Matthew - Week 91

Risen from the Dead 

READ 

Matthew 28:1-6 

1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.” 

There was another earthquake and then the appearance of an angel who rolled away the stone from the tomb. The soldiers, who were charged to guard the tomb, fell like dead men. The angel made the great announcement to the women, “He is risen from the dead.” The angel invited the women to inspect where the body of Jesus had been.  

REFLECT 

Think of this world-shaking news, Jesus had risen from the dead. His resurrection proved all He had said was true. He is the only founder of a religion whose grave is empty.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about how startling this news must have been to the followers of Jesus. He had talked about this before, but now His resurrection from the dead was a reality. Would they believe it or not? Up until this time, even His half-brothers did not believe in Him (see John 7:3-5). These half-brothers included James, who became a pillar of the church and wrote a book by his name. They also included Jude, who also wrote a letter in the Bible.  

The Resurrected Christ 

READ 

Matthew 28:7-10 

7 “And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” 

The angel told the women to go tell Jesus’ disciples. The women were both scared and joyful. Jesus, in His glorified body, met them on their way. They fell at His feet and worshiped Him. Jesus told them not to be afraid and to tell His disciples He would meet them in Galilee. This was the home territory of the 11 disciples. Jesus promised they would see him there. 

REFLECT 

Think of the joy of the women to actually see Jesus face to face. What would it have been like for you had you been one of them? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about what you can say as you witness to others. You can say you have complete peace about meeting Jesus face to face because you have believed in Him as Savior. Tell the one to whom you are witnessing you hope it will be the same for him or her. Some want to think about it. Warn them that serious accidents and storms sometimes do not give much, if any, warning. They may not have time to think about it later. 

Spreading Stories 

READ 

Matthew 28:11-15 

11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. 

The guards decided they had to admit the tomb was empty and the body of Jesus was gone. Usually the penalty for a prisoner escaping was death for the guard, but an excuse was now contrived. The soldiers were bribed to say the disciples stole the body away while they were sleeping. That story was reported widely at the time Matthew was writing his Gospel. Many flimsy excuses are also suggested today, but no one denies the tomb is really empty.  

REFLECT 

What are some of the excuses you have heard by those who want to explain away the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ? 

RESPOND 

Join with someone in reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-9 that presents the message of the Gospel, which means “good news.” At the time the apostle Paul wrote this about A.D. 55, the reader could have gone to some of the 500 witnesses still living and ask them about it. If one does not believe in the resurrection of Jesus, that person is not a reliable one to communicate beliefs to others, even if he or she is behind a pulpit. See Galatians 1:8-9 to see Paul’s condemnation of anyone who would preach a different gospel than what he presented. 

In Galilee 

READ 

Matthew 28:16-17 

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 

The actual mountain in Galilee is unknown. Jesus met them there and when they saw Him they worshiped Him. The sad news is that “some of them doubted.” The doubts of the 11 had already been resolved so apparently many others were present when Jesus appeared to the 11. 

REFLECT 

Do you have doubts about Jesus and that He loved you so much He died for your sins and was resurrected from the dead? You can believe the Bible because it is the only book God has inspired to be written. 

RESPOND 

Read Psalm 94:18-19 to see what the psalmist said when he was having doubts. Encourage believers who have doubts to trust the Bible, which is God’s only written word. Questions may arise, but God has given what is needed to be known, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21. 

The Great Commission 

READ 

Matthew 28:18-20 

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

This passage is commonly known as “The Great Commission.” The main verb in verse 19 is translated “make disciples.” The word “disciple” is based on a word that means “I learn” so a disciple is a learner—usually a believer but not always. The following commands in verses 19 and 20 are to take place at the same time as the discipling so the emphasis is “while baptizing” and “while teaching” them. Notice the baptizing of believers is done in the “name” (singular) of the three persons of the Trinity. God is one, existing in three persons. Jesus promises to always be with us to the end of the age.  

REFLECT 

What are you doing to take the Gospel to others? Are you making it known to people near and far? 

RESPOND 

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave instructions about what believers were to do. See Acts 1:8 for these instructions to take the Gospel to those near and far. Talk with a fellow attender at your church and ask if this is being done by your group.