Matthew 28- The Great Commission

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Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:16-20

If the Church was to have a mission statement, it would be The Great Commision, “Preach the gospel to all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”

Jesus made it very clear to us that evangelism should be our top job and priority as Christians. However with so many Churches, why don’t we see anyone evangelizing on the street corners of every town and city? Why is it that most Christians have never shared the gospel with anyone and most are even afraid to mention their faith in public? Well it starts from the top down, if you are a Christian , then Jesus is your Lord, then you should be obeying the commandments of Christ!

The reality is most people who identify themselves as Christians, are just “Sunday morning Christians” they show up for a Church service, do their thing, and forget about God the rest of the week. This is why Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) most of these people are false converts, they never became Born Again, they never had a change of heart (Ezekiel 36) they are not filled with the Holy Spirit, they don’t read the Word of God daily, they have no prayer life. They are the dry bones in the valley of death

Jesus said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15) If you truly are a Christian, then you should love Jesus with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. If you don’t then your not Born Again, your religion is useless. There has to be a transformation within yourself when you met Christ, there has to be fruits produced by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7, Galatians 5) Jesus said “You will be know by your fruit” (Matthew 7:16)

As the BIble says “How can they hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14) How will anyone know the good news of Jesus Christ, unless someone tells them? This is where the Church comes in, this is where you come in! The Great Commision, share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone! Everyone who is Born Again is qualified to be a preacher, just share the gospel, Christ died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again!

Who do we share this good news with? Everyone! We must remember , only God can save people , we can’t . Our job is to plant the seed (Word of God) it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict and lead them to Christ. So be a “spiritual farmer” sow the seed of the gospel to everyone, and on fertile soil, it will become abundant. Not all soil will be good, not everyone will receive the gospel, but it’s not our job to determine who will receive or deny it. Just preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Matthew 28 – The Conspiracy Theory

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Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Matthew 28:11-15

I saw a great Tshirt that said “Noah was a conspiracy theorist, and then it rained” I love that shirt, and its true. Noah warned his wicked generation that the judgment of God was coming, but everyone scoffed at Noah and probably labeled him, as we know today as a “Conspiracy Theorist”

When people hear the word “Conspiracy Theory” they probably roll their eyes or laugh, however remember this world is controlled by Satan (1 John 5:19) and Satan want to keep everyone blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4) So how do we do this? Well you tell people the truth is false , and the false is truth. This is exactly Satan’s plan for the Resurrection of Christ, even today his conspiracy theories are told to keep from understanding who Jesus Christ is and what He accomplished

As we read earlier in the scriptures, the Roman guards witnessed the resurrected Christ and “fell like dead men” , it was no secret that Jesus Christ is Risen, so now the Romans and the religious leaders of Israel, needed to create some “Conspiracy Theories” so the people didn’t know they crucified The Messiah. Even religions today are still using these same “Conspiracy Theories, Judaism and Islam , claim the disciples “stole “ the body of Jesus, Islam even claims Jesus never died on the cross. This is why there is only One way to God through Jesus Christ, (John 14:6) All other religions are false and provide no salvation

The Apostle Paul records Jesus Christ appeared to over 500 men after the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6) of course Christ appeared to his disciples multiple times (John 21, 1 Cor. 15, Matthew 28, Luke 24) It was an established fact, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, the tomb of Christ is Empty!

There are still many Conspiracy Theories today, how do we know what is true? The Word of God is truth, trust in the Bible, trust in the Holy Spirit to lead you, trust in Jesus Christ because The Lord is Risen Indeed, Amen!

Matthew 28- Because He Lives

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In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:1-6

Jesus said “Destroy this temple in three days, and I will raise it up” (John 2:19)

Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed, just as He said he would. Over and over again, Jesus prophesied about his death and resurrection, however still his disciples didn’t understand, even when he was standing right in front of them!  The stone has been rolled away! Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and walked out of that grave, defeating sin, death , and Satan forever! Amen!

The guards fell like dead men in the presence of The Lord, those who crucified Jesus and all the wicked will one day bow down to the Risen King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Because Christ is Risen, we will rise again one day also in the resurrection to live forever in God’s Kingdom. O death, where is your sting! O grave where is your victory!

The Tomb is still Empty today, Christ is Risen forevermore. No matter what is going on in the world, we have this Risen Hope because we have a Risen Savior, Glory to the Lamb of God!

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Matthew 28:7-10

What did the disciples do? They worshiped Jesus Christ, why? Because Jesus is God in the flesh (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:14) and worthy of All praise! What was the instructions? “Tell my Brethren” share the good news of Jesus Christ! The Lord Is Risen, all victory belongs to Jesus as Christ crushed the head of Satan at the cross!

As the old Hymn says “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow”! Whatever trials you face today, we can face them because Jesus Is Risen, and has already overcome the world, Amen!

Matthew 27 – The Tomb is Sealed

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Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. Matthew 27:62-66

People who are skeptics of the resurrection of Christ, they question the tomb. Let’s make it clear, the Tomb of Christ was sealed! If there is any question whether Jesus Christ died on the cross, look at all the historical references, especially in the gospels. It’s clear Christ died for our sins on the cross, and then his body was sealed in the Tomb. 

Now notice, the religious leaders were well aware that Jesus prophesied he would rise again in three days. If the religious leaders actually knew the Word of God, they would have understood Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, however the religious leaders loved their religion and money more than they loved God. However remember not all the religious leaders rejected Christ either, as this tomb was given by Joseph of Arimathea. 

The religious leaders believed Jesus Christ was a great threat to their religion and lifestyle, so they had the Son of God crucified on the cross, which God used as the atonement of our sins, to pay the ransom for our sins. But now the religious leaders had a bigger problem, if Jesus rises from the dead, they just crucified the Son of God, and the blood will be on their hands. As Jesus identified himself to the religious leaders as the “Son of Man” prophesied in Daniel 7. Again if the religious leaders truly loved God and knew the scriptures, they never would have crucified the Messiah

The Romans and the religious leaders, plotted together to seal and guard the Tomb. No matter what happened, they were determined to keep their lies and deception intact. Even today, the world doesn’t want you to know that Christ is Risen from the Tomb! Why? Because as Jesus walked out of that grave, Christ defeated sin, death, and Satan forevermore! So Satan doesn’t want you to know the Tomb of Christ is empty, Jesus is Risen!

The Tomb was sealed, just as we are now sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) because Christ died to pay the penalty of our sins and is Risen, Amen!

Matthew 27-Burial of Christ

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When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Matthew 27:57-61

Jesus said “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40)

We all remember learning the story of Jonah and the whale in Sunday School class, but did you know Jonah was a foreshadow of Christ in the Tomb for 3 days! The burial of Christ is an essential doctrine of Christianity. There’s often debate about that was Jesus doing during this time or even debates about the actual timeline, but one thing is for certain, Jesus died for us so we can live forever for Him!

3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then by the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)

As the Apostle Paul stated in what many believe is the first Creed of Christinaity, the death and burial of Christ is a foundational doctrine of Christianity. We can’t overlook the importance of the Tomb, where Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan forever , and rose the firstfruits, in a resurrected body, and all those who repent and put their faith in Christ will also be resurrected also

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:9

We see in the scriptures that Joseph of Arimathea was the man to give his tomb to Jesus Christ , which ultimately fulfilled the scriptures. It’s important to note that Joseph of Arimathea , was a religious leader and accepted Jesus as the Messiah, Son of God. Not all the religious leaders rejected Christ, including not all of Israel rejected Christ either. God still had his remnant that understand Jesus is The  Christ 

Another amazing detail is the accuracy of the scriptures, notice the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9, that the Messiah would be killed with the wicked, yet be rich in his burial. This was written 700 years before Christ was incarnated in the Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14) There should be no doubt, that the Bible is the Word of God, the possibilities of someone prophesying these intricate details is astronomical

Jesus Christ , as prophesied, spent 3 days in the Tomb, was resurrected defeating sin, death, and Satan forever! Glory to the Lamb of God, Amen!