Bible Commentaries

A Reason To Rejoice

- Matthew Twenty-Eight -

In the end of the Sabbath or after the Sabbath was over Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to see the tomb where Jesus was buried. When they got near to the tomb there was a great earthquake "for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." The angel's "countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow." He said that Jesus was not there; He had risen from the dead. The women were invited to, "Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

The angel told the women to "go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is raised from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee." As they went and told the disciples that Jesus was raised, He met with the disciples and told them to not be afraid and that it was Him. He had, in fact, risen from the dead. At the end of the Matthew Twenty-eight we have record of Jesus telling the disciples to go throughout the world and teach everyone about Him. His gospel is for all!

Matthew twenty-seven closed with a scene of sorrow and grief, Jesus dead and buried. In Matthew twenty-eight we see that humanity found reason to rejoice, Christ arose. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ are the heart of the gospel. "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

The Risen Lord - Matthew 28:1-8 : Near dawn on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary became the first to know that Jesus had been resurrected. When they came to the tomb the seal had been broken and the stone was rolled away. The angel did not roll away the stone to let the Lord out, but rather to let the witnesses in. Our hope in the hereafter is that God or some angel may roll the stone from our grave and that we may arise. The angel urged the women to believe that Jesus had been resurrected. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:6)

He also urged them to tell what they had learned. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." (Matthew 28:7) These women ran quickly to tell the disciples concerning the resurrection. They did so with great reverence and joy. God's pattern is simple, come and believe, then go and tell.

The Rejoicing Women - Matthew 28:9-10 : When Jesus first appeared to the women He gave two commands: (1) "Rejoice", (2) "Go and tell my brethren..." When He met the women He said, "All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him." When the women saw Jesus they recognized Him, and they knew for a fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.

Our Savior is divine, and as the women fall down at His feet, and worshiped Him, Jesus said to them, "Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." (Matthew 28:9-10) Christians have reason to rejoice because of Jesus and should also be determined to "Go and tell." "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believer will be condemned."" (Mark 16:15-16)

The Rejecting Soldiers - Matthew 28:11-15 : The guards were placed at the tomb by Caiaphus so that the disciples would not steal the body. These guards saw every thing that happened, and reported it all back to the chief priests. They told how the angel came and rolled back the stone. Imagine how it was when these unbelievers rehearsed the story of the resurrection.

Judas received thirty pieces of silver to betray the Lord. The soldiers were given "large money" to keep silent about the resurrection. The guards took bribes to say, "His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we were sleeping." (Matthew 28:13) Keep in mind that this is the high priest, Caiaphus, and those guards are religious people that are involved with this cover-up.

The guards were told that even if this came to the ears of Pilate that they were telling these lies that their freedom would be secure. The result of their lie was disbelief among many of the Jews. "So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." (Matthew 28:15) This synagogue of Satan led many astray with their lies. Their plot was evil but thank God, good and right always prevails. Truth prevails! He arose and no one could silence the believers!

The Reaction To The Resurrection - Matthew 28:16-20 : The resurrection called attention to Jesus" POWER. "Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority (power) has been given Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) Through His power the GREAT COMMISSION was given. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) The church of Christ exists, has existed and grown since the year of the crucifixion. The only adequate explanation for this is the resurrection of Christ from the tomb.

If Jesus' commission is carried out He promises His PRESENCE. "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) Do you believe in the resurrection? Jesus" resurrection is essential to our future. "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22) Victory comes through His resurrection.

Jesus" death, burial and resurrection are the result of God's amazing love for lost mankind. "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." If Jesus would die, be buried and resurrected for us, surely we can live for Him! To prepare for eternity you must obey the gospel NOW and keep faithful to God. Purify your heart by faith (John 8:24), change your life through repentance, (Acts 17:30), change your relationship with God through baptism. Then, from that watery grave of baptism arise to a walk in newness of life in Christ. (Romans 6:3-4) Are you doing your part to make disciples of others? God expects us to use the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to win others to His cause.