The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Comments for Study 34
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* Jesus had just left the temple where he pronounced woes against the religious leaders and cried for Jerusalem. A time line is as follows.
Friday -Jesus arrives in the Jerusalem area. (John 11:54-12:1)
Saturday (Sabbath) -a day of rest; no event recorded except Luke 21:37-38.
Sunday -Jesus' triumphal entry. (Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19)
Monday -Jesus curses the fig tree (Matt. 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14). Jesus clears out the Temple. (Matt 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18)
Tuesday -Jesus' authority questioned. (Matt. 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:18) Jesus teaches in the temple. (Matt. 21:28-22:46; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4) Jesus wept over Jerusalem's leader's unbelief and rejecting him as their King. (Matthew 23:1-39) Jesus anointed at Bethany. (Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 13:3-9; John 12:2-11)
Wednesday -another day of rest; no event recorded except Luke 21:37-38. The Jews plot to kill Jesus. (Matt. 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6)
Thursday (Hebrew month Abib the 13th day) -the Passover meal begins at twilight (see below note) when Jesus and the disciples celebrate the Last Supper. (Matt. 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-18) Jesus comforts the disciples (John 14:1-16:33) Jesus prays at Gethsemane. (Matt. 26:26-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46)
Friday (Hebrew month Abib, 14 day) -According Hebrew time Jesus is arrest and tried from night to daylight. (Matt. 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16) Jesus' crucifixion at 3:00pm, and death before sunset which is the end of the Hebrew day and Passover. (Matt. 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30) Jesus is buried at sunset. (Matt. 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42)
Saturday (Sabbath Abib 15, Seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread begins) Jesus' body is in the tomb. He appears in Sheol and accompanies the saints previously dead to heaven. (1 Peter 3:18-20)
Sunday (Abib 16; day of First Fruits Sheaf Wave) Jesus' morning resurrection and appearing to the women. (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18) Then he appeared to the two on the road. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35) Then to the ten apostles (no Thomas or Judas) in the evening. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)
Saturday (Sabbath) -Jesus appears to Thomas and the rest of the apostles. (John 20:26-31)
A week later -Jesus talks and eats with some disciples by the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-25)
Forty days since his resurrection -Jesus ascends to his Father from the Mount of Olives. (Matt. 28:15-20; Mark 18:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11)
* Note: The Passover is linked to the 14th days of the month not the day of the week. Passover starting on Thursday at twilight is a very rare event; usually it starts on a different day of the week. (Hebrew days start at sunset/twilight and go thru the night till the next day's sunset.) Falling on a Thursday that year made it possible for Jesus to fulfill the meaning behind the feasts associated with the Passover. His crucified was on Friday (still Passover), the Sabbath (Saturday) rest was the Feast of Unleavened Bread (always on the first Sabbath after Passover), and Sunday was the third day since his death, the day of the First Fruit Sheaf Wave, and the day that Jesus rose from the dead. All three feasts were thus fulfilled by Jesus.
I. Jesus Was Buried (27:57-66)
See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.
>1. Who was Joseph? (Lk. 23:50-51)
* Matthew 27:57 "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus."
* Luke 23:50-51 "Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God."
* John 19:38 "Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away."
* Mark 15:43 "Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body."
* "As evening approached" -The end of the day was at twilght, sunset, Friday. Jesus had to be buried before the Sabbath (Saturday) rest started. Jews would not bury on the Sabbath because they considered it work. Scripturally Jesus had be be in the tomb before this day ended so that he would be in the tomb for three days as predicted.
* Jesus had to die on Passover so that he could be in the gave on the Sabbath, and then rise on the Feast of the First Fruit Wave Sheaf, thus fulfilling all foreshadowing.
See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.
>How did he show his love for Jesus?
* Matthew 27:58 "Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him."
* Joseph gave Jesus a legal and upright burial.
* So many people saw his death. Pilate made sure he was dead. Later, unscrupulous people spread the rumer that he was not dead and/or his body was stolen from the grave.
>How did God use him?
* Matthew 27:59-60 "Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away."
* Isaiah 53:9-12 "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
* Jesus was buried according to the law.
* God prepared these people for this moment.
* They burying Jesus lends to the credibility of Jesus' death. If the disciples did it, they some would claim mischief.
* He was dead for sure. A dead body handles differently than a live one.
See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.
>Why might his actions have caused him political embarrassment and personal loss?
* Joseph was no longer secretive. He came out in the open and admitted to being a believer when he could have been killed for it.
* He boldly buried Jesus out in the open for all to see even though he was a leader of the Jews. He could have been excommunicated from the synagogues and his seat on the Jewish Council.
* Jesus' crucifixion changed him. He really believed Jesus was the Messiah.
* He took a new step of faith.
* He gave up his tomb.
* He was waiting for the coming kingdom, and even though the king dies he believed.
* John wrote that Nicodemus helped him. (John 19:38-41)
>Who else was watching? (61)
* Matthew 27:61 "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb."
* "Mary Magdelene" -Mary is Greek personal name equivalent to the Hebrew Miriam, meaning, rebellious, bitter". Magdala was an important agricultural, fishing, and trade center of ancient Galilee. Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:2 indicate that this Mary, from Magdala, was exorcised of some seven demons. In antiquity, demon possession was an indication of physical or spiritual illness; obviously, Mary Magdalene was quite ill before her encounter with Jesus. Mary eventually became part of an inner circle of supporters of Jesus. (Holman Bible Dictionary)
* "the other Mary" -Probably the one who poured perfume on Jesus in Bethany. () Mark wrote she was the mother of Joses, obviously one who became or was Mark's friend in Christ. (Mark 15:47) Luke says the women were from Galilee. (Luke 23:55)
* "were sitting there opposite the tomb" -They became witnesses of Jesus' burial. Their love for him was great.
* Jesus' disciples were not involved in and not present for Jesus' burial. Thus showing that his disciples did not steal the body.
>2. What were the chief priests and Pharisees afraid of?
* Matthew 27:62-64 "The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
* "the next day" -The Sabbath (Saturday) rest.
* "Preparation Day" -Preparation for the Sabbath. Since no work was allowed on the Sabbath the Jews had to prepare food to eat on the day before, Friday.
* "the last would be worse than the first" -The first, in their thinking was that he claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, seated at the right hand of the Lord Almighty. (26:64) The second that he had risen from the dead.
* The religious leaders heard Jesus say it and knew exactly what he had said. If they wanted proof that he was or was not true they would have camped out at the tomb.
* The religious leaders remembered the resurrection messages, but the women and the disciples did not, or at least they couldn't believe it.
>How did they make the tomb secure?
* Matthew 27:65-66 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard."
* "putting a seal on the stone" -The stone was large, no way for the two women to open it. Two adult men rolled it into a slot cut into the underlying rock to keep it in place. The seal was made by putting wax between the wall of rock that the tomb was cut out of and the stone in front of it. Then Pilate's signet ring was pressed into the wax, making it official and illegal to open.
>How does this set the stage for the resurrection?
* All this proves that Jesus was dead and buried.
* Jesus' enemies sealed and guarded the tomb.
II. Jesus Was Raised From the Dead (28:1-15)
>3. Who was Mary Magdalene? (Mk. 16:9; Lk. 27:56, Mt. 27:56; Mk.15:40)
* Matthew 28:1 "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb."
* Mark 16:9 "When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons."
* Luke 23:56 "Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment."
* Matthew 27:55-56 "Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons."
* Mark 15:40 "Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome."
* Mary Magdalene wasn't a family member, wasn't married to anyone (including Jesus as one recent book claims), nor that important of a disciple (compared to the twelve); yet she was the first resurrection witness.
>What might have been in her heart as she went to the tomb?
* She would have been sad and perhaps weeping; morning his death. Weeping make people sleepy and weak.
* She was going to pour out her sorrows.
* Joseph and Nicodemus did all that was needed to make the burial according to Jewish customs. Legally, they didn't need anything. Perhaps they remembered what Jesus had said in Bethany, "When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial." (Matthew 28:12)
* These women being the first to witness Jesus resurrection is important. Later, the Jewish leadership would start a rumor that the disciples stole the body. However, the disciples didn't go to the grave. Out of fear they locked themselves in a room in Jerusalem. They didn't even believe in his resurrection when she told them she saw the risen Jesus. The records found in the disciples would not be the records of men who were starting a new "congregations" in the mist of such overwhelming opposition.
* People will not die for a lie like this. The disciples and many others did. Not only that, but they lived a long suffering life for preaching Jesus' resurrection.
>4. What happened as the two women arrived?
* Matthew 28:2 "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it."
* "There was" -The sense is that this is saying "Now there had been". It is clear from the parallel accounts (Mark 16:2-6; Luke 24:1-7; John 20:11) that the events of verses 2-4 occurred before the women actually arrived at the tomb.
* "violent earthquake" -Only Matthew mentions this earthquake and the one at this death (Matthew 27:51, 54). Deep under Judea three faults (fissures) come together. The area occasionally has small earthquakes. People were use to them. They would know a large one when they felt it.
* "an angel of the Lord came down from heaven" -Heaven is above. Angels are God's servants.
* These are supernatural events.
>What does verse 2 show about the power of God? (Acts 2:23-24)
* Acts 2:23-24 "This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
* It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Jesus. God was his father. He remembered him. He gave him the authority to raise himself from the dead. Jesus is the only one in history that physically rose from the dead.
>What did the angel look like? (3)
* Matthew 28:3 "His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow."
* At Jesus' birth "an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around (the shepherds), and they were terrified." (Luke 2:9)
* Light is a sign of holiness and power that comes from being in the presence of God.
>What did he do?
* "rolled back the stone and sat on it" -Jesus did not roll back the stone. The angel rolled it back and then waited to talk to the women. He had a mission from God.
* "rolled back the stone" -Not to let Jesus out, but to let the women and the disciples in.
>How could these things comfort the sorrowful women?
* The supernatural events would show them that something from God was happening.
>What happened to the guards? (4)
* Matthew 28:4 "The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men."
* Roman soldiers were notorious for being cruel and brave.
>5. Look at verses 5 and 6. What did the angel say?
* Matthew 28:5-6 "The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
* "he is risen" -The word resurrection in Greek is "anastasis" meaning literally standing again." It is used forty times in the New Testament, and always refers most naturally to a bodily rising from the dead. (John 11:24; Acts 4:33, Rev. 20:5) There is certainly no warrant for taking it to mean something else. Jesus walked out of his tomb in the same body that was crucified. When he arrived in heaven, however, his body was changed, for he shined. This is the state of Jesus now. He is in a glorious resurrection body. This is the form that God and he chose him to be in. This is how the Bridegroom looks. This is the state of the King.
See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.
>How did the angel remind them of Jesus' promise?
* "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
* "he is not here" -Jesus had already left the tomb before the angel rolled back the stone.
>Why?
* "just as he said, "The angle reminded them his resurrection was foretold.
* The angel gave no new revelation. He just reminded them of what he had already said.
>How did he convince them of the truth of the resurrection?
* "Come and see the place where he lay" -The tomb was empty because Jesus left it.
* Jesus' resurrection was displayed
1) supernaturally
2) angels appearance
3) the reality of the empty tomb, though sealed and guarded
4) Jesus had promised his resurrection in many ways and at many times to many people
5) the Scriptures foretell in many places that the Messiah would rise from the dead.
>What difference does it make to believe?
* Hebrews 2:14-15 states, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Jesus' physical resurrection frees us from fearing death for we know that those who believe in Jesus can and will be raised from the dead. Thus, the risen Jesus gives his bride hope for the future.
* Jesus resurrection gives hope in life after death, life eternal. If we believe in his resurrection we believe he will raise us from the death. Resurrection faith is faith in everything about Jesus and in the Bible. Jesus' resurrection is in every gospel message in Acts. Every letter mentions his resurrection. Jesus' crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection is the gospel message. Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead?
* Jesus will come again to his world physically as the concurring king, the hope of true believers everywhere. At that time he will give his loved ones new physical and glorious resurrection bodies, the second step of Jesus' restoration work. When he comes again he will end the evil form of Babylonian type rule practiced by almost all nations today and begin his physical reign and government, the Kingdom of God on earth. This age will end and a new age will begin.
* Three days after his crucifixion Jesus rose from the dead. His body was not glorious and white like Daniel the prophet and John the apostle saw in his old age while writing the book of Revelation. When Jesus first rose he was in the same physical body that he had been since the Holy Spirit came on Mary and he was conceived in her womb. (Luke 1:35) His tomb was empty for the body he was crucified in was the body with which he walked out of the tomb. (John 20:1-9) This he told and proved to his disciples several times before he ascended to heaven. Jesus had the power to raise people from the dead in this way, including himself.
During his three and a half years ministry Jesus gave proof of his power over death by bringing back to physical life people who had physically died. A synagogue ruler named Jairus had a twelve year old daughter who Jesus brought back to life. (Mark 5:21-43) Jesus commanded Lazarus, a man who had been dead and buried for four days, to come back to life (John 11) Jesus told Lazarus sister just before he raised him from the dead, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26) He said the same in John 5:19-30.
Jesus bride will die a physical death and will arise a physical resurrection because Jesus, the resurrected King, is the power of his bride's resurrection. Isaiah 26:19-21 states, "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the bloodshed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer."
How do we know that Jesus is the power of resurrection? Three days after Jesus was crucified he rose from the dead. When he left the tomb, "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." (Matt. 27:52-53) Jesus' resurrection was so potent that other dead people also came out of the grave (Hades) to display his power.
Even the Old Testament has examples of dead bodies coming back to life by the power of God through his prophets. Ezekiel 37:1-14 records a field of dried bones receiving flesh and coming back to life. Through the prophet Elijah a woman received her son back from the dead. (1 Kings 17:17-24) All Israel knew that God could bring the dead back to life, though some did not believe what they read and heard. For the Jew (especially the Pharisees), Jesus bringing back to life those who where dead was quite possible. (Acts 4:2, 23:6-8, 24:21)
>6. Look at verse 7. What mission did he give the women?
* Matthew 28:7 "Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
* "go quickly" -He wanted them to run.
* "now I have told you" -This was the only mission of the angel.
>Why is it important to share the news of the resurrection?
* Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
* God wants his people to be a witness not only in action but in words.
>What promise did he send to the disciples?
* "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him."
* Jesus wanted the disciples to leave right way. They did not. So Jesus had to visit them in Jerusalem. Matthew does not record this.
>Why is it important that the disciples meet the risen Jesus face to face?
* Resurrection has to be accepted personally.
>How can we meet him?
* John 14:20-21 "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
* John 20:29 "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
* John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me"
* Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."
* 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
* 2 Corinthians 5:5 "Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
* Matthew 21:22 states, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." And John 16:24 agrees, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."
>7. How did the women respond? (8)
* Matthew 28:8 "So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples."
* "the women hurried... ran" -They obeyed the angel.
* "afraid yet filled with joy" -Jesus' resurrection stirs up many emotions. Have you ever heard Carmen's song of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. If you do you will be stirred with many emotions.
>How had they changed?
* They began to understand and believe what the angel had told them.
* A couple years ago many things happened that lead me to ask, "Why remain in this world after believing the message?" I knew a lot and could recite a lot from memory. Yet, I needed a personal visit from Jesus to remind me of the resurrection message and the future rewards of preaching it. This lead to the manuscript The Believer's Future - Hope That Inspires.
>As they ran, what happened?
* Matthew 28:9a "Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said."
* Jesus interacted with his disciples after he rose from the dead. Just after Jesus rose from the dead Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw his empty tomb and ran from it out of excitement and/or confusion. When they were running, suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him." (Matt. 28:9-10) Jesus told her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and our Father, to my God and your God." (John 21:1) "Tell them to meet me in Galilee." (Matt. 28:10)
* Jesus, through these words in 1 Corinthians 15 makes it clear that we will bear his image in a glorious spiritual/physical body. Our physical bodies do not bear his image now, though our spirit has been born again. (John 3:5-8) There is a great future coming for a true believer for if our bodies are just seeds now, how much greater will our bodies be when we are raised from the dead.
Does this mean that our new bodies will be physical in essence? Yes, for Jesus' body is physical in essence? Does this mean that our new body will be spiritual in essence? Yes, for Jesus body is spiritual in essence? Does this mean our new bodies will be better than our bodies are now? Yes, in ways that we can imagine and can't imagine. Does this mean that God will restore our bodies to that of Adam and Eve? Our new resurrected bodies will be better than Adam and Eve's bodies. Does this mean our body will radiate? Yes, for Jesus radiates with the Glory of God as pointed out in the verses already quoted. This does not mean that we will be like angels who have been made flames of fire. (Heb. 1:8) We will be and are the King's bride.
* Jesus gave his disciples glimpses of his and his bride's future. Mark 9:1 states, "And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power." Matthew 16:27-28 adds more, "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Six days after Jesus said this he took three of his disciples up a mountain where his body was transformed into a glorious body. "His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus." (Mark 9:3) Matthew 17:2 adds, "His face shone like the sun." Then the Father told the three apostles that Jesus is his son. (Mark 9:7, Matt. 17:5) This is our first glimpse of the glorious future of Jesus and the glorious future of his bride and future queen (not the same as Babylon's claim to be the queen of heaven). This is the first glimpse of a resurrection body, for Jesus is the first to have one. That is why he is called the first born. (Rom. 8:29, Col. 1:15-18, Heb. 1:6, 11:29, 12:23, Rev. 1:5) Like him, Jesus bride will have a resurrected body. Jesus' bride is not now as we will be for we will be changed. (1 Cor. 15:52)
The apostle John in the late years of his life saw Jesus in his resurrected body. In Revelation 19:11-16 he recorded, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God (a term John used at the beginning of his gospel to refer to Jesus)." Then John saw Jesus' bride. He saw that the armies of heaven were following (Jesus), riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean." Speaking again of Jesus, the King, John continued, "Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, "He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelations 1:12-16 is another place where John saw Jesus glorious resurrection body.
Jesus as he was on the mountain and on the white horse was not the same as he was when he first rose from the dead. When Jesus rose from the dead he was in his physical body which had not yet been transformed into his glorious resurrection body.
Peter later wrote, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." (2 Peter 1:16-18)
>What did they do?
* Matthew 28:9b "They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him."
* Have you worshiped Jesus with such passion?
>What did Jesus tell them?
* Matthew 28:10 "Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
* "Do not be afraid" -Often repeated by Jesus.
* Jesus repeated the command he told the angel to tell them.
>8. In the meantime, what had happened when the guards reported to the religious leaders?
* Matthew 28:11-15 "While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day."
* Temporarily the guards were in real trouble because Pilate had put his signet seal on the tomb. Anyone who broke the seal was punishable by death. The guards would share in the punishment.
* The guards saw the angel and the miracle and later they did not believe. Seeing isn't always believing. Faith comes from God alone.
>What does this show about them?
* The Jewish leadership were cold hearted lairs and unbelievers. They did anything to stop God's good news including lying. The Bible says that Satan is the father of all lies. (John 8:44)
* Jesus' resurrection is good news to some, and bad news to others.
>How do their actions contribute proof to the truth of the resurrection?
* They made a way for it not to be faked.
* Later, some of the guards there must have told what happened, or perhaps one of those who bribed them.
III. The Great Commission (16-20)
>9. What was the situation of the eleven disciples?
* Matthew 28:16 "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go."
* Matthew does not record all the events that happened in Jerusalem. Luke, Mark, and John do.
>Why?
* Jesus wanted to meet with the disciples personally, one-to-one so that he could strengthen them.
>What did they do? (17)
* Matthew 28:17 "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.'
* Paul speaks of over five hundred seeing Jesus at one time. (1 Cor. 15:6) Among them some apparently doubted. Matthew did not mention Thomas' doubt either.
>What did Jesus tell them? (18)
* Matthew 28:18 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
* "all authority" -no exceptions.
>What should this mean to them?
* No matter what happens Jesus is in full control.
* We need to trust him and obey.
>10. What is the commission he gave them?
* Matthew 28:19-20a "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
* We to are apart of this commission. Jesus taught many times in his parables the need for us to share the gospel. The apostle's letters also tell us to share the gospel. This is our great commission.
* Sharing the disciples is active faith, the kind of faith the father looks for.
* "of all nations" -No exceptions. We are to cross any barrier; including cultural, racial, social, gender, political, age, etc.
>What does it mean to make disciples?
* A disciple is a person who follows the teaching and life of their teacher. Jesus is our teacher.
* We are to help people follow Jesus, just as John the Baptist and the apostles did.
* God himself plants faith and makes people grow in faith as Jesus' parable of seeds explains.
* 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 states, "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."
* Making disciples is not just share the gospel, but help people grow in personal active faith and obedience.
>To be baptized?
* Jesus is saying spiritual and physical baptism.
* Baptism is emerged so that we are all soaked and saturated in all aspects; heart, mind, soul, and strength.
>To teach obedience to Jesus? (19-20a)
* Matthew 28:19-20a "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
* Practically we need to do. By faith we are saved; action is a proof of faith.
* "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" -The trinity proclaimed. When we do these things it is as he is doing it. We are only messengers of the reality.
>What promise did he give them?
* Matthew 28:20b "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
>Why is this important? (Rom. 8:31)
* Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
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