Matthew 28
Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • December 5, In the year of our Lord Christ, 2018
- Matthew 28.1–4 | An Angel Opens the Tomb
1 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. 2 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. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
- Why did these two Marys go to the tomb?
- Why was there a great earthquake?
- Why did the angel roll back the stone?
- How would you describe the reaction of the Roman guards?
- Matthew 28.5–7 | An Angel Announces the Resurrection
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 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.”
- Compare the response of the guards with the women.
- What difference it makes when you are a friend of the Lord’s.
- Notice that the angel knew why they had gone to the tomb.
- Why did the angel refer to Jesus as having been crucified?
- They needed to know
- that heaven was behind the whole thing,
- that Jesus had actually died,
- so that He was truly raised from the dead.
- Then the angel referenced the resurrection and reminded them that Jesus had said that He would rise from the dead.
- The whole thing was planned by God.
- It was not an accident.
- It was not a surprise.
- Jesus had prophesied of it.
- Since His prophecy came to pass, and
- since He spoke truth and did not seek to draw people away from God,
- they could know that He was genuine,
- that He was the Son of God.
- The women would not have known what to do, but the angel gave them clear instructions.
- Compare the response of the guards with the women.
- Matthew 28.8–10 | The Women See Jesus
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
- How could they not run?
- Why did they have both fear and great joy?
- It is possible to have normally conflicting emotions simultaneously.
- See Proverbs 14.13
- What a delight it would have been to then see Jesus.
- They held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
- What would you have done?
- Just like the angel, Jesus told them not to be afraid.
- Think of everything going through the hearts and minds of those women.
- What might they fear?
- Why would Jesus meet with His brethren in Galilee rather than right there in Jerusalem?
- Matthew 28.11–15 | The Jewish Leaders Pay Off the Roman Guards
11 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. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
- What exactly did the guards report?
- If they reported the appearance of the angel, how could the guards or the chief priests not believe?
- If they reported on the resurrection, having seen Jesus walk out of the tomb, how could they not believe?
- Do you see any problem with what the guards were to report?
- If you were one of the guards, how could you keep silent about what really happened?
- Was the money worth it?
- How then was the resurrection explained away by the enemies of Jesus?
- What exactly did the guards report?
- Matthew 28.16–17 | The Apostles Worship Jesus, Some Doubt
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
- Notice that the apostles did what the women told them to do.
- What were the two reactions of the disciples?
- Why did some worship?
- Why did some doubt?
- Matthew 28.18–20 | Make Disciples
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 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.
- How much authority does Jesus have?
- Since He has all authority on the earth, He could command the disciples to go to all nations and make disciples, not just in the land of Israel.
- This fulfills: Gen 12.3; 22.18
- Are you a disciple before or after baptism?
- What does the grouping together of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit tell you about them?
- What does it mean to baptize in their name?
- Does it mean that there is only one person in the Godhead?
- Does it speak of their authority?