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February 19, 2021

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:

Matthew 28 (NIV)

Jesus Has Risen
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There 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.........Continue Reading

Next: Psalms 7-9

Back: Matthew 27

This Post Has 8 Comments
  1. Imagine to be those guards who witnessed what happened at Jesus’ death with the earthquakes and destruction and now to see this massive stone rolled away by the angel. I am sure as a guard you want to believe in the priests you serve and yet instead they are paid to spread a story they knew wasn’t true. The conflict that must have been within them….faith is believing in what we can’t see and they did indeed SEE!
    Thank You God for Your plan of redemption for us!

  2. Such varying responses to the miraculous in this chapter.

    The guards of the grave fall as dead men when they see the angel of the Lord, but the women are reassured and given a tour of the grave.

    Guards: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
    Women: And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

    We have fraud and fake news (there is nothing new under the sun):
    “And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
    Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
    And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
    So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

    Even though they saw him… some still doubted.
    “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
    And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.”

  3. 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

  4. The resurrection of Jesus was groundbreaking…figuratively and literally!! Just imagine the privilege this angel had to come and role back the stone, shock the soldiers and provide the message for the faithful! And remember, he did not role back the stone to let Jesus out, but to let everyone else in so they could see what happened. What a glorious truth to communicate! What a vital and validating message the angel tells. He is not here, He is risen! Jesus has conquered sin, death and the grave. No one but Jesus has ever done so before so no wonder some didn’t quite know what to do with it. Excited? yes! A little afraid or doubtful? well yes, we’ve never seen this happen before. But to see Him, to talk to Him, to touch Him. Jesus being raised is foundational to our faith. If He is not raised, our faith is futile….but if He is raised (and He is), then there is no one else to turn to for our source of salvation and hope.

    And that good news should establish and sustain our faith and our lives. But Jesus also makes it clear that He never intended for us to keep it to ourselves. He begins His last command by establishing His authority to give it, but then He says…as you go, as you live your lives…make disciples…learners, students, followers. It is rightly called the Great Commission. Jesus calling all believers to take their life in Christ and pour into someone else! So how are we doing with that????

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