The Weekend Word

Matthew 28:1-10

The Resurrection – We are now picking up on the 8^th day. The 8^th day represents the new creation. The resurrection is celebrated every Sunday – not just Easter. This is why we do not fast on Sunday during Lent.

So what are the various accounts in the other gospels? Are they looking at the same event? (In my class at this point, we did a summary of the various timelines & events)

1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

• Everything stops for the Sabbath.
• Note the wording – ‘toward the dawn of the …’ it was still dark.
• The Marys pick up where they left off at the end of chapter 27.
• What are the Marys expecting to find? A dead body.

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.

• The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out – it was to let all see that the tomb was empty. Similar to the tearing of the temple curtain – so all could see God had left the temple.

³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

• Now that is quite a sight.

⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

• The guards see the angel – this is not like a secret appearance to the Marys. Here everyone sees the angel.
• So, who here wants to see an angel and drop like dead men?
• Did they faint, pass out? It sounds like they became like everyone else in the cemetery.

⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

• The angel knows and the angel testifies that it was Jesus who was crucified.
• Muslims deny that it was Jesus who was crucified but say instead at some point it was Judas who was on the cross.

⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

• “He is not here, for he has risen” – a short angelic sermon – A word and a visual – “Come, see”.

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.”

• Who is being referred to here? The 12 (11) or the 70? We will see below.
• Note that the angel refers to Jesus’ disciple, the ones who ran away, denied Christ – the sinners who followed him – called disciples.
• Note in V10 Jesus calls them brothers.
• These women now have the good news to tell. Risen & Alive is Good News.
• There they will see him with their very own eyes.
• Does the empty tomb prove that Jesus is who he is? No, but at the least it proves his predictions were right – I must go to Jerusalem, be killed and rise again.

⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

• Fear and great joy – can you imagine? The great joy of hearing the message of the angel of the risen Lord, but the fear and confusion of trying to figure out what the heck just happened?
• Note that the women kept focus. Imagine if they had run off telling everyone “guess what we saw? A shining angel who rolled away the stone all by himself.” They kept focus on what was important.
• God is awesome and to be feared in this way – but joy comes in realizing that he does not use this power and might to condemn but to save.
• So when we encounter God it should always be in reverential fear and great joy – AND we should run to tell others this gospel.

⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

• Remember, this is happening to the women.
• Greetings = All Hail (KJV) = Greeted them = Rejoice = Peace unto you.
• Or it could have been more like Surprise!!! I am sure these ladies were not expecting this.

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.”

• Previously the angels said “do not be afraid.”
• My brothers – John 1 says that we have the right to be called the children of God – and now brothers – no longer slaves.
• In this we see the beauty of the forgiveness of sin – this is great grace.
• The first to witness of the resurrected Christ were the women.
• The first to carry out the commands of Jesus were the women.