By Royal Command Part 2 - Matthew 28 - David Pile

By Royal Command part II - Easter Sunday

( Jesus vs the World)

Matthew Chapter 28 S1

Ø Some of you may be interesting in Rugby, and would have been following the recent 6 nations competition.

Ø Both before and during the competition the various commentators and pundits were making all kinds of comments about the strengths and weakness of each time.

Ø Who the expecting to win and why?

Ø In the end Wales won a historic grand slam title.

Ø Many political commentators are saying this is going to be the year for a general election.

Ø Almost any time a major political event happens, they say this a clear indication that it is about to happen. The time is right. The conditions are favourable, but we still wait.

Ø All the parities are trying to persuade us that their leadership is best for the nation and for us.

Ø Who will convince the most people is yet to be discovered.

Jesus S2 (Matt 20 vs 18 –20)

Ø This contest between JC and the world is set.

Ø JC’s life demonstrates power and authority in every area of life.

Ø This directly challenges the existing authorities, and they are not prepared to tolerate this any more.

Ø

World S3 (various heading as per notes)

(Summary of the preceding chapters)

Women vs Gaurds S4

Women S5

Ø From fear to faith

Ø From weakness to strength

Ø See Jesus and worship him.

Women

From Fear to Faith

Ø The women go to the tomb knowing the circumstance surrounding the death of JC ie crucifixion.

Ø There is a large stone in front of the tomb, which will need to be moved in order for them to achieve what the want to do.

Ø Would they have the courage to ask the roman soldiers to help them move the stone? Even if the did would the soldiers help them anyway?

Ø Then in the midst of their questions and earthquake happens, followed by an Angel of the Lord descending from heaven.

Ø Who then rolls the stone away and sits on it (act of Triumpth), and proclaims the following news; “Do Not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised from the dead”.

Ø The fact the women can see an empty tomb ads weight to the testimony of the angel.

Weakness to Strength

Ø These 2 women appear to be incredibly calm and relaxed considering recent events.

Ø They are encouraged by the angel to “Fear Not”, while the guards are so griped with fear they look dead.

Ø They become the first witness to the resurrection, and are entrusted with most precious message.

Ø This is in sharp contract to the cultural climate that they lived in.

Ø They would have been considered second-class citizens but God has put them First!

Ø The testimony was generally mistrusted, so much so that it was enshrined in Roman Law. But God has made them the most precious and trusted witness in this setting.

See Jesus and Worship Him

Ø Upon seeing Jesus they worship him.

Ø Please note they left the scene in obedience to the angels instruction and on the way back meet Jesus.

Ø How many times do we / could miss out on a similar encounter with Jesus simply because we do what we are supposed to. Their faith is strengthened because they see Jesus.

Ø Their seeing brought confidence in what they had already believed, on the strength of the angelic proclamation.

Guards S6

From Faith to Fear

Ø We are dealing with some of the most fear soldiers of their time.

Ø The represent the strength and might of the empire. They are on diplomatic protection duty.

Ø Similar to when the queen mother died. Guard post around the coffin so that no one would be tempted to touch it.

Ø They are well-trained soldiers confident in their ability but don’t really expect any trouble.

Ø That’s when an angel turns up and starts disturbing the peace.

Ø These soldiers are so shocked and frightened by the angels’ appearance, they appear to be dead. Almost scared to death literally.

Ø The angel has no words of consolation for them.

Strength to Weakness

Ø The soldiers thought they had the situation under control.

Ø They were more than prepared for any attack from the locals or their supporters.

Ø If they needed re-enforcements they would have been swiftly.

Ø They were not able to respond to what the angel did, let alone what Jesus had already done!

Ø The power and Strength of the Roman army was unable to respond to Jesus and his power.

Ø Jesus was strong and they realised they were weak.

Ø

See the Chief Priests

Ø There is some discussion regarding just how much the soldiers would have seen and heard.

Ø This much is sure, they would have seen the women arriving, the angel, the stone being moved, the empty tomb and the women leaving.

Ø It’s highly probable that they also knew what the angel had told the women. Even if they didn’t hear the angel tell the women.

Ø All of this is told to the chief priests.

Ø After listening to the credible witness of some of the soldier the Chief Priests choose to ignore what they hear, and fabricate an alternative version.

Ø They get their “Spin Doctors” on the case.

Ø Do we know people like that? They know credible witness but refuse to accept their testimony, because it challenges their ideas / understanding / authority / status too much that they are not prepared to accept it.

Ø Why would some of the guard go to see the chief priests unless the priests were expecting something to happen?

Ø Maybe they did as JC predicted his death and resurrection on various occasions in public and private.

Ø The account of the guards is unchallenged.

o Many today might challenge that Jesus bodily rose from death, but not so in this passage.

o In fact a Jewish understanding of resurrection is that it has to happen in the body, otherwise it is just a ghost!

o The body was clearly missing and the guards could not explain what happened.

Ø The guards decide to promote the lie even though they know the truth.

Ø They took a big risk in doing so because:

o Guards who saw an angel were ready, like Judas (26:15), to betray the truth for money.

o It would have taken a large sum of money to persuade the soldiers to spread the cover-up story, as sleeping on guard duty was a capital offence.

o But Pilate’s reputation was well known; if the story had reached his ears, he could have been satisfied with a further bribe.

o (Thus, for example, a soldier assigned to guard corpses hanging on crosses to prevent burial found a body stolen and preferred suicide to court-martial and execution--Petr. Sat. 112.)

o

o Justin mentions that such stories were still being mentioned in the 2nd century

o Grave robbing was a capital offence, so the terrified disciples would not have done it.

o Grave robber steal money not bodies!

J C Ryle Matthew

What will they do when they see all the dead rise and all the angels of God assembled round the great white throne? What fear and terror will posses their souls, when they find they can no longer avoid god’s presence, and must meet him face to face? Oh that people would remember that there is a resurrection and a judgement, and that there is such a thing as the wrath of the Lamb(Rev 6 vs 16).

Disciples S8

Ø Seeing Jesus leads to worship

Ø Worship Jesus while doubting.

Ø Response to the instruction of Jesus.

Disciples

Seeing Jesus leads to Worship

Ø JC had done what he said he would, clearly demonstrating the he has power and authority over all things including Death.

Ø This links with Dan 7.14 yet again, but whereas earlier refs looked forward to future fulfilment on Dan’s prophecy of the universal authority of the Son of Man, now that fulfilment has taken place.

Ø Since Jesus has now demonstrated the fact he is king of God’s kingdom, they recognise his right to reign now!

Ø They also recognise that he will be ruler when the final judgement happens.

Ø

Worship while Doubting

Ø We in a world which places a lot of confidence in what can be seen and touched. “Seeing is believing”

Ø What happens in vs 17 is in complete contrast to that, “when they saw him they worshiped him but some doubted”.

Ø I find this incredible, that they of all people could still doubt after all they have experienced.

Ø This can be a source of encouragement for us, since even some of the disciples struggled then, but later moved to strong conviction then surely so can we.

Response to the instruction of Jesus

Ø “Go therefore”.

Ø Because of what you know to be true, go and let others know about it.

Ø This also links back to chapter 10 of Matthew, the first time they were sent.

Ø You need to do this again, but this time there are no restrictions! Everybody needs to know / realise / discover / appreciate what has happened.

Ø Better than the last, I will be with you. Not just send you.

Us? S9

When we see Jesus

o Does it lead us to worship like to disciples?

o Does it lead us to deny the truth like the soldiers and chief priests?

Worship Jesus while doubting.

Ø What is it that we are struggling with?

Ø In the presence of Jesus there is the ability / opportunity to continuing to worship until we reach a stronger place.

How do we respond to the instructions of Jesus?

o The disciples recognised his authority and got on with the job

o The soldiers and chief priests denied His authority and trusted in their own

o Where we put our trust now will determine the Response we receive from the King at the end of time.

§ Life

§ Death