RISEN

SEPTEMBER 14-15, 2009 MONDAY-TUESDAY SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 28

TEXT Just1Word http://www.just1word.com/view/jesus-rises-from-the-dead-%2528matthew%2529

PARAPHRASE

“Risen”

When Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to the tomb on Sunday at sunrise, they found a heavenly angel of the Lord dressed in clothes as white as snow who appeared like lightening and through an earthquake rolled back the stone from the tomb’s entrance and then sat on it, frightening the guards to the point their shaking paralyzed them making them look like corpses.
The angel told the women they had nothing to fear, that Jesus had risen as promised, showed them the tomb was now empty, instructed them to tell the disciples Jesus was alive and was going ahead to Galilee and told them they would see him there. Afraid, yet joyful, while running to tell the disciples, Jesus suddenly appeared and greeted the women. After coming to him, grasping his feet and worshipping him, Jesus told them not to fear but to go to his disciples and tell them to go to Galilee where they too would see him alive.

“Hush Money”

When the women went to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive, the temple guards went into Jerusalem and told the religious leaders what had happened. They were given a lot of hush money and instructed to tell others that the disciples had taken Jesus’ body from the tomb during the night when they fell asleep. The religious leaders told the temple guard they would cover for them if this report made its way to Pilate and he was upset that they reportedly fell asleep. This story has been disseminated amongst the Jews ever since as the explanation for the empty tomb.

“Great Mission”

The disciples gathered on the mountain in Galilee where Jesus told them to meet him and seeing him, some worshiped him, although some doubted him. He came to them, telling them he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth and based on this was sending them out into the world to make disciples of all nations, to baptize those who believe in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to teach those who believe everything he has commanded them. And that he would be with them always, all the way to the end of times.

PRINCIPLES

The Gospel writer Matthew tells his first century readers (and us today) that Jesus
Christ is risen from the grave.

How does Matthew tell us that Jesus Christ is risen from the grave?

-through a heavenly angel

-through an earthquake

-through frightened guards

-through an empty tomb

-through Jesus’ appearance to the women

-through hush money and a cover up story

-through Jesus appearance to his disciples

-through a great commission and promise

PRAYER

Our Father, We praise You for Matthew who wrote and documented how Your Son rose from the grave so we have this written testimony, this written history in Your Word.

Our Father, We praise You for the power of Your Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the grave, causing the earth to shake, the stone to roll away, the temple guard to look dead with fright, and Your angel to announce that Your Son was alive to the faithful women who came to the tomb that Sunday morning. We thank You that Your Son spoke with the women near the tomb that morning and later on a mountain in Galilee with his disciples.

Our Father, We thank You for Your Son’s victory over death and what that means for all who believe in His Name.

Our Father, We worship You, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit with our hearts, souls and minds like the disciples who saw Your Son in his resurrected state. Forgive us whenever doubts enter into our minds like some of the disciples that day, doubts that keep us from worshiping you with our all.

Our Father, Forgive those who have been led astray by the false story about the empty tomb and by the power of Your Holy Spirit help us to grab hold of Your Son’s Great Commission so that the truth of that day will be made known to many people in our lives and they will come to believe in Your Son, be baptized in You the Triune God, become disciples of Your Son, and obey everything Your Son has commanded us.

Our Father, We thank You and praise You for the promise Your Son has made to us to be with us to the end of the age.

We pray all of this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen

PRAISE Listening to 'He Is Risen, He Is Risen!' by St. Thomas Choir Of Men And Boys @imeem http://x.imeem.com/7E46-kiJ2l