Matthew 28:1-20
Q.1. What were the Marys doing at the tomb? What signs occurred that heralded Christ’s resurrection? What messages did the angel give the women? – (Mt.28:1-7)
According to Matthew, the women had carefully watched where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had placed the body of Jesus in a garden tomb (Jn.19:38-41). They then returned home to prepare spices and perfumes which they took to the tomb to embalm His body (Mt.27:59-61 c.f. Mk.15:47-16:1; Lk.23:53-56). Amazingly, it was the guards who were witnesses to the miraculous events surrounding the empty tomb, not Christ’s followers. The large stone was rolled away, the seal was broken, and the soldiers were paralysed with fear. This happened, not to let Jesus out, but to let the first witnesses in – 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. 3 And his appearance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men (Mt.28:2-4). This was the second earthquake associated with Christ’s death and resurrection (c.f. Mt.27:51). The angels had two duties: (i) To communicate the truth of the resurrection to these faithful followers of Christ – 5 “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come see the place where He was lying (Mt.28:5-6). (ii) To direct the women to go immediately to Jesus’ disciples with the news – 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.”(Mt.28:7). None of the followers of Jesus recalled His promise that He would rise, because they just could not conceive of the possibility that anyone or anything could take His life away. NOTE: The slight variations in the details reported by the Gospel writers are consistent with what witnesses share and are accepted by commentators as proof that the record has not been corrupted by removing obvious differences.
Q.2. How did Jesus’ disciples respond to seeing Him the first time? What was His instruction to them? What happened at the mount in Galilee? – (Mt.28:8-10 & 16-17)
The women rushed to tell the disciples the good news (Mt.28:8). Then – Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him (Mt.28:9). However, the Gospel writers reveal that the whole experience was still rather unreal. The half-brothers of Jesus had been sceptical about the Messianic claims of Jesus (c.f. Jn.7:3-5). From the beginning, special provision was made for their inclusion – 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.” (Mt.28:10 c.f. Acts 15:13; 1 Cor.15:7). They then journeyed from Jerusalem to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had identified (Mt.28:16). The Gospels relate different details of the responses and reactions to meeting the risen Christ, exactly as we would expect. The disciples had intended to be true to Him but had utterly failed. His own brothers had to process their own unbelief. Matthew summed up – When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful (Mt.28:17 c.f. Mt.26:31-35).
Q.3. Why were the guards filled with fear? What did the Jewish authorities do with the news? How did they suppress the news of the empty tomb? – (Mt.28:2-4, 11-15)
Lightning and thunder can be frightening. Earthquakes certainly fill people with fear. The resurrection of Christ was accompanied by a combination of all – 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. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men (Mt.28:2-4). The guards soon – … reported to the priest all that had happened (Mt.28:11). How did the priests try to suppress the truth? With hush money, bribery, and corruption, they convinced the guards to claim that – His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep (Mt.28:13 c.f. Mt.28:12-15). This story was widely spread among the Jews, and still is to this day Mt.28:15).
Q.4. What are followers of Jesus commanded to do? What is to be our key focus? Why is His commission crucial? How can it be achieved? – (Mt.28:18-20)
These verses in Matthew are known as the Great Commission. They are fundamental and essential for the church to stay on target. The Great Commission is really the ‘Great Expectation’’. Jesus assumed that they would follow His instructions. He declared – 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 … There is one main verb i.e. MAKE DISCIPLES and three participles i.e. ‘Going’ = as you GO … MAKE DISCIPLES. ‘Baptizing’ = as you BAPTIZE … MAKE DISCIPLES. ‘Teaching’ = as you TEACH … MAKE DISCIPLES. The Commission ensures that the church remains Gospel-focused and Christ centred. Sadly, many churches have strayed from Christ’s emphasis, and use other aspects of His teaching as their motivation. This explains why, by the close of the first century, the risen Christ rebuked five out of seven of the representative churches in Revelation (Rev.chpts.2-3). The success of our mission only partly depends on us because it is energized by Christ Himself. He promised – All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth … and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Mt.28:18 & 20). The fact that Jesus said that He would be with us in every generation until the end of the age, proves that His commission is for each succeeding generation (Mt.28:20 c.f. Jn.17:20).