Matthew 28

1-10 This verse clearly shows the end of the Sabbath into the first day of the week which is Sunday. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sent to the sepulchre and there was a great earthquake because an angel was coming from heaven and when the angel arrived the stone was moved from the door and he sat on it. 

 

This angel is Gabriel who proclaimed Christ’s birth (DA779.3) He was the one that stands in the presence of God on the right side (Luke 1:11, 19). Gabriel also appeared unto Mary (Luke 1:26; 2:9-10-this also could be Gabriel) This angel fills the position from which Satan fell. Gabriel moves the stone away and he sits on it. The Roman soldiers fear and fall as dead men upon the ground and the angel tells the woman to fear not, I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified, but He is not here, for He is risen. Come and see the tomb and go quickly and tell his disciples that Jesus is risen and that Jesus goes before into Galilee. The woman departed quickly from the tomb with fear and with great joy and did run to tell the disciples word. Here we see the woman was first to proclaim a resurrected Christ.

 

As they went, Jesus met them and also told them not to be afraid and go tell the disciples that He will see them in Galilee. 

 

11-15 Meanwhile the soldiers were present at the tomb when the angel came and they saw the angel remove the stone and Jesus coming out of the tomb, they heard the angel say "Son of God, come forth, Thy Father calls Thee" they heard Jesus proclaim "I am the resurrection and the life" they saw the angel bow before the Saviour and welcome Him with songs of praise and adoration.

 

The soldiers left the tomb and came into the city and told everything that happen at the tomb to the chief priests and rulers. The soldiers testify of the resurrected Christ and shared everything that happen including that the chief priest and rulers crucified the Son of God. So the rulers took counsel together and gave the soldiers money to spread a lying report to say "His disciples came night and stole him away while we slept" Here we see that the chief priest and rulers plunging themselves deeper into sin. If the disciples had stolen the body while they were sleeping, how could the soldiers know, they were sleep. If the disciples stole the body of Christ, the chief priest and rulers would have been first to condemn them and if the soldiers were sleep the priest would have also been first to accuse them to Pilate. 

 

The bible says rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). The chief priest and rulers also told the soldiers that they will convince Pilate not to put you to death. Sleeping in their post were a offense worthy of death. The soldiers accepted the money and they did as the priest had mentioned. I am saddened how the Jews did everything they can to reject Jesus. They had used the soldiers to spread a lying report and also ask Pilate the governor to excuse the soldiers. Their conscience will constantly remind them of what they did to Jesus. The priest and rulers were afraid for their lives and also Satan and his angels. Instead of believing and repenting, they believe and tremble (James 2:19). The words "His blood by on us and on our children" was coming to fruition. They were afraid to run into Christ face to face. 

 

Christ appeared unto many after His resurrection. He also appeared to the two traveling to Emmaus, to the disciples, to James, and also to more than five hundred brethen at once (1 Cor 15:3-8). When Jesus rose from the dead there were also others resurrected with Him and spread the report and testify that Christ had risen and we be risen with Him. Matthew is the only gospel to have an account of the priest and rulers bribing the soldiers to give a false report.

 

16-20 the disciples went to meet Jesus at a mountain in Galilee. It was only the eleven since Judas was not present, he had committed suicide. When they saw Him they worshipped Him but some were in doubt and had hardness of heart (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-41), Jesus had to put all doubt away and settle their thoughts that it was actually Him. Thomas was not present at the meeting (John 20:24-29) and is known as doubting Thomas. After Thomas had confirm it was Jesus, he said "My Lord and My God" he had to make sure it saw the nail prints and touch His side. Jesus also said unto him "Blessed are they that hast not seen and have believed" this account is for us, so we can believe even not seeing.  Because we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Although Jesus is not physically here today on this earth, we must believe through the word that Jesus did raise from the dead and is now in heaven and sat on the right hand of God(44-52). We must believe unto righteousness (Romans 10:10). 

 

Jesus then says "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" Why did Jesus have to say this? Did He not have all power before? Yes, Jesus did have all power in heaven and in earth and then there was a controversy (Rev 12:3-4) in heaven and it continued on earth. First, Lucifer deceived the angels in heaven and then there was war in heaven and he prevailed not and was cast out of heaven (Revelation 12:4, 7-8; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). Christ in heaven cast out Lucifer because of his rebellion. Lucifer knows that God is love and that God is just but he rebelled and pride arose in his heart (Ezekiel 28:17; Philippians 2:10-11; Romans 14:9-12; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Psalm 149:5-9; DA 761-762) which is why Lucifer who became Satan was cast out of heaven to the earth. God created man and then Satan caused to man sin and now the earth is under his dominion (Job 1:6-7; Jude 9) Satan tried to contend for the body of Moses because Moses died and was buried in the earth. The Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee.

 

Christ now comes to the earth based on the plan of redemption to redeem man and the earth (Hebrews 2:9, 14-15; Micah 4:7-8; John 12:31; 14:30-31; 16:11). Jesus live a perfect life from when He is born until His death on the cross. When Jesus said "It is finished" (John 19:30) the devil knew that he would die. Satan is the originator of death and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), so he is also the originator or root of sin and he will be destroyed (Ezekiel 28:6, 8, 19; Psalm 37:10; Obadiah 16; Isaiah 14:1-11). 

 

The death of Christ dying has shown that God is love by sending His son to die for our sin and that the law cannot be done away with. Christ died a perfect being and when He died, He provided a way for man to be brought back to life again into immortality. When Jesus resurrected, He said:

 

 "I am He that liveth, and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen and have the keys of hell and of death" Revelation 1:18

 

He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. Psalm 68:20

 

This is also why Christ said all power is given unto me in heaven and now after His death and resurrection and in earth. He has redeemed the earth (Ephesians 1:14) and those who believe and accept Him will be redeemed as well. 

 

"Satan is the author of death. What did Christ do after He brought Satan under the dominion of death? The very last words of Christ while expiring on the cross were, "It is finished" (John 19:30). The devil saw that he had overdone himself. Christ by dying accomplished the death of Satan and brought immortality to light. FW 73.4"

 

Luke 4:6; 1 Corinthian 15:20-28; Hebrews 2:7, 14

 

The earth originally given to man as his kingdom, betrayed by him into the hands of Satan, and so long held by the mighty foe, has been brought back by the great plan of redemption.3 AH 540.1

 

Because of all the power in heaven and in earth is now given unto Jesus. Now He says, God ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Jesus says go and as you go teach them to observe that He has commanded and then He adds, I will be with you always even until the end of the world. Amen.

 

The Father was always with Jesus as He went and taught. Even in trial, hardship, and death. Although at one point Jesus cried out "My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me" The bible teaches that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). They both we in cooperation to save humanity from the penalty of death. Christ has demonstrated the perfect character of the Father, which is His law and love was the foundation of it (John 15:10). So now, Jesus says to his disciples and us that He has all the power and that includes death and He says go and do as I did, teaching, healing, preaching, and also baptizing because He will be with us always, even if we die, because we have a hope that Christ will come again and brings us back to life with our love ones so we can ever be with the Lord. 

 

But we have a work to do here first. The truth of the gospel (Revelation 14:6-12) must go to every nation, kindred, tongue and people and Jesus said, then the end will come (Mathew 24:14). May we fulfill that calling to go and Jesus we lead us saying "This is the way, walk ye in it" I pray we will agree and cooperate with God to finish this last work redemption so we can be with Him for eternity. Amen