FOCAL TEXT Matthew 28 BACKGROUND Matthew 28 Easter Lesson Go and Tell MAIN IDEA Jesus defeated death and instructed his followers to make disciples of all nations. QUESTION TO EXPLORE How am I making disciples of all nations? STUDY AIM To commit to making disciples of all nations BIBLE STUDY GUIDE QUICK READ Jesus rose on Easter morning, conquering sin and death. He commissioned his disciples to go into all the nations to gather and grow more followers until he returns. 155
156 EASTER LESSON: GO AND TELL Introduction In 1989, I first experienced the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. I remember trying to fit all the attractions and experiences into the day amidst the August heat. I was worn out and ready to leave. The time chart listed fireworks at day s end. I figured I had seen more than my share of fireworks in my life and this would be humdrum, so I left early. In 2010, I returned to the Magic Kingdom with my family, including two preteens. We stayed for the fireworks show that centered on Cinderella s castle. I sighed with reservation because the children were exhausted after a long day in the park. To my surprise, the display was phenomenal. I had never seen anything like what I witnessed that night. The show used a variety of media forms and special effects and far exceeded my expectations. I now tell everyone who visits the Magic Kingdom to stay for the fireworks. Today s text tells of women who were taken by total surprise as they arrive at a tomb after a tiring experience. This event was not a matter of entertainment. Instead, it was life-changing and history-altering. The women headed to a gravesite, anticipating the hard realities of death. However, what they discovered remade their world and resonated throughout history the resurrection of Jesus! The women reported what they witnessed. Everyone who believes what the women saw, in turn, has the responsibility to share the good news the resurrection of Jesus makes all things new. 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. 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly
Easter Lesson: Go and Tell 157 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. 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me. 11 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. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, You are to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. 15 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. 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Women at an Empty Tomb (28:1 10) A Sunday morning began early with two women traveling to the tomb of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (28:1). The same women had witnessed Jesus crucifixion and burial (27:55 56, 61). Consistent with Jewish burial practices, the women came to assist the family with finalizing the preparation of the body for burial. The Jordan Rift Valley is part of a large fault zone which stretches from the Gulf of Aqaba to the foot of the Taurus range, leaving the area prone to earthquakes (28:2). However, the earthquake mentioned in Matthew 28
158 EASTER LESSON: GO AND TELL was divine intervention. Matthew recorded that an earthquake caused the tomb to open, along with the appearance of a celestial being an angel who triumphantly sat on the stone to indicate a work of completion. God was in control. The presence of the angel of the Lord in the narrative brought the gospel story full circle. An angel of the Lord first appeared to Joseph at the beginning of the gospel story and returned to celebrate the triumph (Matt. 1:20; 2:13, 19; 28:2). Burial tombs were sealed in several ways. Most probably, a cylindrical stone, which was moved by rolling it up a trough, closed the tomb of Jesus. However, when the women arrived, the stone was rolled into an open position. An angel with a brilliant appearance and white clothing sat on the stone (28:3). The guards were terrified and appeared like the dead (28:4). The angel told the women Do not be afraid because, clearly, they were seeking Jesus who was crucified (28:5). The recollection of the crucifixion verified the reality of Jesus death. The words Come and see solidified the location of Jesus tomb (28:6). These women were the first individuals commanded to speak of the resurrection of Jesus. They received the precursor of the Great Commission as the first witnesses of the resurrected Jesus (28:7, 10). In a world in which women were regarded as unreliable witnesses in court (since female testimonies were not legally binding), the credibility of the story is reinforced since no fabricated tale would have incorporated women. The women were to tell Jesus male disciples that Jesus was alive and had gone ahead to Galilee (28:7). As commanded by the angel, the women obeyed in haste and were running to tell the disciples (28:8) when they encountered Jesus, who greeted them with a standard salutation of that era (28:9). Jesus did not appear to unbelievers, such as the guards, but waited to meet the women on the road. They believed the message of the empty tomb and the command of God s messenger. The women s immediate response upon standing face-to-face with the risen Jesus was one of instant recognition, humble submission, and worship (28:9). Jesus referred to his male disciples as brothers, indicating that he was ever loyal to them. He was unfazed that they had deserted him at his crucifixion (28:10; 26:56).
Easter Lesson: Go and Tell 159 Resurrection Facts Resurrection-thinking was not part of the disciples expectations. Jesus close disciples were Jewish men. The Hebrew Scriptures and mindset rarely mentioned resurrection. Jewish people did anticipate a resurrection at the end of the age when human history would wrap up, but not a resurrection from the dead never to die again. And yet, the disciples attested to the resurrection of Jesus. Female witnesses were deemed unreliable. They were not considered reliable witnesses in court, and their testimonies were not legally binding. If people wished to fabricate a resurrection story in the first-century Mediterranean context, the narrative would include male witnesses only or at least place them first on the scene. The disciples lives following Easter are testimonies to the resurrection of Christ. Whereas most of them had fled the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, they lived the remainder of their lives as evidence of the empty tomb. Many of them lived lives no one would dare to embrace for a fabricated story and died as martyrs. The Cover Up Story (28:11 15) While one set of witnesses (the women), traveled to the male disciples to share the message of the living Messiah, other witnesses of the resurrection (the guards), headed into the city and told the chief priests what had happened (28:11). Guards faced severe consequences for falling asleep on the job. However, these were military personnel assigned by Pilate to the temple authorities for security. Therefore, they reported to them rather than to Pilate (26:48; 27:65). Consequently, a crisis arose among the priests and elders because they could not punish Roman soldiers. The priests and elders called a meeting to devise a solution (28:12). As they had done with Judas, they offered a
160 EASTER LESSON: GO AND TELL bribe (26:14 15; 28:12). The religious rulers agreed on a typical, concocted story for the guards to tell. In exchange, they protected the guards from Roman forms of punishment for claiming to have fallen asleep while on duty (28:13 14). The deal was made and the false story remained during the time Matthew wrote his Gospel. The concocted story seemed plausible to all involved since grave robbing was a widespread problem. However, the religious leaders underestimated the power of the gospel. The Great Commission (28:16 20) Though the text is brief, the women reached the disciples with the significant message of the resurrected Christ as evidenced by the presence of the eleven in Galilee (28:16). The narrative skips ahead several weeks (Acts 1:3 9). Jesus had given more detailed instructions than recorded in the Easter story; not only did the disciples go to Galilee, they traveled to a specific mountain (Matt. 28:16). Throughout Jesus public ministry, mountains often were sites for teaching not only believers (4:8; 5:1; 4:23; 15:29; 17:1; 24:3; 26:30), but Gentiles as well. The region where the Great Commission Make Disciples Here are some keys to making disciples. Focus on relationships Lead by example Equip others to lead Learn to tell your story Obey the Scriptures Practice humility Study and appreciate other cultures Use teachable moments Pray for others Listen more than speak Watch for where God is at work Focus on the life and ministry of Jesus
Easter Lesson: Go and Tell 161 was given is known as Galilee of the Gentiles. Jesus was about to send the disciples out among the non-jews, the Gentiles (28:19). The disciples went to the mountain Jesus specified and saw him there (28:17). Note that the text indicates that all saw and worshiped him but some doubted (28:17). This means that all those present recognized Jesus. The Greek verb edistasan, translated doubted, is best understood as being of two minds or ambivalent. The disciples traveled for several days from Jerusalem to Galilee, based on the testimony of the women. Along the way, some disciples may have wavered in their belief. Why had Jesus not first appeared to them? Why meet in Galilee? When they saw Jesus on the mountain they had to reconcile their ambivalence: Is he an apparition or the risen Messiah? Jesus assured the disciples that all authority rested with him (28:18). They recognized him as the one who spoke with authority (7:29; 9:6; 10:1). Jesus then commissioned the disciples as he had the women previously (28:7, 19 20). Jesus commanded the disciples with divine sovereignty authority over the heavenly realm and the earthly realm (28:18). Because of this sovereignty, the disciples were ordered to go and gather more followers of all nations (28:19). The grammar of the word translated go denotes action inseparable from making disciples. If someone believes Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning, then Jesus indeed possesses the divine authority by which he sends out his followers to make disciples of all nations. Note that making disciples involves core actions: baptizing and teaching. Baptism was a rite of entrance into the early Christian communities, a symbolic purification rite that stated that one indeed was a Jesus-follower. Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, was a public declaration of being a follower of Jesus. Teaching Jesus lifestyle and following those principles were central to kingdom living. Typically, education under an esteemed rabbi was reserved for privileged men only. However, Jesus commanded that every believer receive and provide teaching Jews and Gentiles, women and men, rich and poor. Jesus finished his commissioning with the promise of his presence (28:20). He is God with Us (1:23). Jesus promised to be spiritually present with his followers until his return. In the Old Testament, God resided with Israel but the Jews believed he was restricted from going beyond Israel,
162 EASTER LESSON: GO AND TELL and abided mostly in a tabernacle or temple. Now Jesus is with his people through his Spirit and his church around the world. Those who overcome ambivalence and recognize Jesus for who he is because of his authority (28:17 18) are those who are commissioned by Jesus (28:18 20), both then and now. Implications and Actions The resurrection led to several commissions. The angel of the Lord commissioned the women at the tomb to tell the disciples of Jesus resurrection (28:1 7). Jesus commissioned the women to go and tell his brothers to go to Galilee (28:10). The chief priests commissioned the guards to fabricate a story to explain the loss of Jesus body (28:11 15). And Jesus commissioned the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (28:18 20). Each one of the commissions had their targets and long-term outcomes. Today, the commission continues. The first Easter morning challenges us to examine the resurrection story for ourselves, just as the two women did. However, like the guards at the tomb, we can reject the story by attempting to discredit it or we can embrace the story of the living Christ and devote our lives to sharing the Good News with people of all nations. Every day, people choose to focus their lives on the reality of the resurrection, or on a fabricated alternative. A life focused on love and fulfilling the Great Commission is a life of purpose. This Easter, what commission will you fulfill?
Easter Lesson: Go and Tell 163 Questions 1. If you could place yourself back in time on the morning when the women approached the empty tomb, what details of the story would stand out most to you and why? 2. If you could interview one character from that Resurrection Sunday story, apart from Jesus, whom would you choose and why? What questions would you ask?
164 EASTER LESSON: GO AND TELL 3. In what practical way(s) do you go about making disciples? 4. In what way(s) does Jesus resurrection make a practical difference in your daily life?