Good Morning Nation Disciplers! Today we wrap up Matthew with Chapter 28
The real Easter story - He is Risen. Early on the 3rd day an Angel of the Lord that looks like lightning appears and rolls back the stone! Looks like what? Lightening it says, with clothes as white as snow. When Moses wanted to see God, God had to stick his head in a rock Moses could only see Him from the back side as He passed by. The light of the Lord is more than we can bare in our humanness. Ever watch someone weld? Hopefully you didn't watch directly. The light is so bright it'll burn your eyes... maybe like lightning. Here, the guards trembled with fear and fell like dead men!
Some really important keys in this chapter to consider:
- Jesus is Risen - Conquering sin and death - representative of Gods acceptance of the payment made for our sins! Apart from the Resurrection we have no hope!
- Jesus didn't need the angel to roll the stone away so He could get out. He could have done it Himself, or walked right through. Later in Johns Gospel we read that Jesus appeared among them, when they were behind a locked door. The stone was rolled away to reveal the evidence - the grave clothes left behind, the tomb empty as prophesied.
- The tomb was sealed! Anything with the "seal" of Rome meant don't touch. Break the seal and you die.
- The religious leaders concoct a story where somehow the disciples come while the guards are sleeping, and roll back the huge, sealed stone all while not waking them. The stone likely would have followed a slightly sloped channel with an inset resting place at the base of the tomb. This was typical. What's that mean? It's way way more difficult to roll the stone up and away than in. And what about the guards - falling asleep on the job, especially one as important as this, could have meant their lives - wouldn't have happened. There is no recording of them being killed.
- The first two that Jesus appears to are women! The two Mary's. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Remember the feeding of the multitudes? They didn't count the women at that time. They only counted the heads of the household - men. Men were the teachers. If the Disciples were going to make up a story they wanted someone to believe - they wouldn't write it like that. Jesus makes a huge statement here!
Could go on. Within the record of the resurrection there are so many proofs, so many prophesies fulfilled that serve to bolster our faith. Jesus goes on to walk the earth once more, for 40 days during which He appears to hundreds! Their accounts are recorded. Their testimony's alone are enough to get them killed. People generally aren't willing to die for a lie.
What are we to do with all of this? It's the greatest news ever known! Share it with someone! You're not alone - He is with is! The Holy Spirit in us if we know Him. He provides the strength for us to witness! Acts 1:8
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Love You All
The real Easter story - He is Risen. Early on the 3rd day an Angel of the Lord that looks like lightning appears and rolls back the stone! Looks like what? Lightening it says, with clothes as white as snow. When Moses wanted to see God, God had to stick his head in a rock Moses could only see Him from the back side as He passed by. The light of the Lord is more than we can bare in our humanness. Ever watch someone weld? Hopefully you didn't watch directly. The light is so bright it'll burn your eyes... maybe like lightning. Here, the guards trembled with fear and fell like dead men!
Some really important keys in this chapter to consider:
- Jesus is Risen - Conquering sin and death - representative of Gods acceptance of the payment made for our sins! Apart from the Resurrection we have no hope!
- Jesus didn't need the angel to roll the stone away so He could get out. He could have done it Himself, or walked right through. Later in Johns Gospel we read that Jesus appeared among them, when they were behind a locked door. The stone was rolled away to reveal the evidence - the grave clothes left behind, the tomb empty as prophesied.
- The tomb was sealed! Anything with the "seal" of Rome meant don't touch. Break the seal and you die.
- The religious leaders concoct a story where somehow the disciples come while the guards are sleeping, and roll back the huge, sealed stone all while not waking them. The stone likely would have followed a slightly sloped channel with an inset resting place at the base of the tomb. This was typical. What's that mean? It's way way more difficult to roll the stone up and away than in. And what about the guards - falling asleep on the job, especially one as important as this, could have meant their lives - wouldn't have happened. There is no recording of them being killed.
- The first two that Jesus appears to are women! The two Mary's. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Remember the feeding of the multitudes? They didn't count the women at that time. They only counted the heads of the household - men. Men were the teachers. If the Disciples were going to make up a story they wanted someone to believe - they wouldn't write it like that. Jesus makes a huge statement here!
Could go on. Within the record of the resurrection there are so many proofs, so many prophesies fulfilled that serve to bolster our faith. Jesus goes on to walk the earth once more, for 40 days during which He appears to hundreds! Their accounts are recorded. Their testimony's alone are enough to get them killed. People generally aren't willing to die for a lie.
What are we to do with all of this? It's the greatest news ever known! Share it with someone! You're not alone - He is with is! The Holy Spirit in us if we know Him. He provides the strength for us to witness! Acts 1:8
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Love You All
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