April 5th, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Never Alone

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

“I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20). Before you read about the resurrection, stop and be aware of the presence of the risen Lord.

Read Matthew 28:1-20

[1] 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.” [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. [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.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples” (Psa. 77:14). A great verse for Resurrection Day!

Think Further

The women had seen him die and seen him buried. Now they are the first to be told of his resurrection. Their response offers a pattern for all disciples.

It begins with awe. They are told not to be afraid but are inevitably awestruck. There are no grounds for taking the resurrection for granted. It is a sovereign act of awesome power. Jesus is raised, never to die again. Death is no longer the end. A new order has begun in which all authority belongs to the risen Lord. Awe leads to joy, because they are reunited with Jesus forever. A relationship has been restored, which nothing and no one, not even death, can break. At the heart of Christian discipleship lies this relationship with Christ.

Joy turns to worship. The women worshiped him as soon as they saw him, and so did the men (though some hesitated). Worship is not a duty: it is the instinctive response of those who meet Jesus. There could be no further doubts about his identity and only one response to his person. Awe and joy: trembling at his majesty and delight at his intimate presence meet in the best of Christian worship.

The final response is mission: the disciples are recommissioned to tell others and make new disciples. Whatever other stories may circulate (13), Christians are to proclaim the fact of the resurrection and the possibility of becoming disciples of Christ. They are to call men and women to follow, just as they had been called. There is no distinction between conversion and discipleship. They are to make disciples in the same way that Jesus had made them disciples. Most wonderful of all, they are not to do this for Jesus but with Jesus–to the end of the age.

Apply

Jesus’ final command? “Make disciples” (19). How can you call others to be his disciples and teach them what he has taught you?

Closing prayer

Mighty God, on this day of days, I am reminded that love prevails, sin and Satan are defeated, and death is overcome. Thank You for such good news.

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