Matthew, Chapter 28  

Matt. 28:1-10

Matt. 28:1 "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which 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, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."

There are several points that we can gather from what is said above:

1. The Sabbath was ended. The Jewish day was from sundown to sundown. The Sabbath ended at sundown on Saturday. Immediately after sundown on Saturday in the Jewish calendar was the first day of the week.
2. The women, Mary Magdalene and that other Mary, came to the sepulcher right at sunrise on the first day of the week. Jesus was already risen. This dispels the myth that Jesus rose at sunrise on Sunday morning.
3. God opened the grave to show us that Jesus was risen. The earthquake and the angel did not open the grave in order that Jesus might depart, but rather the grave was opened so that we may see that Jesus had already arisen and departed the grave.
4. The appearance of this angel was so terrible that the soldiers who guarded the tomb was frightened into a state of shock such as they became as dead men (they were not dead but appeared as though they were).
5. The angel reminded the women that Jesus had said that he would arise from the grave, and that this was the fulfillment of that promise.
6. The women were commanded to go tell the disciples that he was risen and that they were to go into Galilee and Jesus would meet with them there.
7. As the women were going to tell the disciples, Jesus appeared unto them and they came and worshipped Jesus. Jesus also told them to tell the disciples to go into Galilee where he would meet with them.

There is much more that is given to us in the other gospels.
 

Matt. 28:11-15

Matt. 28:11 "Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day."
The chief priests and the elders and Pharisees had asked Pilate to provide a watch over the tomb of Jesus because they were fearful that the disciples would come and steal the body of Jesus from the tomb and say that he had risen from the dead. Pilate had given them the watch they requested.

Because that God was in control, the watch of soldiers were powerless to prevent the resurrection of Jesus or to prevent the opening of the sepulcher. The fact that Jesus was missing and a watch of Roman soldiers were present exposed the subsequent cover up conspiracy of the chief priests and elders. Though they paid large sums of money to the soldiers to say that the disciples came by night and stole away the body of Jesus, yet there testimony defies common sense.

A Roman soldier who allowed a prisoner to escape was under the penalty of death. A watch of Roman soldiers was far more powerful and skillful than the disciples. For a Roman soldier to sleep on guard duty was also punishable by death.

While one soldier might conceivably fall asleep, for a whole watch of Roman soldiers to fall asleep is very implausible. The coverup conspiracy took care of the Roman soldiers by paying them large sums of money and assuring them that if word came to the governor, the chief priests would persuade him and secure the soldiers safety.

Matt. 28:16-20

Matt. 28:16 "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

When Jesus stood before the disciples after his resurrection, he not only stood before them as their redeemer, but he stood before them as their reigning King and High Priest. As such he gave them commandment: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

We make the following conclusions about the commandment that the Lord gave unto the eleven:

1. It was given to the apostles. They were to carry out the commandment. While it was not given to us, yet it set a pattern for us, that we in the ministry are to go as we are directed of the Holy Spirit.
2. Theirs and our going, is by the power or authority of God that was given to Jesus Christ. There can be no higher authority than that.
3. The order of their actions was to teach, baptize, and to teach the whole counsel of God. Thus, they were to preach the gospel telling the people to press into the kingdom of God, then as the people responded, they were to baptize them, and then they were to continue teaching them so as they would grow in discipleship.
4. They were to baptize the people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. While in Acts, Peter said to the people to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, his statement does not contradict what is said here. When a person is baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, he is also baptized in the name or authority of Jesus Christ who told us to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. To be baptized "in the name of" means to be baptized "in the authority of."

The authority of Jesus Christ is also the authority of the Father and of the Holy Ghost.
 

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