RESURRECTION DAY!
Opening Prayer
Praise God; my Redeemer lives—hallelujah!
Read Matthew 28:1–20
Jesus Has Risen
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The Guards’ Report
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In what ways does the resurrection of Jesus give you confidence?Have you noticed that when angels appear in Scripture, very often their first words are “Do not be afraid”? The guards faint with terror and the women probably stand open-mouthed and riveted to the spot. Then they hear the most amazing news ever. These are the women who have stayed with Jesus and seen his crucifixion and his burial. Imagine the turmoil in their minds as they try to believe the unbelievable. The angel shows them evidence to back up what he is saying.
With a mixture of fear and joy they run to tell the disciples… and run into Jesus himself. That’s convincing! This is true today. We can (and should) take people to the Bible, God’s Word revealed to us. We can present them with evidence for the resurrection (still a very valuable apologetic tool).
But so often it is the personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus that convinces a person that Jesus is worth knowing, loving and following.
The religious leaders are so bent on Jesus being dead that the guards are bribed to keep the truth hidden. But nothing can stop the truth—and truth is personified in Jesus (John 14:6). Finally Matthew tells of how the disciples who had deserted Jesus now meet him. What a task they, and we, are given—along with a promise (19,20).
Apply
Do you really take full advantage of the abundant life Christ has given you, or do you find yourself just making it through each day? Take a quiet moment to celebrate what eternal life means to you.
Closing prayer
Rejoice that Jesus’ greatest desire is to be with you.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.