INTRODUCTION

We serve a living Savior. As surely as His death on the cross for our sins is a historical fact, so is His bodily resurrection for our justification a demonstrated truth, and so is His triumphant life in heaven and in our hearts a present reality. Just as there is not salvation for sinners who fail to trust in the merits of His blood shed upon the cross, so there can be no salvation for those who deny the literal resurrection of his physical body [I Corinthians 15:12-17].

Let us keep our faith fixed upon the Christ of the Bible; the dead and false "Christs" of self-styled "liberals" and of modern sectarians who hypocritically call themselves "Christians" while denying the truth and sufficiency of the divinely and infallibly inspired record of the true Christ-- these dead and false Christ can never save a single soul.

From Matthew's account of the resurrection, verses includ- ed in this lesson may be outlined as follows:

1. Miracles, Matthew 28:1-6. 
a. Angelic appearance, 1-3. 
b. Angelic affright, 4. 
c. Angelic assurance, 5-6. 

2. Mission, Matthew 28:7-10. 
a. Resurrection report, 7-8. 
b. Resurrection reality, 9-10. 

3. Mandate, Matthew 28:16-20. 
a. Disciples directed, 16. 
b. Disciples doubting, 17. 
c. Dominion delivered, 18. 
d. Discipling demanded, 19. 
e. Discipline determined, 20.  

NOTES ON THE TEXT:

MIRACLES, Matthew 28:1-6.

It is highly fitting that the greatest miracle in history should be accompanied by lesser miracles of angelic atten- dance. Angels, we are told, are "ministering spirits" [Hebrews 1:14]; and though usually invisible, certain angels have been able on various special occasions to appear visible, certain angels have been able on various special occasions to appear visibly, generally in human form. Matthew describes here such a miraculous manifestation.

Angelic Appearance, 1-3.

Uncertainties of interpretation and fitting together of details mentioned in the different gospel accounts present no difficulties except to natural curiosity. The writers 2 were not concerned with any artificially contrived "harmony;" they were individually inspired by the Holy Spirit to write God's own selection of facts as they knew them or as revealed to them, each writing from his own point of view.

Matthew tells us of two women (there were others -- see Mark 16:1 and Luke 24:1, 10) who came to the sepulcher "as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week." Commentators dispute over whether this was the dawn of what we would call Saturday evening or of what we would call Sunday morning. The question is not material to the fact of the resurrection.

Scriptural emphasis here is on the angelic appearance de- claring that fact. The women had wondered, "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher" [Mark 16:3]? God had anticipated their problem, and "the angel of the Lord" took care of it. The stone that would have been an impassable barrier for the women became a convenient seat for the angel.

Presenting in his human appearance some reflection of divine glory and holiness, the angel shone with a brightness like lightning, and wore clothing "white as snow." Mark describes "a young man . . . . clothed in a long white garment" [Mark 16:5], and Luke tells of "two men" who "stood by them in shining garments" [Luke 24:4]. Though the appearance was human, it was also supernatural.

Angelic Affright, 4.

Before such an appearance, the keepers or guards were figuratively "scared to death," as we say. Perhaps they actually fainted from fright, and so "became as dead men."

Angelic Assurance, 5-6.

No doubt the women also were frightened, but the angel gave them some assurance with the words, "Fear not." Additional assurance came as he spoke of Jesus, announced the resurrection, reminded them that Jesus had promised to rise from the dead, and invited them to examine the empty tomb.

MISSION, Matthew 28:7-10.

God's usual way of communicating truth to people is through people. No doubt He could send an angel with a miraculous vision and a special message to every person in the world, but He does not do so. Rather, He reveals certain truths to certain individuals, and then gives them a mission to tell other people. This has always been God's method of operation, and so it was in disseminating the news of the resurrection.

As is often pointed out, it pleased God that a few women, with Mary Magdalene as their leader, should be the first to learn of the resurrection. We may speculate as we please as to the reasons for this fact; that fact remains. These women were first at the empty tomb, first to see their risen Lord, and first to be sent to tell the good news to the other disciples.

One possible explanation of why these women were so favored may lie in their desire to anoint the dead body of Jesus. Even death and despair could not quench their loving devotion; their faithfulness was rewarded with the comfort and joy of the resurrection.

Resurrection Report, 7-8.

"Quickly," the angel said, and quickly they departed with mixed fear and joy, and "did run to bring his disciples word." No theological, philosophical, or "scientific" arguments! Jesus had promised the impossible; the angel reported the accomplished fact; simple believers hastened to obey!

Resurrection Reality, 9-10.

Even so, they need to see and feel the living reality of the risen Lord, to have the certainty of their own experience, in order to carry a firsthand report. Likewise today we must have a real personal experience with Jesus before we can be good witnesses to others. These women recognized and worshiped Jesus, and He confirmed the mission given them by the angel.

MANDATE, Matthew 28:16-20.

Here we have the great commission, or Jesus' mandate, not merely to the eleven disciples as individuals who were soon to die, but to those disciples as constituting His organized church which He would preserve though the centuries.

Disciples Directed, 16.

Can we obey orders and follow directions as these disciples did? We can be sure that Jesus will always keep His appointments: are we careful to keep ours? To enjoy His blessings, we had better be where He tells us when He tells us.

Disciples Doubting, 17.

We can easily find fault with Thomas and other doubting disciples, and surely it is bad enough to doubt God's Word; but one thing worse than honest doubt is hypocritical faith. Among true disciples the doubters are finally convinced, and become stronger in the struggles.

Dominion Delivered, 18.

"Power" here could be translated "authority." Jesus has not merely some authority but all authority; not only in heaven and not only in earth, but "in heaven and in earth." He does not merely hope to obtain authority in the future; properly translating the Greek aorist passive, it "was given" to Him in the past; it rightfully belongs to Him as to the Father, both now and for ever.

Discipling Demanded, 19.

"Therefore" -- we have here much more than a polite request. All authority demands that we make disciples. Going, 4 baptizing, and teaching to observe, expressed by participles in the original, are all subordinate to the overriding imperative: "Make disciples of all nations." This is the meaning of the word translated "teach" in this verse. People must be disciples, or made teachable, before they can be taught. Other duties are not to be neglected, but above all else our Lord demands discipling of His church.

Yet before we can disciple anyone we must go to him with the Word; and we may well doubt that he is a true disciple if, when properly instructed, he refuses to be led into the waters of baptism.

Note that Jesus commanded baptism "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The "Jesus only" nonsense has no connection with the real Jesus Who delights always to honor His Father; nor is it prompted by the Holy Spirit, Who leads us always to obey, not to modify, the commands of Christ.

Discipline Determined, 20.

Our church discipline must be based upon the commands of Jesus as recorded in God's holy Word: not upon custom or tradition, not upon any human authority, not upon our own notions. The kind of church that, by example and precept, teaches, generally speaking, to observe all that Christ has commanded is the kind of church that He promised to be with always to the end of the world.

Let us have no insane claims of church infallibility. No church on earth is perfect in practice; but a true church, like a true individual believer, finds infallibility in its Head, and sincerely seeks to obey Him in all things.

CONCLUSION [Luke 24:47]

In a few years this preaching did spread around the world [Romans 16:26; Colossians 1:6], but the work needs to be continued and repeated for each new generation. Previous generations preserved it for us; we must pass it on for generations to come.
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[From Ashland Avenue Baptist paper, April 16, 1976, pp. 2-3. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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