By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
OUR TASK
Matthew 28:1–10, 16–20
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Christians in the Western world are greeting one another this weekend with these words of celebration. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, they will employ these greetings next week. Wherever believers celebrate Resurrection day, we have a message to proclaim: Jesus has risen from the dead!
Believe (1–7)
The angel of the Lord was supernatural. The ground itself quaked at his invasion into the material realm. He shone like lightning, his clothing was white like snow and he rolled the tomb’s stone aside. At his appearance, the guards were terrified.
The soldiers were shaken. The incident report given to the chief priests was so unacceptable that they bribed the soldiers to say that they fell asleep on the job — a crime punishable by death (Acts 12:19; 16:27) — rather than testifying they had seen an angel or that the crucified corpse they were guarding had risen.
The women were sent. Although they had limited legal standing in Jewish culture, women were chosen by God to be the first human witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. In each of the Gospel accounts, women were the first to testify of the risen Christ.
The Resurrection is substantive. From that first Easter Sunday morning, the bodily resurrection of Jesus has been fundamental to the Christian faith. The content of the earliest sermons recorded in Acts (2:32; 10:40–41; 13:30–36) testify not only to the crucifixion of Jesus but also to His physical resurrection.
Worship (8–10)
Women in wonder. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary listened to the angel’s message: Jesus had risen, Jesus was going to meet them in Galilee, and Jesus entrusted them to tell the disciples. On their way, the women met the risen Lord Jesus.
Women in worship. How could they respond but to fall at His feet and bow before Him? The Master who had been nailed to a cross and declared dead was standing in front of them!
Women in witness. The Lord reiterated His task for them to tell the disciples to head north. Jesus was going to meet them where their journey began together — Galilee.
Share (16–20)
All authority. Jesus responded to the disciples’ doubts and fears by explaining that God had given Him all authority in the spiritual realm and the material realm. As such, the commission given by our crucified and risen Lord came with universal authority.
All nations. Matthew records one imperative from Jesus in this passage: “Make disciples of all nations.” At the University of Mobile, we rely on the generous support of Alabama Baptists through the Alabama Baptist State Convention and the state convention’s Board of Aid — as well as ministry and mission partnerships with local Baptist churches — to train our students to be Great Commission workers in North America and around the world.
At Moffett Road Baptist Church in Mobile, we equip the saints to make disciples of all nations through the Cooperative Program, the Mobile Baptist Network, our partnership with Spanish language ministries and the International Language School.
Always. The Great Commission to make disciples is self-replicating. We together have been given the commission, and His promise continues for all of us today: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
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