Two Truths and a Lie
Matthew 28 (English Standard Version)
In tonight's lesson, we will also look at two truths and a lie presented in Matthew 28. All four gospels tell of the resurrection (Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1, John 20:1). The Gospel is not complete if Jesus did not rise from the dead. What hope do I have of eternal life if the founder of our religion cannot even secure eternal life for himself?
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (ESV)
¹ Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
It was Jesus' Resurrection that defeated death. Romans 5 reminds us that sin entered the world and death through sin. Death reigned from Adam to Moses. The Law gave a means to cover our sins and escape death.
Romans 5:12-14 (ESV)
¹² Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
Truth #1: The Empty Tomb Should Build Your Faith
The Resurrection
¹ Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
Mark 16:3 tells us that they were wondering how they would roll the stone away. They get there and see that the stone had been rolled away and an angel is there to tell what happened.
The other Mary could have been the wife of Clopas (John 19:25), or she may have been Jesus' aunt, the mother of James and John (Matthew 27:56).
² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
The stone was not rolled aside so Jesus could get out but so others could get in and see that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, just as he had promised.
⁵ But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
Jesus' resurrection is the key to the Christian faith. Why?
- Just as he promised, Jesus rose from the dead. We can be confident that he will also accomplish everything else he has promised.
- Jesus' bodily resurrection shows us that the living Christ is ruler of God's eternal Kingdom, not a false prophet or impostor.
- We can be certain of our future resurrection because he was resurrected. Death is not the end—an eternal future life awaits.
- The power that brought Jesus back to life is available to us to bring our spiritually dead selves back to life.
- The Resurrection is the basis for the church's witness to the world. Jesus is more than just a human leader; he is the Son of God.
⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
The angel who announced the good news of the Resurrection to the women gave them four messages:
- "Don't be afraid!" The reality of the Resurrection brings joy, not fear.
- "He isn't here!" Jesus is not dead and is not to be looked for among the dead. He is alive, with his people.
- "Come, see." The women could check the evidence themselves. The tomb was empty then, and it is empty today. The Resurrection is a historical fact.
- "Go quickly and tell." They were to spread the joy of the Resurrection. And we, too, are to spread this great news!
⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
Why did Jesus tell the disciples to go to Galilee? At the Last Supper he had told them to meet him there (26:32). The angels told the women at the tomb to tell the disciples to go there (28:7). Galilee was where Jesus had first called most of the men to be disciples and had given them the mission to "fish for people" (4:19). In Galilee Jesus would restate and renew their mission to reach the world (28:16).
Jesus called them "brothers," this showed that he had forgiven them, even after they had denied and deserted him. Jesus told the women to pass the message—that he would meet them in Galilee, as he had previously told them (Mark 14:28). But the disciples, afraid of the religious leaders, stayed hidden behind locked doors in Jerusalem (John 20:19). So Jesus met them first there (Luke 24:36) and then later in Galilee (John 21).
The Lie: The Report of the Guard
¹¹ While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. ¹² And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers ¹³ and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' ¹⁴ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
The Enemy has fought the truth of the resurrection. Multiple people over the years have tried to refute the Biblical Resurrection theories of a physical resurrection.
Jesus' resurrection was already causing a great stir in Jerusalem. A group of women was moving quickly through the streets, looking for the disciples to tell them the amazing news that Jesus was alive. At the same time, a group of religious leaders was plotting how to cover up the Resurrection.
Today the Resurrection still causes a great stir, and we still have only two choices: to believe that Jesus rose from the dead or to be closed to the truth—denying it, ignoring it, or trying to explain it away.
Truth #2: Jesus Has All Authority
The Great Commission
¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
The Father gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. On the basis of that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as they preached, baptized, and taught. With this same authority, Jesus still commands us to tell others the Good News and make them disciples for the Kingdom.
Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)
⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Jesus' words affirm the reality of the Trinity. Some people accuse theologians of making up the concept of the Trinity and reading it into Scripture. But as we see here, the concept comes directly from Jesus himself. He did not say to baptize people in the names but rather in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, but it well describes the three-in-one nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The disciples were to baptize people because baptism unites believers with Jesus Christ in their death to sin and their resurrection to new life. Baptism symbolizes submission to Jesus as Lord, a willingness to live God's way, and identification with God's covenant people.
When someone is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples with these last words of instruction: They were under his authority; they were to make more disciples; they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to obey his words; and he would be with them always. Whereas in previous missions Jesus had sent his disciples only to the Jews (10:5-6), their mission from now on would be worldwide. Jesus is Lord of the earth, and he died for the sins of people from all nations.
We likewise are to go—whether it is next door or to another country—and make disciples. This is not an option but a command to all who call Jesus Lord. We may not all be evangelists in the professional sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the great commission. As we obey him, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us.
How is Jesus with us? Jesus was with the disciples physically until he ascended into heaven and then spiritually through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). The Holy Spirit would be Jesus' presence that would never leave them (John 14:26). Jesus continues to be with us today through his Spirit.