Matthew 28 (Contemporary English Version)
- The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
- Then Jesus said, "Don't be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there."
- While the women were on their way, some soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened.
- So the chief priests met with the leaders and decided to bribe the soldiers with a lot of money.
- They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep.
- If the governor hears about this, we will talk to him. You won't have anything to worry about."
- The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. The people of Judea still tell each other this story.
- Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him.
- They saw him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.
- Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth!
- Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
- Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord's angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it.
- and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
- The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
- The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.
- The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross.
- He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying.
- Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you."
- The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.
- Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him.
The climax of Jesus' earthly ministry comes in this last chapter of Matthew with Jesus' commission to His followers. Jesus taught throughout His ministry that His role was to serve rather than be served. His commission to His followers is also one of serving. That is, taking the message of Christ's heavenly kingdom to all people that they might benefit as well. Following Christ is not just about personal gain. As Christ also taught, "Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it." (10:39) Life as a follower of Christ is a paradox. Life is really found, not in seeking what will benefit ourselves, but in giving our lives away in serving others on behalf of Christ. This paradox is reflected in Christ's commission to His followers. Go and make disciples of all nations, He tells us, and as we carry out this task, He will go with us.
Skeptics see this commission as a recruiting mission. An effort to build up Christ's "movement," as if His purpose, for some reason, is to have a large following. But His purpose, and thus the purpose of His followers, is to take the benefits of the kingdom to all people that they might enjoy eternal life in the heavenly kingdom rather than eternal death in Satan's kingdom. It is serving - not being served. If we grasp this truth about Christ and understand it about our role as His followers we will cast off such skeptical views.
Those opposing Jesus in this scenario described by Matthew had an agenda as do all who continue to oppose Him. They were willing to lie, kill, and bribe to protect their agenda. They had already lied and killed, now they bribed to perpetuate the lie. Previously the religious leaders voiced concern to Pilot that Jesus' disciples would steal away His body from the tomb and claim He had been raised from the dead. But they now bribed the guards of the tomb with full knowledge that His body had not been stolen away but that He had been raised from the dead. The guards saw and heard the angels. They knew what happened and undoubtedly related it to the Chief Priests. Had there been any thought that the disciples had really stolen the body, a bribe would not have been necessary. One has to wonder at the forces at work to cause a person to perpetuate a lie when they know the truth. They knew Jesus had truly been raised from the dead. He was who He claimed to be! How could they ignore this and attempt to defeat it?
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