The King Rises

Matthew 28:1-20
 

Good Morning!  He is risen!  Indeed, He is risen!
 
Every day in Christ is a good day, but during Easter time the days seem a bit brighter, a bit sweeter, hope seems stronger.  Not only are we are reminded that Jesus has overcome death, we celebrate His resurrection.  The King has risen.
 
You know these events well.  Leading up to Matthew 28, Jesus has lived a life set apart to God.  He has walked in sinless perfection.  He resisted temptation and did not submit to Satan’s trickery.  He had a public ministry lasting just three years.  During that time, many came to Him for a wide range of reasons.  Jesus performed many signs and wonders far beyond what anyone else had done in the Old Testament.  Many followed Him, but many did not stay with Him during his earthly ministry.
 
We see a microcosm of that even within the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.
 
At just the right time, Jesus came to Jerusalem and the crowds joined together again crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  Matthew 21:9
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9, John 12:13
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:10
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”  Mark 11:10
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Luke 19:38
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13
 
Not even a week later, Jesus is arrested and abandoned by his disciples.  He is unjustly condemned, struck, spat upon, scourged with whips, mocked, forced to wear a crown of thorns, and ultimately crucified.  Only one of the twelve disciples was clearly at the cross.  The ones who did not abandon Him were the women:  Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary’s sister, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Mary the wife of Clopas, Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, and many others.
 
Jesus gives up his spirit and dies upon the cross.  Ever looking at appearances, the Jewish leaders ask that those crucified have their legs broken so that they would die sooner, before Passover.  Even though the soldiers saw that Jesus died, they pierce His side with a spear to be sure.  Yes, it is certain, Jesus is dead.
 
Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate and asks for the body.  Pilate agrees, and with his permission, Joseph comes and takes the body of Jesus away from the cross.  It seems to magnify the tragedy that Joseph is joined by Nicodemus.  Nicodemus brings nearly one hundred pounds of burial spices and perfumes, likely those perfumes and spices meant for his own burial.  Joseph seemingly gives up his own newly prepared tomb for Jesus.  I say that it magnifies the tragedy because it is especially heartbreaking when the old bury the young.  It ought not be, and yet here these old men from the Jewish council are burying Jesus, a man of 33 years, in the prime of life.
 
Matthew 27 concludes with the posting of a guard at the tomb on the Sabbath day, the day following Jesus’ death.  The disciples did not anticipate that Jesus would rise from the dead in spite of the fact that Jesus explicitly told the disciples that he would rise.  He had told them so on multiple occasions.  The chief priests and Pharisees did understand that Jesus had proclaimed his coming resurrection.  Unfortunately, their response to Jesus’ message was not belief, but rather to seek to prevent a conspiracy.
 
Let us rejoice that no guard could prevent Jesus rising. 
 
Let’s pray before we go into today’s passage in Matthew 28.

Lord Jesus, we rejoice in your resurrection, once for all proving that You are the King of Kings, Lord overall, Jew and Gentile, slave and free.  Anyone who calls on Your Name will be saved.  Speak to us on this Resurrection Day we pray in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.
 
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. – Matthew 28:1
 
I just wanted to pause here and reflect.  We all know what’s about to happen, but for the Mary’s, their hearts are still heavy.  They are likely scoping things out before they come with additional spices and perfumes to anoint Jesus’ body.  It is dawn.  Matthew doesn’t tell us to what vantage point they have come.  He doesn’t explain what they see.  In the faint morning light, have they come close enough to see the guard there.  Are they questioning what to do next in light of yet another obstacle?  Do they weep still for our Lord?
 
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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. – Matthew 28:2-4
 
There had been an earthquake when Jesus had died on the cross.  There is another earthquake now.  Something great has happened again.  An angel comes down in radiant glory.  The guards are terrified and incapacitated.
 
Did the angel come to let Jesus out?  No, he rolled back the stone so that the women could see inside.
 
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly 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.” – Matthew 28:5-7
 
What the angel says to the women first is worth reflection.  Why should the women not be afraid of the angel?  The angel says do not be afraid because I know that you are looking for Jesus.  If you are looking for Jesus, seeking to find Him, to know Him, you do not need to be afraid.  God knows.  If you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him.  That is God’s promise to us.
 
The angel’s message is simple and wonderful, “He is risen, just as He said.  Come and see.  Then, go and tell.”  What are they to tell?  “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you.  There you will see Him.”  The message for us today is the same.  Our hope will not disappoint.  He has risen.  He has gone to prepare a place for us.  And, we will see Him there.
 
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” He said. They came to Him, clasped his feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.” – Matthew 28:8-10
 
The angel showed the women the empty tomb.  That was good news, but it could be questioned.  Where was Jesus?  Jesus does not leave them in suspense for long.  He appears to them still within the garden.  He would appear later to Peter, to other disciples, to the twelve, and ultimately to more than 500 at the same time.  (I Corinthians 15:5-8)  Many will see Him following the resurrection.
 
Jesus is truly risen, they cling to him bodily.  They touch Him.  They also worship Him.  He is truly God.  No one can bring themselves back from the dead.
 
Matthew offers us a telescoped account of the events of the resurrection.  From the other gospels, we know the details of other encounters and exchanges on this first Easter Sunday.  We will talk a little about Matthew’s focused approach in a minute.  For now, let us continue at verse 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. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 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. – Matthew 28:11-15
 
It’s interesting that only some of the guards went and reported to the chief priests.  They did report everything that happened.  The chief priests and elders have heard that there was an angel.  They have heard of the empty tomb.  Surely, now is the time.  This day is they day to hear the good news of the Savior.
 
Sadly no, the leaders harden their hearts.  They placed a guard expressly to prevent the body from being taken.  Now that Jesus is risen, they double down on their story and say that the guards fell asleep and the body was stolen   It is an absurd story because the guards very lives would be at risk for falling asleep on duty.  That was a punishable offense of the highest degree.
 
The governor, Pilate, did not have a fun job.  The chief priests and elders wielded so much power over the people that they had absolutely no fear that they could even subvert military discipline for their own wicked purposes.  It is no wonder Jesus had spoken multiple woes against their behavior in Matthew 23.
 
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 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 28:16-20
 
In the gospels of Luke and John, we have more details of the time in Jerusalem.  Matthew goes on ahead to an appearance Jesus made in Galilee.  This was an appointed place to gather.  Matthew does give voice to the doubts of some.  In particular, John tells of Thomas’ doubts that were ultimately resolved by touching Jesus and his wounds (John 20:24-29).
 
Jesus clarifies the true extent of the resurrection.  Jesus is not risen to a mortal life.  He has all authority both on heaven and earth given to Him by the Father.  With this declaration, Jesus gives His Great Commission to the disciples.  This mission is backed and validated by His authority.
 
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and, lo I am with you always even to the end of the age.”
 
We’ve talked of the Great Commission before.  The action words are to go and make.  As you go, make disciples.  How are disciples made?  They are to be baptized and taught to obey Jesus commands.  In this mission, Jesus accompanies His disciples.  He promises to be with us always.  That covers time, what about place?  Jesus during His earthly ministry only on a few select occasions ministered among non-Jews.  Now, the mission is to all.  Jesus is sending His disciples to all the nations.
 
Jesus is not sending His disciples to duplicate traditional Judaism.  The disciples are not sent to go and circumcise.  They are sent to baptize in the name of the one God in three persons Father, Son, and Spirit.
 
This draws us to the end of Matthew and the end of our series on this book.  It is quite a marvelous book.  When you step back and look over it all, many students of the Scriptures have noticed multiple patterns and modeling of structure that reveals an artist’s mind and hand, no doubt inspired and directed by the Spirit of God.
 
There are five discourses in Matthew each ending “when Jesus had finished saying these things or something similar.”  Each discourse is separated by narrative sections.  Let me go quickly over these.
 
Prologue (ch 1-2) – Genealogy, birth, the visit by the Magi, the sojourn in Egypt, return to Nazareth in Galilee
The Beginnings of Ministry (ch 3-4) – John the Baptist prepares the way, Jesus’ baptism, His temptation, preaching repentance, calling the first disciples, healing the sick
 
1.    Matthew 5-7 – The Sermon on the Mount … what is blessing, admonitions to righteous living, contrast between Jesus’ message and legalism
 
Ministry in Galilee (ch 8-9) – more healing, faith of a Gentile beyond anyone in Israel, answering those who wish to follow, calming the storm, calling more disciples, answering John’s disciples, raising the synagogue ruler’s daughter from the dead
 
2.    Matthew 10 – Sending out the Twelve … exhortation to beseech the Lord to send out workers, instruction on what to preach, what to do, what to take, where to stay, what to expect, including opposition to come
 
Galilean Ministry Continues (ch 11-12) – answering John’s disciples again, denouncing those who would not repent, rest for the weary, Lord of the Sabbath, healing continues, trees are recognized by their fruit, demands for a sign but only the sign of Jonah
 
3.    Matthew 13 – What is the Kingdom (Boom) … Jesus explains the kingdom’s beginning is like the smallest seed, or an invisible measure of yeast, and yet the kingdom is the greatest treasure, we are the good seed growing into righteousness, receiving and sprouting the seed, good will be separated from bad like weeds from the wheat or fish in a net
 
Withdrawal from Galilee (ch 14-17) – Herod kills John the Baptist, Jesus feeds the five thousand, walks on water, heals all the sick in Gennesaret, real cleanness is on the inside, faith of another Gentile, feeding four thousand, demands for a sign again but only the sign of Jonah, Peter’s confession of faith that Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus predicts His death explicitly, the transfiguration is witnessed by Peter, James, and John
 
4.    Matthew 18 – Life in the Kingdom … who is the greatest = the least, woe to those who cause others to sin, the value in finding lost lambs, reconciliation, the necessity of forgiveness
 
Ministry in Judea and beyond the Jordan (ch 19-20) – large crowds still follow, healing continues, more questions and testing, value of little children, how stuff interferes with the kingdom, the generosity of the King to His workers, Jesus predicts his death again, another exhortation about greatness in serving
 
The Passion Week (ch 21-23) – the triumphal entry, withering the fig tree, Jesus questioned, who really loves, woes to the teachers of Israel
 
5.    Matthew 24-25 – The Olivet Discourse … prophecy, warnings, the coming of the Son of Man, the lesson of the fig tree, keep watch, judgment to come
 
Arrest, Trials, Death, and Resurrection (ch 26-28) – plot to kill, agreement to betray, the Lord’s supper, Gethsemane, kangaroo court, Judas’ sad end, before Pilate, mockery, crucifixion, death, the tomb, the angel, the message, the guards, the Great Commission
 
These sections can likewise be viewed in a chiastic structure.  Do you remember this pattern that Carl shared?
 

In a chiastic structure, the point of emphasis is at the middle.  That focal point is the nature of the kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of Jesus.  What is that kingdom?  They are the good seed who have been raised up even among the weeds.  Once those weeds have been removed, the righteous ones will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  (Matthew 13:41-43)  It is nothing less than the family of God.  This is what Jesus has been working out through His life on this earth.
 
There are a number of surprising statements throughout Matthew that point toward this work that Jesus is about in and through us.  Jesus explains the parable of the sower that the one who received the seed that fell on good soil produces a crop.  The kingdom of heaven, the family of God starts out small, but it keeps growing and growing and growing.  It grows by and from those who are part of God’s family.  This is the message in the Great Commission.  And it is sprinkled throughout the book of Matthew.  Even in Matthew 5:14, He explains, “You are the light of the world.”  The kingdom is growing and growing and growing.
 
Hebrews puts it succinctly.
 
Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. – Hebrews 2:11
 
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. – Hebrews 3:1
 
Let us fix our hearts and minds on Jesus together by taking communion.  Let us give thanks to Jesus and remember Him, His sacrifice, and His glorious resurrection.  Let’s pray, and I will close with the beginning and end of today’s passage from Matthew 28.
 
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead …  – Matthew 28:1-7
 
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