk 16:7,8,10,13 Lu 24:9,10,22-24,34 Jn 20:17,18 He is going ahead: Mt 28:16,17 26:32 Mk 14:28 Jn 21:1-14 1Co 15:4,6 behold: Mt 24:25 Isa 44:8 45:21 Jn 14:29 16:4 Resurrection of Jesus Christ-Devotionals Matthew 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries "COME AND SEE" THEN "GO AND TELL!" Go (poreuo) quickly (tachu) and tell His disciples (mathetes) that He has risen (egeiro) from the dead; and behold (idou in Mt 28:2, 7, 9, 20), He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold (idou in Mt 28:2, 7, 9, 20), I have told you - Now that they have witnessed the empty tomb, the angel gives the women a command to tell this good news to the 11 disciples. The angel strongly emphasizes the importance of his message with the unusual occurrence of two uses of behold (idou)! And in addition to the good news of the resurrection (which the angel repeats from Mt 28:6 to make sure they understand), they were commissioned to give the good news of a reunion with the resurrected Lord in Galilee, a region which had both a Jewish and a Gentile population ("Galilee of the Gentiles" Mt 4:15-16+), which is fitting for it would be here that the 11 disciples would receive their great commission (Mt 28:19). In a sense, this news about meeting in Galilee should have been "old news," for earlier Jesus had told the eleven "after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." (Mt 26:32+). THOUGHT - God's ways are beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). Why do I say that? In this section God chooses women to be the first witnesses of the greatest event in all eternity, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not Peter. Not John. Not to the men but to the women! God values women greatly, in contrast to the first century world which held them in relatively low esteem! Beloved follower of Christ, since you have obeyed the call to "Come and see" that He has risen (which you did when you believed), your privilege now is to "Go and Tell" just as these women did. To whom have you recently told the Good News that Jesus is Risen from the dead and He is returning (soon)? Don't miss your golden opportunity of a lifetime! One of the things we will not need to do in Heaven is tell the good news. Seize the moment! Redeem the time (opportunity). See Redeem the Time. John MacArthur makes the point that "It was not that Jesus would first appear to the disciples in Galilee, because He manifested Himself to them several times before that. He appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34), to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:15; cf. Mark 16:12), to ten of the disciples as they were assembled on resurrection evening (John 20:19-25), to all eleven disciples eight days later (John 20:26), and to seven of the disciples as they were fishing in the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1). But Jesus’ supreme appearance to the disciples was to be in Galilee, where He “appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time” (1 Cor. 15:6) and where He would commission the eleven to apostolic ministry. (See The MacArthur Commentary) Spurgeon - “Not first to them who were the heads of the Church, as it were, but first of all to lowly women, did the Lord appear; and the apostles themselves had to go to school to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to learn that great truth, ‘The Lord is risen indeed.'” Bob
Mateus 28
Spurgeon says "THE LORD JESUS OFTEN MEETS WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THE WAY OF HOLY SERVICE." (Full sermon All Hail!) NET Note - And behold." Here kai has been translated as "but" to indicate that the return of the women from the tomb was interrupted by this appearance of Jesus. The Greek word idou has not been translated (IN NET TRANSLATION) because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis. And they came up (proserchomai) and took hold of His feet and worshiped (proskuneo) Him - Clearly their eyes were supernaturally opened and they were able to immediately recognize Jesus. The verb came up (proserchomai) is used repeatedly in Hebrews to describe coming to or approaching Deity (Heb 7:25; Heb 10:1, 22; Heb 11:6), which is exactly what these women were doing! In Hebrews 4:16+ the writer exhorts believers "let us draw near (proserchomai) with confidence (boldness) to the throne of grace," and here they were drawing near to the very Fountain and Source of grace upon grace (Jn 1:14, 16+, 2Co 8:9+, 2Co 13:14a+, 2Ti 2:1+). Note that in taking hold of His feet the women proved Jesus was not a ghost but a risen Savior with a real body. See also Does the Bible describe Jesus being worshiped? The women respond appropriately to the Risen Savior by falling on the ground and worshipping at His feet. One recalls the response of the wise men from the East who at Jesus' birth/incarnation in Mt 2:11+ "fell to the ground and worshiped (proskuneo) Him." Jesus accepts their worship, another of many clear indicators that He is God. John 20:17+ records only Mary taking hold of Jesus' feet, an Oriental way of showing submission, respect, and worship. Henry
Mateus 28
Spurgeon - Sermon Notes - Matthew 28:9, 10—“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. “Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.” All that concerns our Lord after his resurrection is calm and happy. A French writer calls the forty days on earth, “the life of Jesus Christ in glory”: truly it was glory as full as earth could then bear. His tomb was empty, and consequently the disciples’ griefs would have been over had they fully understood what that vacant grave meant. Then was their choicest time for living fellowship with their risen Lord, and he did not fail to grant them the privilege on many memorable occasions. Since our Lord is risen, we also may have happy communion with him. These are days in which we may expect him to manifest himself to us spiritually, as he did for forty days to the disciples corporeally. Let us not be satisfied unless it is often said of us, “Jesus met them.” I. IN THE WAY OF SERVICE JESUS MEETS US. “As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them.” 1. He may come at other times, as he did to those who visited the sepulchre, to those walking out to Emmaus, to others fishing, and to the eleven assembled for mutual consolation. 2. He is likeliest to come when we are doing his work, since— We are then most awake, and most able to see him. We are then in special need of him. We are then most in accord with him. 3. But come when Jesus may, it will be a blessed visitation, worthy to be prefaced by a “Behold!” Oh, that he would come now! II. WHEN JESUS MEETS US, HE HAS EVER A GOOD WORD FOR US. The fittest motto for resurrection fellowship is “All hail!” 1. A word of salutation. He is not ashamed to call us brethren, and welcome us with “All hail!” 2. A word of benediction. He wishes us well, and expresses his hearty, sacred desire by the words “All hail!” 3. A word of gratulation. He was glad to see these women, he gave them glad tidings, he bade them be glad, he made them glad, he was glad with them, saying, “All hail!” 4. A word of pacification. He afterwards said, “Be not afraid”; but this was virtually contained in his “All hail!” His presence can never mean us harm; it ever works us health. III. WHEN JESUS MEETS US, IT BECOMES US TO AROUSE OURSELVES. We ought at such times to be like the disciples, who were— 1. All alive with hopeful energy. “They came.” In eager haste they drew near to him. What life it would put into preachers and hearers if the Lord Jesus would manifestly appear unto them! Dulness flees when Jesus is seen. 2. All aglow with happy excitement. They “held him by the feet,”—hardly knowing what they did, but enraptured with the sight of him. 3. All ardent with reverent love. They “worshipped him.” What heartiness they threw into that lowly adoration! 4. All amazed at his glory. They were prostrate, and began to fear. 5. All afraid lest they should lose their bliss. They grasped him, and held him by the feet. IV. FROM SUCH A MEETING WE SHOULD GO ON A FURTHER ERRAND. 1. We must not plead spiritual absorption as an excuse for inactivity, but we must “go” at our Lord’s bidding. 2. We must seek the good of others because of their relation to our Lord. He says, “tell my brethren.” 3. We must communicate what our Lord has imparted,—“go tell.” 4. We must encourage our brethren by the assurance that joy similar to ours awaits them,—“there shall they see me.” Thus shall we best realize and retain the choice benefits of intercourse with the Lord. Not only for ourselves, but mainly for the benefit of others, are we to behold our Lord. Let us go to holy work hoping to meet Jesus as we go. Let us go to more holy work when we have met him. Let us labour to “abide in him”, looking, for his promised appearing and exhorting others to do the same. ILLUSTRATIVE It is said that a venturesome diplomatist once asked the Emperor Nicholas who was the most distinguished of His Majesty’s subjects. According to report, the Czar replied that the most distinguished Russian was he whomsoever the Emperor honoured by speaking to him. Royal vanity dictated that reply, but we speak “words of truth and soberness” when we say that the most distinguished of men is he whom the Lord of hosts honours by admitting to communion with himself. “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” In vain thou strugglest to get free, I never will unloose my hold; Art thou the Man that died for me? The secret of Thy love unfold. Wrestling, I will not let thee go, Till I Thy name, Thy nature know. Charles Wesley. There is a striking legend illustrating the blessedness of performing our duty at whatever cost to our own inclination. A monk had seen a beautiful vision of our Saviour, and in silent bliss he was gazing upon it. The hour arrived at which it was his duty to feed the poor at the convent gate. He would fain have lingered in his cell to enjoy the vision; but, under a sense of duty, he tore himself away from it to perform his humble service. When he returned, he found the blessed vision still waiting for him, and heard a voice, saying, “Hadst thou staid, I would have gone. As thou hast gone, I have remained.” It is a blessed thing to go forth with the Master’s message after having seen him; it is delightful to meet him on the way when we are going to tell his disciples; and it is inexpressibly pleasant to find him in the assembly bearing witness with us. To go from the Lord, for the Lord, with the Lord, is such an agreeable combination that it cannot be described, but must be personally experienced. The Lord Jesus is by no means niggardly in his converse with his people: he meets us as often as we are fit to be met, and oftener; and he uses such familiarities as could never have been expected had they not been already enjoyed. Who would have dreamed of his saying “All hail!” if he had not himself selected the term?—C. H. S. A good theme might be found in the words of the message recorded in our text. Jesus prepares his messengers by saying “Be not afraid.” Those who bear tidings for him should be calm and happy. He calls his disciples by a sweet name “my brethren”; invites them to meet him; appoints a well-known trysting-place; and promises to be there. Whatever else they had begun to do, they must make this their chief business, to be at Galilee to commune with him, to put themselves at his disposal, and to receive his commission.—C. H. S Jon Courson - BORROW A Day's Journey PAGE 22 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. Matthew 28:9 ‘All hail’ was a very common expression. Slang of the day, it simply meant, ‘Hi.’ I like that! When the women came to the tomb, their doctrine was all wrong. They thought Jesus was dead. But guess who came to them? Jesus Christ Himself because, although they were doctrinally wrong, they were devotionally right. I am convinced that a lot of us take pride in our doctrine when the Lord is saying, ‘What I desire is your affection.’ We are committed to precepts about Christ, but are we committed to the Person of Christ? Many believers are doctrinally right, but they’re dead right because their doctrine is devoid of devotion. And so I say to you today that even if your knowledge is limited or if your doctrine is not perfectly accurate, if your affection for Him is real, Jesus will appear to you time and time again, saying, ‘All hail...Hi!’ What's The Good News? As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country. — Proverbs 25:25 Today's Scripture : Matthew 28:1-10,16-20 What’s the good news today? I ask that question sometimes of people I know. If the person is a Christian, he might smilingly reply, “The same as it was yesterday. God loves us.” And both he and I rejoice that it will be the same tomorrow. Those who don’t know Christ, though, don’t have such good news to share. We can understand why pessimistic novelist T. C. Boyle says, “If God doesn’t exist . . . and you have no purpose on Earth, then it’s a mighty mean place, ruled by accident. . . . I’d like to have a lot better news for everybody, but I don’t.” Despite personal disappointments and the evils we see in this world, life is not just a series of accidents. Our God is in ultimate control, making even man’s wrath contribute to the fulfillment of His wise and loving purposes. Faith in the One who died on Calvary’s cross and rose from the tomb is the antidote to dark despair. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ gives a realistic reason for hope. When Jesus rose from the grave, He told two women to tell His disciples He was alive. Later He commanded His followers to take that news to all nations (Matthew 28:9-10,19). Oh, may our lives ring loud and clear With God's good news for all, So people who are lost in sin Will clearly hear His call. —Sper The good news is not that Jesus lived and died, but that He died and lives. Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus *said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” KJV Matthew 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. BGT Matthew 28:10 τότε λέγει αὐταῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ὑπάγετε ἀπαγγείλατε τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου ἵνα ἀπέλθωσιν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, κἀκεῖ με ὄψονται. NET Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there." CSB Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus told them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there." ESV Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." NIV Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." NLT Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there." NRS Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." NJB Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; there they will see me.' NAB Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." YLT Matthew 28:10 Then saith Jesus to them, 'Fear ye not, go away, tell to my brethren that they may go away to Galilee, and there they shall see me.' MIT Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not continue to be frightened. Go and announce to my brothers that they go away to Galilee, and there they will see me." Do not be afraid: Mt 28:5 14:27 Lu 24:36-38 Jn 6:20 go and take word: Mt 28:7 Judges 10:16 Ps 103:8-13 Mk 16:7 My brethren : Mt 12:48-50 25:40,45 Mk 3:33-35 Jn 20:17 Ro 8:29 Heb 2:11-18 Matthew 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Hebrews 2:11-13+ For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” 13 And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” And again, “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” Mark 16:7+ (ANGEL TO WOMEN) “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. JESUS COMMANDS NOT TO FEAR & TO REPORT TO DISCIPLES Note that only Matthew 28:11–15 tells us about the soldiers silenced and the resulting lie that spread among the Jews. Then - Marks progression in the narrative. Jesus *said to them, “Do not be afraid (phobeo - present imperative with a negative) - Even at His feet they experienced some degree of fear, so Jesus says stop fearing. This was a comforting command from Jesus, and marks one of the most frequent commands from our Savior's lips to His children (see note). Go and take word (apaggello - announce, report, carry back word) to My brethren (adelphos) to leave (aperchomai) for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” - Mark 16:7+ adds "go, tell disciples and Peter." What a tender (forgiving) designation brethren to men who had shown feeble faith, cowardice and defection! This is the first time the disciples, who had previously been referred to as slaves or friends (Jn 15:15), are now called Christ’s brethren. "It was through His work of redemption on the cross that this new relationship with Him was made possible." Note that now the women received a double commission, as it were, first from the angelic messenger and now from the Lord Who reinforced the angel's instruction for the disciples to meet Him in Galilee (Mt 28:7). The disciples had apparently forgotten (and/or not understood) Jesus' words to them in the Garden that He would rise from the dead and after that meet them in Galilee (Mt 26:31, 32+). Adam Clarke on My brethren points out that "This is the first time our Lord called his disciples by this endearing name: they no doubt thought that their Lord would reproach them with their past cowardice and infidelity; but, in speaking thus, He gives them a full assurance, in the most tender terms, that all that was passed was buried forever (ED: INTERESTING PUN!).” Jesus had spoken similar words to Mary Magdalene earlier that morning - "Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” (John 20:17+) John
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Spurgeon - “I suppose, brethren, that we may have persons arise, who will doubt whether there was ever such a man as Julius Caesar, or Napoleon Bonaparte; and when they do, – when all reliable history is flung to the winds, – then, but not till then, may they begin to question whether Jesus Christ rose from the dead, for this historical fact is attested by more witnesses than almost any other fact that stands on record in history, whether sacred or profane.” ILLUSTRATION - Some years ago the Canadian author G. B. Hardy wrote a book about life, philosophy, and destiny entitled Countdown: A Time to Choose (BORROW) (Chicago: Moody, 1971). He noted that there are really only two questions to ask with regard to destiny: (1) Has anyone ever defeated death? and (2) If so, did he make a way for us to do it also? Hardy then explains that he found the answer to both questions in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that with that answer he also found salvation and eternal life (SEE pp. 31–32). QUESTION - What is the importance of the empty tomb? | GotQuestions.org WATCH THE VIDEO ANSWER - From the earliest apostolic period, the reality of the empty tomb—the biblical truth that the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth was found empty by His disciples—has been at the center of the Christian proclamation. All four Gospels describe, to varying degrees, the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1–6; Mark 16:1–7; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–12). But are there any good reasons to think that these claims are historically accurate? Could a fair-minded investigator conclude that, in all probability, Jesus’ tomb was found empty on that first Easter morning? There are several arguments that have convinced a good many historians that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was indeed found empty on the Sunday following His crucifixion. First, the location of Jesus’ tomb would have been known to Christians and non-Christians alike. While it is true that most victims of crucifixion were either thrown in a graveyard reserved for common criminals or simply left on the cross for birds and other scavengers to feed upon, the case of Jesus was different. The historical record indicates that Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, the very group that had orchestrated Jesus’ execution. Many skeptical New Testament scholars have been convinced that Jesus’ burial by Joseph of Arimathea is unlikely to have been a Christian fabrication. Given the understandable hostility of the earliest Christians toward the Sanhedrin, whom they felt were largely responsible for their Master’s death, it is unlikely that Jesus’ followers would have invented a tradition about a member of the Sanhedrin using his own tomb to provide Jesus with a respectable burial. In addition, recent archaeological discoveries have demonstrated that the style of tomb described in the burial accounts in the Gospels (an acrosolia or bench tomb) was largely used by the wealthy and other people of prominence. Such a description fits nicely with what we know of Joseph of Arimathea. Moreover, when we couple these considerations with the fact that Arimathea was a town of little importance that lacked any type of scriptural symbolism and that no competing burial tradition exists, any serious doubt that Jesus was buried in Joseph’s tomb is eliminated. The significance of these facts should not be overlooked as the Sanhedrin would then have certainly known the location of Joseph’s tomb, and thus, where Jesus had been interred. And if the location of Jesus’ tomb was known to the Jewish authorities, it would have been nearly impossible for the Christian movement to have gained any traction in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was known to have been buried, had the tomb not been empty. Would not any of the Jewish religious leaders have taken the short walk to Joseph’s tomb to verify this claim? Did not the Sanhedrin have every motivation to produce Jesus’ corpse (if it were available) and put an end to these rumors of a resurrected Jesus once and for all? The fact that Christianity began to gain converts in Jerusalem tells us that no corpse had been produced despite the Jewish religious leadership having every motivation to produce one. If Jesus’ crucified body had been produced, the Christian movement, with its emphasis on a resurrected Jesus, would have been dealt a lethal blow. Second, the empty tomb is implied in the early oral formula quoted by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. While all four Gospels attest to the vacancy of Jesus’ tomb, our earliest hint at the empty tomb comes from the Apostle Paul. Writing to the church at Corinth in approximately AD 55, Paul quotes an oral formula (or creed) that most scholars believe he received from the apostles Peter and James just five years after Jesus’ crucifixion (Galatians 1:18–19). Paul states, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:3–5). When Paul writes “…that he was buried, that he was raised…” it is strongly implied (given Paul’s Pharisaical background) that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was empty. As a former Pharisee, Paul would have naturally understood that what goes down in burial comes up in resurrection; he accepted the idea of physical resurrection even before his encounter with Christ. Given that Paul’s source for this creed was most likely the Jerusalem apostles and their proximity to the events in question, Paul’s citation of this oral formula provides strong evidence that Jesus’ tomb had been found empty and that this fact was widely known in the early Christian community. The oft-repeated objection that Paul was unaware of an empty tomb is answered when we see that elsewhere Paul taught that Jesus’ resurrection was bodily in nature (Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:21). For Paul, a resurrection that did not produce a vacant tomb would have been a contradiction in terms. Third, there appears to be strong enemy attestation of the existence of an empty tomb. The first of these comes from within the pages of the Gospel of Matthew itself where Matthew reports that there was an acknowledgment of the empty tomb by the Jewish leaders themselves (Matthew 28:13–15). They were claiming that the disciples had come and stolen away Jesus’ body. Given the proximity of the writing of Matthew’s Gospel to the event in question, such a claim would have been easy to disprove if untrue. For if Matthew were lying, his report of the Jewish response to the empty tomb proclamation could have easily been discredited as many of the contemporaries of the events in question would still have been alive when Matthew’s Gospel was initially circulating. But why would they accuse the disciples of stealing Jesus’ body if the tomb still contained the dead body of Jesus? The counter-accusation made by the Jews presupposes that the tomb was empty. That the Jews accused the disciples of stealing Jesus’ body is corroborated by the Christian apologist Justin Martyr in the middle of the second century (Dialogue with Trypho, 108) and then again around AD 200 by the church father Tertullian (De Spectaculis, 30). Both Justin and Tertullian were interacting with the Jewish debaters of their day and were in a position to know what it was their Jewish opponents were saying. They were not simply relying on Matthew’s Gospel for their information; both Justin and Tertullian mention specific details not found in the Gospel of Matthew. In fact, all three of these writers cite details not mentioned by the others. Based on these considerations, it appears that there was an early Jewish acknowledgement of an empty tomb. Fourth, all four Gospels report that the tomb of Jesus was discovered empty by women. This point is especially significant given the patriarchal nature of first-century Israel. While it is true that, under very limited circumstances, women were allowed to testify in a court of law, it is also the case that, in first-century Jewish society, a woman’s testimony was worth far less than that of a man. If you were making up a story in an attempt to persuade others that Jesus had been resurrected, you would never have used women as your primary witnesses. Any made-up story would have featured male disciples like Peter, John, or Andrew as the discoverers of the empty tomb, as the testimony of men would have provided much-needed credibility to the story. Yet the Gospels report that, while Jesus’ male disciples were cowering in fear, hiding from the authorities, it was women who were the earliest witnesses of the empty tomb. There would simply be no reason for the early church to concoct such a scenario unless it was true. Why would the early Christians portray their male leadership as cowards and place females in the role of primary witnesses? One of these named female witnesses (Mary Magdalene) was said to have been possessed of seven devils earlier in her life, thus making her an even less reliable witness in the eyes of many. And yet, despite these evidential handicaps, the earliest Christians insisted that the first witnesses to the empty tomb were, in fact, women. The most likely explanation of this insistence is that these women were the initial witnesses of the empty tomb and that the earliest Christians were unwilling to lie about it despite its potentially embarrassing nature. All four of these arguments help to provide cumulative proof that the tomb of Jesus Christ was empty on the first Easter. Particularly telling is the conclusion of historian Michael Grant, himself a skeptic of Jesus’ resurrection, “…if we apply the same sort of criteria that we would apply to any other ancient literary sources, then the evidence is firm and plausible enough to necessitate the conclusion that the tomb was, indeed, found empty.” Of course, there is more to the story than merely an empty tomb. The reason the tomb was found empty was that the man who was buried there had risen from the dead. Jesus would not only vacate His grave but appear to numerous people individually (Luke 24:34) and in groups (Matthew 28:9; John 20:26–30; 21:1–14; Acts 1:3–6; 1 Corinthians 15:3–7). And His resurrection from the dead would be the sure proof that He was who He claimed to be (Matthew 12:38–40; 16:1–4)—the risen Son of God, our only hope of salvation. QUESTION - What is the Swoon Theory? Did Jesus survive the crucifixion? ANSWER - The Swoon Theory is the belief that Jesus didn’t really die at His crucifixion, but was merely unconscious when He was laid in the tomb and there He resuscitated. Accordingly, His appearances after three days in the tomb were merely perceived to be resurrection appearances. There are several reasons why this theory is invalid and can be easily proven as false, and there were at least three different persons or groups involved in Jesus’ crucifixion who were all satisfied concerning the fact of His death on the cross. They are the Roman guards, Pilate, and the Sanhedrin. The Roman Guards - There were two separate groups of Roman soldiers given the task of ensuring the death of Jesus: the executioners and the tomb guards. The soldiers in charge of execution were specialists in capital punishment, and crucifixion was one of the most brutal forms of execution in history. Jesus was nailed to a cross after enduring horrible beatings at the hands of these professional death merchants, and every person put to death by way of crucifixion was dealt with by these soldiers. Their job was to ensure the task was completed. Jesus could not have survived crucifixion, and these soldiers made certain that Jesus was dead before His body was allowed to be taken from the cross. They were completely satisfied that Jesus was truly dead. The second group of soldiers was given the task of guarding the tomb of Jesus because of the request made to Pilate by the Sanhedrin. Matthew 27:62-66 tells us “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, ’sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise.” Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard" (NKJV). These guards ensured that the tomb was secure, and their lives depended upon completion of their mission. Only the resurrection of the Son of God could have stayed them from their task. Pilate - Pilate gave the order for Jesus to be crucified and entrusted this task to be carried out by a Roman centurion, a trusted and proven commander of 100 Roman soldiers. After the crucifixion, a request for the body of Jesus was made by Joseph of Arimathea, in order that His body could be placed in a tomb. Only after confirmation was given to him by his centurion did Pilate release the body into the care of Joseph. Mark 15:42-45: “Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. And when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph” (NKJV). Pilate was completely satisfied that Jesus was truly dead. The Sanhedrin - The Sanhedrin was the ruling council of the Jewish people, and they requested that the bodies of those crucified, including Jesus, be taken down from the cross after their death because of the ensuing Sabbath day. John 19:31-37: “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, 'Not one of His bones shall be broken.' And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’” These Jews who demanded that Jesus be crucified, and even going so far as to suggest an insurrection had He not been crucified, would never have allowed Jesus’ body to be removed from the cross were He not already dead. These men were completely satisfied that Jesus was truly dead. There is other evidence that the Swoon Theory is invalid, such as the condition of Jesus’ body after the resurrection. At every appearance, Jesus’ body was shown to be in a glorified state, and the only marks remaining as proof of His crucifixion were the nail prints He asked Thomas to touch as proof of who He was. Anyone who had experienced what Jesus experienced would have needed months to recover physically. Jesus’ body bore only the marks of the nails in His hands and feet. The way in which Jesus’ body was prepared after the crucifixion is further evidence to refute the theory. Had Jesus only been unconscious, the linens He was wrapped in would have been impossible for Him to escape from, had He been merely a man. The way in which the women attended to Jesus’ body is further evidence of his death. They came to the tomb on the first day of the week to further anoint His body with embalming ointments as they had little time to prepare His body prior to the beginning of the Sabbath after His crucifixion. Had He been merely unconscious as the theory supposes, they would have brought medicinal tools to help in His resuscitation. The purpose for the Swoon Theory is not to dispute His death, but rather, it seeks to disprove His resurrection. If Jesus didn’t resurrect, then He’s not God. If Jesus truly died and rose from the dead, His power over death proves that He is the Son of God. The evidence demands the verdict: Jesus truly died on the cross, and Jesus truly rose from the dead. Related Resources: What is the Hallucination Theory? Was the Body of Jesus Stolen? by Don Stewart The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: The Body Was Moved The Disciples stole Jesus' body and faked His resurrection. BORROW The Case for The Resurrection of Jesus - Gary Habermas Why is the truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? What is the significance of the “folded napkin” in Christ’s tomb after the resurrection? Matthew 28:14 “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” BGT Matthew 28:14 καὶ ἐὰν ἀκουσθῇ τοῦτο ἐπὶ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος, ἡμεῖς πείσομεν [αὐτὸν] καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους ποιήσομεν. NET Matthew 28:14 If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." CSB Matthew 28:14 If this reaches the governor's ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble." ESV Matthew 28:14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." NIV Matthew 28:14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." NLT Matthew 28:14 If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you so you won't get in trouble." NRS Matthew 28:14 If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." NJB Matthew 28:14 And should the governor come to hear of this, we undertake to put things right with him ourselves and to see that you do not get into trouble.' NAB Matthew 28:14 And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble." YLT Matthew 28:14 and if this be heard by the governor, we will persuade him, and you keep free from anxiety.' MIT Matthew 28:14 They promised them, "If the governor gets wind of it, we will influence him so that you have nothing to worry about." We will win him over : Ac 12:19 Matthew 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CHIEF PRIESTS COVER UP FOR SOLDIERS And if this should come to the governor’s (hegmon) ears, we will win (convince, persuade, "deal with") him over (appease, satisfy) and keep you out of trouble (Lit - make you without care) - Keep you out of trouble or as KJV has "secure you," which is a good rendering as secure is from the Latin se = sine meaning "without" and cura meaning care. The "trouble" that Roman guards could potentially suffer was death for falling asleep at their posts. Out of trouble is the rare Greek word amerimnos (Strongs 275 - only other use 1Co 7:32+) derived from a = negates what follows plus merimna meaning care or anxiety giving us the meaning free from care or anxiety, not worried. In other words, the chief priests confidently assure the soldiers who were told to lie about the resurrection, claiming it was stolen, would not have to worry or be anxious about being discovered in their deceit. The soldiers would not need to be concerned if the false report that they fell asleep on duty and allowed the body of Jesus to be stolen got back to the governor Pilate. A B Bruce points out the Achilles heel of the lie - The lie for which the priests paid so much money is suicidal; one half destroys the other. Sleeping sentinels could not know what happened. (The Expositor's Greek Testament) Governor's (2232) (hegemon from hegeomai = to lead) refers to one holding high office and means a leader, chief, head (Mt 2:6 fr Mic 5:2), prince, commander of an army; equivalent to stratēgós a general. A prefect, proconsul, legate or procurator (Mt. 10:18; Mk 13:9; Lk 21:12; 1Pe 2:14). In the NT hegemon is most often translated governor especially referring to Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea. In Roman affairs the primary duty of the procurator was to collect taxes for the imperium, but in some instances as in Judea, the procurator was entrusted with administrative and magisterial powers and was the sole power over life and death (cf. John 19:10). Related resource - See lengthy dictionary article on PROCURATOR In classical Greek a hēgēmon was a “guide” who showed one the way or “one who did a thing first.” It might also be a “leader” in the army of a chief or king. Josephus used the word to describe a “procurator” or “prefect” (Antiquities 18.3.1). In the Septuagint hēgēmon most often translates the Hebrew ’allûph, “chief” or “leader” (Ge 36:15; Ex 15:15; 1 Chr 1:51; Ps 55:13]), or sar, “officer” (Jer 38:17; Jer 39:3) or “commander” (Jer 40:7). W E Vine - hegemon is a "term used (a) for "rulers" generally, Mark 13:9; 1 Pet. 2:14; translated "princes" (i.e., leaders) in Matt. 2:6; (b) for the Roman procurators, referring, in the Gospels to Pontius Pilate, e.g., Matt. 27:2; Luke 20:20 (so designated by Tacitus, Annals, XV. 44); to Felix, Acts 23:26. Technically the procurator was a financial official under a proconsul or propretor, for collecting the imperial revenues, but entrusted also with magisterial powers for decisions of questions relative to the revenues. In certain provinces, of which Judea was one (the procurator of which was dependent on the legate of Syria), he was the general administrator and supreme judge, with sole power of life and death. Such a governor was a person of high social standing. Felix, however, was an ex-slave, a freedman, and his appointment to Judea could not but be regarded by the Jews as an insult to the nation. The headquarters of the governor of Judea was Caesarea, which was made a garrison town. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words) Hegemon - 19x/18v - governor(14), governor's(1), governors(4). - Matt. 10:18; Matt. 27:2; Matt. 27:11; Matt. 27:14; Matt. 27:15; Matt. 27:21; Matt. 27:27; Matt. 28:14; Mk. 13:9; Lk. 20:20; Lk. 21:12; Acts 23:24; Acts 23:26; Acts 23:33; Acts 24:1; Acts 24:10; Acts 26:30; 1 Pet. 2:14 Hegemon in the Septuagint - Gen. 36:15; Gen. 36:16; Gen. 36:17; Gen. 36:18; Gen. 36:19; Gen. 36:21; Gen. 36:29; Gen. 36:30; Gen. 36:40; Gen. 36:41; Gen. 36:42; Gen. 36:43; Exod. 15:15; 1 Chr. 1:51; 1 Chr. 1:52; 1 Chr. 1:53; 1 Chr. 1:54; Job 42:17; Ps. 55:13; Ps. 68:27; Jer. 38:17; Jer. 39:3; Jer. 40:7; Jer. 40:13; Jer. 41:11; Jer. 41:13; Jer. 41:16; Jer. 42:1; Jer. 42:8; Jer. 43:4; Jer. 43:5; Jer. 51:23; Jer. 51:57; Ezek. 23:23 Frank Morison on the "fake news" of the stolen body - There is, of course, one suggestion that few readers of this book will expect to be argued seriously. I mean the suggestion, so widely circulated in apostolic times, that the disciples themselves had stolen or abducted the body. I do not propose to devote any considerable amount of space to testing the historical accuracy of this charge because the verdict has been anticipated by the almost universal sense and feeling of mankind. So far as I know there is not a single writer whose work is of critical value today who holds that there is even a case for discussion. We know these eleven men pretty well by their subsequent actions and writings. Somehow they are not built that way. There is no trace of the daring sort of ringleader who would have had the imagination to plan a coup like that and to carry it through without detection. Even if it had been possible, and the disciples the men to do it, the subsequent history of Christianity would have been different. Sooner or later, someone who knew the facts would have been unable to keep them hidden. (From WHO MOVED THE STONE? chapter 8 BETWEEN SUNSET AND DAWN) Matthew 28:15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day. KJV Matthew 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. BGT Matthew 28:15 οἱ δὲ λαβόντες τὰ ἀργύρια ἐποίησαν ὡς ἐδιδάχθησαν. καὶ διεφημίσθη ὁ λόγος οὗτος παρὰ Ἰουδαίοις μέχρι τῆς σήμερον [ἡμέρας]. NET Matthew 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day. CSB Matthew 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day. ESV Matthew 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. NIV Matthew 28:15 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. NLT Matthew 28:15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. NRS Matthew 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day. NJB Matthew 28:15 So they took the money and carried out their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews. NAB Matthew 28:15 The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present (day). YLT Matthew 28:15 And they, having received the money, did as they were taught, and this account was spread abroad among Jews till this day. MIT Matthew 28:15 The soldiers took the silver and did as they were coached. This spiel has been reiterated by the Jews right up to the time this is written. they took: Mt 26:15 1Ti 6:10 and is to this day: Mt 27:8 Matthew 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SOLDIERS' LIE SPREADS AMONG JEWS And they took the money (argurion - silver by metonymy = money) and did as they had been instructed (didasko - directed, told to do) - Despite the potential downsides for the soldiers, they elected to promote the lie. And this story (logos) was widely spread (diaphemizo) among the Jews (Ioudaios), and is to this day ("they still tell it today" - NLT) - For a Gospel that most writers say was directed especially to Jews, it is surprising that this is Matthew's only use of the word Jew (Ioudaios). To this day refers to the date of writing of Matthew's Gospel which was about 30 years after the Crucifixion, so around 63 AD. Justin Martyr who lived circa AD 100 – c. AD 165, documents in his Dialogue with Trypho (see below) that the lie that Jesus' body had been stolen by His disciples persisted into the second century. Th Warren
Mateus 28
Spurgeon - There are some young men who get the idea into their minds that they would like to go into foreign lands; but these are frequently the most unfit men, and have not the power and ability. I pray that the divine call would come to some gifted men. You who have, perhaps, some wealth of your own, what could be a better object in life than to devote yourself and your substance to the Redeemer’s cause? You young men, who have brilliant prospects before you, but who as yet have not the anxieties of a family to maintain, why, would it not be a noble thing to surrender your brilliant prospects, that you may become a humble preacher of Christ? I have questioned my own conscience, and I do not think I could be in the path of duty if I should go abroad to preach the Word, leaving this field of labour; but I think many of my brethren now labouring at home might with the greatest advantage surrender their charges, and go where their presence would be as valuable as the presence of a thousand such as they are here. And I long that we may see young men out of the universities, and students in our grammar schools—that we may see our physicians, advocates, tradesmen and educated mechanics, when God has touched their hearts, giving all they have, that they may teach and preach Christ. We want Judsons and Brainerds over again. It will never do to send out to the heathen men who are of no use at home; we must send the highest, and best. (SEE SERMON The Missionaries' Charge and Charta) Oswald Chambers - The key to the missionary All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. Matthew 28:18–20 . The basis of missionary appeals is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the heathen. We are apt to look upon Our Lord as One Who assists us in our enterprises for God. Our Lord puts himself as the absolute sovereign supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say the heathen will be lost if we do not go; He simply says—“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” Go on the revelation of My sovereignty; teach and preach out of a living experience of Me. “Then the eleven disciples went … into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them” (Mt 28:16). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him for myself, and how to get alone with Him; I must take time to worship the Being Whose Name I bear. “Come unto Me”—that is the place to meet Jesus. Are you weary and heavy laden? How many missionaries are! We banish those marvellous words of the universal Sovereign of the world to the threshold of an after-meeting; they are the words of Jesus to His disciples. “Go ye therefore.…” “Go” simply means live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say—Go into Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, but, “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me” in all these places. He undertakes to establish the goings. “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you.…”—that is the way to keep going in our personal lives. Where we are placed is a matter of indifference; God engineers the goings. “None of these things move me …” That is how to keep going till you’re gone! (BORROW My Utmost for His Highest) C H Spurgeon -We are to teach or, as the Greek word has it, to make disciples. Our business is, each according to the grace given, to tell our fellow men the gospel and to try and disciple them to Jesus. When they become disciples, our next duty is to give them the sign of discipleship by ‘baptizing them’. That symbolic burial sets forth their death in Jesus to their former selves and their resurrection to newness of life through him. Baptism enrols and seals the disciples, and we must not omit or misplace it. When the disciple is enrolled, the missionary is to become the pastor, ‘teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you’. The disciple is admitted into the school by obeying the Saviour’s command as to baptism, and then he goes on to learn, and as he learns he teaches others also. He is taught obedience not to some, but to all things which Christ has commanded. He is put into the church not to become a legislator or deviser of new doctrines and ceremonies, but to believe what Christ tells him, and to do what Christ bids him. Thus our Lord intends to set up a kingdom which shall break in pieces every other; those who know him are to teach others; and so the wondrous power which Christ brought from heaven shall spread from land to land. See, then, your high calling and also the support you have in pursuing it. At the front behold ‘all power’ going forth from Christ! In the rear behold the Lord himself—‘lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ If you are enlisted in this army, be faithful to your great captain, do his work carefully in the way which he has prescribed for you, and expect to see his power displayed to his own glory. (See full sermon The Power of the Risen Saviour) RELATED HYMNS Christ Jesus Hath the Power O Christ, Our Joy, to Whom Is Given Eternal Monarch, King Most High O Lord Most High, Eternal King Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Greek: poreutheutes (APPMPN - "imperative sense") oun matheteusate (2PAAM) panta ta ethne baptizontes (PAPMPN - "imperative sense") autous eis to. onoma tou patros kai tou huiou kai tou hagiou pneumatos KJV Matthew 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: BGT Matthew 28:19 πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος, NET Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, CSB Matthew 28:19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ESV Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, NIV Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, NLT Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. NRS Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, NJB Matthew 28:19 Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, NAB Matthew 28:19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, YLT Matthew 28:19 having gone, then, disciple all the nations, (baptizing them -- to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, MIT Matthew 28:19 Consequently, when you go, disciple all nationalities in my name. therefore: Ps 22:27,28 98:2,3 Isa 42:1-4 49:6 52:10 66:18,19 Mk 16:15,16 Lu 24:47,48 Ac 1:8 13:46,47 28:28 Ro 10:18 Col 1:23 baptizing: Ac 2:38,39,41 8:12-16,36-38 9:18 10:47,48 16:15-33 19:3-5 1Co 1:13-16 15:29 1Pe 3:21 in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: Mt 3:16,17 Ge 1:26 Nu 6:24-27 Isa 48:16 1Co 12:4-6 2Co 13:14 Eph 2:18 1Jn 5:7 Rev 1:4-6 Click for in depth discussion of Matthew 28:19 Matthew 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NOTE: SEE IN DEPTH COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 28:19 THE GREAT COMMISSION NOTE: Matthew 28:19 is discussed in much greater depth on another page (IN DEPTH COMMENTARY). This verse will have only brief comments on this page. Go therefore - Term of conclusion. Jesus is saying in essence "Since I am sovereign, omnipotent Lord of heaven and earth and have all supernatural authority, do what I am commanding not in your natural strength but My supernatural power (Acts 1:8+)." It is vital to understand that in dependence on the Spirit of Christ, an impossible task becomes Him-possible! We are to be faithful, and then, as we rely on the indwelling Spirit, will we be fruitful (cf Jn 15:5+). Some treat the verb "go" as an imperative form, but that is not what the Greek says for it is an aorist passive participle. Nevertheless, the instruction is clear that believers are to go and not wait for lost sinners to come to them, for that will rarely happen! THOUGHT - While go is not literally a command, it does convey the force of a command, so that you still have to go before you can make! This begs the question "Am I going?" And not necessarily am I going to foreign missions. If you are truly called, then go. But go still begs the question "Am I taking the Gospel intentionally into the "highways and byways"? Into my school, my place of employment, my secular social gatherings, etc? Recall that before His resurrection Jesus had instructed His disciples "do not go" (in the way of the Gentiles) (Mt 10:5+). But now He calls them (and us) to "Go" without any "asterisks" or qualifiers. One of my mentors used to say that there was a sign over the exit of the sanctuary which stated "YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE MISSION FIELD!" Many in America need the Savior as their personal possession and not just their public profession. Not all professors are truly possessors (cf Jesus' warning Mt 7:21-23+). Kistemaker on therefore - Briefly it means: Go, a. because your Lord has so ordered; b. because He has promised to impart all the needed strength; and c. because He is worthy of the homage, faith, and obedience of all men. (Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew) Spurgeon - “Who is to go out of that first band of disciples? It is Peter, the rash and the headstrong. It is John, who sometimes wishes to call fire from heaven to destroy men. It is Philip, with whom the Savior has been so long, and yet he has not known him. It is Thomas, who must put his finger into the print of the nails, or he will not believe him. Yet the Master says to them, ‘Go ye; all power is given unto me, therefore go ye. You are as good for my purpose as anybody else would be. There is no power in you, I know, but then all power is in me, therefore go ye.’” (Full sermon Our Omnipotent Leader) Warren