Dawn of Victory: Reflecting on the Resurrection in Matthew 28 and Luke 24 - Part Four
by Jessica Jones
As dawn breaks on this Resurrection Sunday, we turn our hearts to the monumental events of Matthew 28 and Luke 24. Here, the narrative of despair shifts dramatically to jubilation, and death is swallowed up in victory. This exploration will dissect every verse of these chapters, celebrating the prophecy fulfilled and the eternal hope ignited by Jesus Christ's resurrection.
Matthew 28: Mourning Turned to Joy
The Earthquake and the Angel (Matthew 28:1-4)
In the stillness following the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary embarked on a sorrowful journey to Jesus's tomb. They sought to honor Him with a final act of devotion but found themselves witnesses to divine intervention.
"Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it."
(Matthew 28:1-2, NKJV)
Heaven Touches Earth
The earthquake heralded an angelic visitor whose radiant appearance and supernatural act of rolling away the stone manifested God's power. This event was not just for Jesus to exit the tomb—He had already risen—but to demonstrate to the world that death had been conquered.
Divine vs. Human Power
The guards, appointed to secure the tomb, were overwhelmed by fear at the angel's might, rendering them powerless. This moment vividly contrasts the unassailable power of God with human vulnerability and the futility of attempting to seal or contain the divine.
The Announcement of the Resurrection (Matthew 28:5-7)
The angel's message to the women was a proclamation of Jesus's victory over death, affirming His resurrection and fulfilling His own prophecies about His death and return to life.
"But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.'"
(Matthew 28:5-7, NKJV)
First Evangelists
Tasked with the angel's message, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were transformed from mourners into messengers, becoming the first to share the news of the resurrection.
Jesus Appears to the Women (Matthew 28:8-10)
Their swift departure from the tomb, propelled by fear and great joy, led to a direct encounter with the risen Jesus. His greeting, "Rejoice," marked a profound moment of comfort and commissioning.
"And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!' So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.'"
(Matthew 28:9-10, NKJV)
The Bribing of the Guards (Matthew 28:11-15)
In contrast to the divine revelation of the resurrection, the chief priests and elders resorted to bribery, crafting a narrative to discredit the miraculous event, illustrating the persistent human attempt to manipulate and suppress the truth.
"While they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, 'Tell them, "His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept."'"
(Matthew 28:11-13, NKJV)
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
The resurrection led to Jesus's final earthly directive to His disciples: a commission to evangelize, baptize, and teach, extending His ministry to all nations under the authority bestowed upon Him.
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen."
(Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV)
A Promise of Presence
Jesus's assurance of His continuous presence with His disciples transforms the daunting task of the Great Commission into a mission of faith and hope, underpinned by the power of the resurrected Lord.
Luke 24: From Confusion to Clarity
The Women's Early Visit (Luke 24:1-12)
Early on the first day of the week, the women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee approached the tomb, armed with spices. They were met with the bewildering sight of the stone rolled away and Jesus's body gone.
"Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."
(Luke 24:1-3, NKJV)
Angelic Revelation
In their perplexity, two men in shining garments reminded them of Jesus's prophecy of His own resurrection, transforming their confusion into awe.
Peter's Investigation
Peter ran to the tomb and, stooping down, saw the linen cloths by themselves. His departure, marveled at what had happened, symbolizes the initial steps of the disciples' journey from doubt to belief.
The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
This narrative encapsulates the transformative power of Scripture and communion. Jesus, unrecognized, joins two disciples, unfolding the Scriptures to them and revealing Himself in the breaking of bread.
"Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
(Luke 24:25-27, NKJV)
Recognition in the Breaking of Bread
The disciples' eyes were opened in the act of breaking bread, echoing the Eucharistic theme and emphasizing Christ's continued presence with His followers.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples (Luke 24:36-49)
Jesus's sudden appearance among His disciples, His offer of peace, and the physical evidence of His resurrected body turned their fear into joy and solidified their faith.
"But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, 'Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.'"
(Luke 24:37-39, NKJV)
Opening of Minds
Christ's explanation of the Scriptures not only clarified His messianic mission but also prepared the disciples for their future role as witnesses to His resurrection, emphasizing the necessity of the Spirit's power for their mission.
The Promise of Power
The promise of the Holy Spirit to endow them with power underscored the continuation of Jesus's ministry through His disciples, empowering them for the mission that lay ahead.
The Ascension (Luke 24:50-53)
The ascension signified the culmination of Jesus's earthly ministry and His entrance into heavenly glory, a moment marked by His blessing of the disciples.
"And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven."
(Luke 24:50-51, NKJV)
A New Beginning
The disciples' return to Jerusalem filled with joy and their continual presence in the temple praising God herald the birth of the church, characterized by worship and the anticipation of the Spirit's coming.
Closing Prayer
Lord, on this Resurrection Sunday, we marvel at Your power to bring life from death, hope from despair. Thank You for the truth of the empty tomb and the joy of encountering the risen Christ. Empower us by Your Spirit to bear witness to Your resurrection, to live out the Great Commission, and to rejoice always in Your presence.
Amen.
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