SECTION 12: THE TRIAL – DEATH –
AND RESURRECTION OF THE KING
CHAPTER 66
THE RESURRECTION
OR
WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OR BEING TAUGHT
Scripture To Consider:
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.”
“But the angel answered and said to the woman, ‘Do not be afraid, 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. And 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.’ So the women departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”
“And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ And they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’ ” Matthew 28.1-10
Something To Consider:
No record of the resurrection is more majestic than this of Matthew. Other gospels add features of value, but none contains more evident marks of royalty. This is the story of a King. Strictly speaking, no writer attempts to describe the event, but all unite in giving unanswerable testimony to the fact of the resurrection of Christ.
Matthew records the witness of an angel, of two women, of the guards, and of the eleven disciples. Upon such testimony as this is based our belief in the triumph of the King over death and the grave, and our related hope of our own resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
The appearance of the angel is described in phrases peculiar to Matthew: “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.” Matthew continued by declaring, “His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow.” The stone was not rolled away to allow Jesus to escape, but to show that the tomb was already empty. The King had departed from His borrowed tomb.
The angelic messenger had come to bear Christ’s command to His followers. The message of Christ brings different responses when heard by the masses. The guards were frozen with fear, but the startled women were comforted by the assurance that their Lord had actually risen from the dead and the tomb was empty. These women were directed by the angel to go into Galilee where they and the disciples would meet the risen Jesus. And forever their outlook on life was drastically changed.
The appearance of Jesus to the women was described in phrases of equal majesty. Jesus met them with one single word, “Rejoice!” And they fell before Him and worshipped Him. Jesus called His disciples brethren, not subordinates and not laymen, but brethren. He never had used this term before. It is the risen Lord who can thus speak of His followers, for as the firstborn from the dead, in prominence, He suggests that He is One with those who by faith share with Him in a risen and glorified life. It is for this reason that He is declared to be the firstborn among many brethren.
More Scripture To Consider:
“Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, “His disciples came at night and stole Jesus away while we slept.” And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
Something Else To Consider:
The guards who hastened in terror from the empty tomb were the next witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus described by Matthew. They related the fact to the chief priests and elders and were bribed by them to falsely report that the disciples of Jesus came by night and stole the body while they, the guards slept. There is an element of absurdity in this explanation. If the soldiers were asleep, how do they know who came or what was done in the night?
Yet is this statement more ridiculous than any modern false explanation of the empty tomb which attempts to deny the resurrection of Christ? The statement was not even original on part of the soldiers. The most familiar, modern denials of the resurrection are borrowed from dead skeptics. Is it probable that the body of Jesus was stolen and that He never arose from the dead? If so, then His disciples were all imposters. If so, Jesus’ own claims were false.
And if so, then His church has been built upon a falsehood. There is no reason for denying the fact which is the foundation of our Christian faith. Therefore, He is risen indeed!
More Scripture To Consider:
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted.
“Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, 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.’ Amen.” Matthew 28.16-20
Something Else To Consider:
The words of the angel and the subsequent message of Jesus appointed a meeting for His disciples in Galilee. It is with this scene that Matthew brings his gospel to its majestic close. There, as Jesus stands on a mountain side surrounded by His worshipping followers, He gave them and us His great commission. These surely are the words of a King, for they contain a royal claim, command, and a promise.
In the first, Jesus declared that all authority had been given Him in heaven and on earthy. He is not merely King of the Jews, But King of kings and Lord of lords. In view of this fact Jesus commands His messengers to make disciples of all nations. Their mission is not merely to the Jews. No longer is their work to be limited to the house of Israel, but men, women, and young people of all nations are to be called to be followers of Christ and are to be baptized in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
They are to openly acknowledge their allegiance to Jesus as to a divine Lord. Further, the new disciples are to be instructed to keep all the commands of King Jesus and to obey His divine orders. And to encourage His disciples in undertaking their difficult task and in carrying out this bold and adventurous task, there was and is given the assuring promise of the unfailing presence of the King Himself, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Some versions insert the word world rather than age. But Jesus’ statement does not refer to the end of the physical earth, but to the completion of this present age and unto the establishment of the kingdom of glory. It was with confidence in this unseen presence and in hope of this coming glory that His disciples went forth obeying the command, trusting in the promise, and working and watching for the appearing of their King and risen Savior.
Something More To Consider:
The last words of anyone before departing planet earth should be words of extreme importance. The last words of Jesus recorded in Matthew are as follows: “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, 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.”
Man has entitled these last words of Jesus as the “Great Commission” of the church. And so the commandment is according to Jesus; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” In other words, there is to be no discrimination when it comes to making disciples of all nations. All nations are welcome to experience the freedom in Christ, the peace which is found in Christ, and the hope that is in knowing and believing Jesus and being taught the commandments and teachings of Jesus.
The making of disciples according to Jesus, begins with the baptizing believers not in the name of a church, or a denomination, or even a movement. The baptizing of true disciples is to be done in the name of the Father and of the Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit. Disciples are created because of the personal spiritual influence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
This biblical truth cannot be allowed to be lost sight of or ever be traded for a training in church tradition and or false doctrine. Never! Discipleship is to be God inspired and not merely man inspired. Man has been tasked with the discipleship process, but it is not to be based upon man’s whims or ways. True biblical discipleship is about the training of men, women, and young people based solely on Jesus’ teaching found in the four gospels and the book of Revelation’s seven letters to seven churches. And that is not being done!
A Few Final Words:
According to Jesus, which is what this website is all about; the discipleship process is of no spiritual value if all that is taught are church doctrines, so-called Christian creeds, or the traditions of men. Jesus instructed His early church leaders and all those who would follow in their footsteps, to teach new disciples to observe or to follow all things that Jesus commanded or taught while He was alive on earth.
And let us be honest, all things Jesus commanded or taught are not in return being taught within most churches. A lot of other things may be being taught, but the words and commands of Jesus have not been a high priority of the so-called church. Why do we think that has been the case? Why are we willing to teach so much of the bible and yet so little of the teachings and commands of Jesus Christ, the Word of God come in the flesh?
Jesus did not instruct us to teach new disciples doctrinal beliefs of various denominations. So why do most churches focus on this and attempt to indoctrinate what they call their people in the beliefs of their own denomination or theology of their group? Jesus did not instruct us to teach new disciples various church traditions. So why do most churches focus on things that Jesus did not instruct us to focus on?
Also, according to Jesus, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” In other words, true born-again believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God will sense the presence of Jesus even to the end of their lives or to the end of the age. And so I must ask the question, have we been taught to observe all things Jesus has commanded in the gospels and in the seven letters to seven churches found in the 2nd, and 3rd chapter of the book of Revelation?
If not, we must therefore study to show ourselves approved unto God, to show ourselves fellow brethren not ashamed of the gospel of Christ and by Christ, and rightly understanding and therefore, rightly communicating the truth of Scripture and the words and commands of Jesus. And once we have been taught to observe all things that Jesus commanded, then we are responsible to make disciples and to continue the process of teaching others to also observe all things Jesus has commanded.
In Closing:
And in order to be of help to you and to others in the discipleship process, we encourage you to pass on this website; AccordingtoJesus.net, to your friends, family, and acquaintances. And in doing so, you will be taking part in the discipleship process that Jesus put into motion. For according to Jesus, “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, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
This concludes Volume 4 of the “Gospel According To Matthew”.
Please see the approx. seven years of teaching pertaining to the life lessons of Jesus in our “Lessons Of A Lifetime” section of this website as well as many other books and or articles also pertaining to the truth of the Word of God.
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Matthew section of this website.
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