Matthew 27-28

 Matthew 27:57-8:20:   Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and secured permission to take the body of Jesus for burial.  With, what I imagine, great love and care, he washed the matted blood away and wrapped linen cloth around Him. He took the body of Jesus to his own tomb, set Him in the place that he had prepared in the rock.. and rolled a great stone against the entrance. What a gracious and humble deed to honor the One that he loved. 

Mary Magdalene... and the "other Mary".. watched carefully.. planning to return after the Sabbath to complete the anointing of the body.  But, when they came back.. the stone was rolled away!  The angel proclaimed the resurrection! And, filled with "fear and great joy".. they ran to tell the disciples!

The chief priests and Pharisees.. knowing that Jesus had spoken clearly of His resurrection wanted the tomb sealed and guarded for those 3 days..  They claimed that the disciples might come and steal the body...huh!  The guards were dispatched.. but when the angel appeared to them, they "shook for fear.. and became like dead men."  They were paid to lie about everything and spread the rumors that the body had been stolen. 

The disciples.. mourned in the upper room.. until the women came to tell them that Jesus had risen, JUST LIKE HE SAID!  They finally believed.. although some still doubted until they saw Him.  

Matthew skips straight to the final commission that Jesus leaves with His disciples.. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. " 

Four responses.. 

The humble graciousness of Joseph.

The loving devotion of the women.

The suspicious manipulations of the priests and Pharisees.

The fearful unbelief of the disciples.. 

What is our response? 

 " Come, let us worship and bow down!  Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.. " " ( Psalm 95:6-8a) 

Father, You have given us the Word of Life, the Beloved Son, to be our Lord and King. We have been given  a great commission to tell others of the Truth that they may also become disciples of Jesus.  You have given us the work and will enable us to do it! We need to be strong in the Lord, using the weapons of righteousness to push back the darkness.. to stand firm in this evil age.. to plunder the enemy of our Lord. By Your great power and boundless might.. raise up the church of Christ to answer the call, believing with all our hearts the Jesus is with us always!  Even to the end of the age!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!  Amen and amen!