Matthew
28
The Risen Christ
As we look at this the
last chapter in Matthew we need to think of the Roman Soldiers: Who exactly
were they? Roman soldiers served for 25 or more years and if you lasted for the
25 years you had it made. You received a land grant and all sorts of other
benefits. To be a Roman soldier you must be a Roman citizen dedicated to your
ruler and possessing an incredible ability towards honor, discipline, and
obedience. If sent to conquer a city or army they would continue attacking
until totally defeated or conquerors. Roman soldiers knew they were given a
task and if they were caught doing anything else they would be put to death and
Roman soldiers were placed in charge of the grave of Christ committed to making
sure nothing happened to that grave!
So, as we begin this
chapter we find Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany coming to an empty tomb.
1 In the end
of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. 2 And, behold, there was a
great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and
rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like
lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did
shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said to the women,
Fear not you: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not
here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And
go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold,
he goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see him: see, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did
run to bring his disciples word.
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1-8) They were not expecting to
find an empty tomb and an angel commanding them to bring the news of the risen
Christ. In the end of the Sabbath or after the Sabbath in which Jesus had been
placed in the tomb and towards dawn or just at sunrise the women come to the
tomb and it is not as they expected. All the Gospels are similar in reporting
this (Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1-11; John 20:1-21). We must remember that they
watched the tomb being closed and the guards placed to keep Jesus in and every
one else out. So they were coming to anoint the body of Jesus with spices and
an angel appeared to them telling them to go and tell the disciples that He is
risen from the dead and is going to Galilee. They quickly left in fear, yet,
with great joy running to bring the news to the disciples.
9 And as they went to
tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and
held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus to them, Be not
afraid: go tell my brothers that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see
me.
9-10) Now as they were going to tell
the disciples they met Jesus and He said to them “All hail.” And they held him
by the feet or fell at His feet and worshipped Him embracing His feet (John
5:23). It is our place to worship Christ and serve Him without question. So
when Jesus said unto them “go tell my brothers . . .” they quickly left to
follow His command.
11 Now when they were
going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed to the chief
priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the
elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money to the soldiers, 13 Saying,
Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And
if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So
they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly
reported among the Jews until this day.
11-15) It is important to note the
time in which the men went into the city because it was while the women were on
their way to tell the disciples and only some of them went and the report they
made was not to Pilate but instead to the priests. They knew it was imperative
no one find out that Christ had truly risen from the grave so they must
fabricate a story to keep the people from accepting Christ as the Messiah. This
story could not be true because it was a capital offense for the guards to fall
asleep. It would mean death to them. Plus who would believe the disciples who
had shown themselves cowards earlier would risk going to the tomb to steal the
body? And even if they had they would not have been able to move the stone
without making noise thus waking the soldiers. So they took the money and
spread the story.
16 Then the eleven
disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed
them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some
doubted.
16-17) We are not sure of the time
they left for Galilee although John 20:26 says they remained in Judea for over a
week after the resurrection. Of this meeting we know of the brief account
mentioned here and then from John 21:1 which talks about the meeting by the sea
and the mention by Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:6. The disciples went into
Galilee because Jesus commanded them to do so. We are not sure of why the
meeting into Galilee, into a mountain, but we do know that they went and
worshipped Him. Matthew 28:9 mentions that the women also knelt at His feet and
worshipped Him. We know from the verse that some doubted but this would be of
the others present not of the disciples because their doubt had already been
removed.
18 And Jesus came and
spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go
you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end
of the world. Amen.
18-20) And when they were at the
mountain Jesus came to the whole assembly. 1st Corinthians 15:6 says five
hundred were present and Matthew 10:1-15 speaks of an earlier commission given
to the disciples and also to the 70 but it was not the same as the one Jesus was
now giving. The earlier one was directed mostly towards preaching to Jews and
saying the kingdom of heaven was not yet come. But now we see that Christ is
sending them to make disciples of all nations. Jesus was now King and it was
His power that was being shown. God placed all authority in the hands of Jesus
and He was carrying forth the desires of His Father! Teaching all nations or we
might say proclaiming to all nations the Gospel of Christ so that all would have
the opportunity to become children of God -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost the one and only living and true God. It should be that the making
disciples in all nations the most important thing on the heart of a Believer.
Each of us will go about our commission in similar ways yet different ways as
the Lord anoints us but, we all strive towards or should strive towards the same
goal and that is to deliver the Gospel of Christ to all nations so all may have
the opportunity to become children of God.
