Matthew 28

What does it say?

An angel rolled back the stone from the tomb and sat on it and the guards shook with fear. However, when the women came, the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Jesus is not here, his is risen.” The angel told the women to tell his disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee. The women departed with fear and joy until they met Jesus and he greeted them. They worshiped him and he told them to tell his brethren to meet him in Galilee. Some of the soldiers reported to the chief priests what happened. The chief priest bribed them with a large sum of money to say that his disciples came by night and stole the body. The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee that Jesus designated. They saw him and worshiped him but some were doubtful. Jesus commissioned them to make disciples, baptize and teach the new disciples to observe all that he commanded to the end of the age.

What does it mean?

There are four facts concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ in this text.

1. There was a tomb that contained the dead body of Jesus.
2. The tomb was found empty on the first day of the week.
3. Jesus appeared to his disciples bodily resurrected from the dead and he spoke to them.
4. The disciples believed that Jesus rose from the dead.

These facts are indisputable. No one can deny that the dead body of Jesus was placed in a tomb and no one can deny that the tomb was found empty on the first day of the week. Aside from the testimony of the women, the chief priests paying the soldiers is a testimony to these facts. The eleven disciples spent their entire lives proclaiming that they are witnesses to his resurrection; therefore, he is the Christ the Son of God and there is forgiveness of sins for all who believe in his name. There are four ALLS to the great commission:

1. Jesus has been given ALL authority in heaven and on earth.
2. The church is to make disciples of ALL nations.
3. The church is to teach ALL that Jesus commanded.
4. Jesus promises to be with us ALWAYS.

What shall I do?

I shall believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God because he bodily rose from the dead. I shall learn to observe all that Jesus commanded. I shall make disciples and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded. I shall do this for as long as I have breath.

Matthew 26

What does it say?

Jesus told his disciples that in two days time he would be handed over for crucifixion. The leaders of the Jews plotted to seize and kill Jesus, but they feared the people, so they did not think that it wise to seize him during the festival until Judas Iscariot came to them willing to betray him for money. Jesus had reprimanded the disciples for reprimanding a woman who poured a jar of fine perfume on his head. While reclining at the table during the Passover supper, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” (NASB)  Each disciples said, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” However, Judas did not call him Lord but used the title Rabbi. Jesus gave the disciples bread to eat and wine to drink as a physical metaphors representing his body and his blood spilled out as a sin sacrifice. Jesus told the disciples that they would all fall away this night but would be gathered again after his resurrection. Peter vowed that he would never fall away but Jesus told him that he would deny him three times. Jesus took Peter, James and John to keep watch while he prayed. While he was praying they fell asleep. Jesus went away and prayed a second time but the disciples fell asleep again.  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and men with clubs and swords from the leaders of the Jews seized him. One of the disciples attempted to fight back but Jesus reprimanded him. Jesus questioned the crowds motive for coming by night when the could have been seized while he sat in the temple daily. They lead Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest, and Peter followed at a distance. The council attempted to find false testimony against Jesus but were unsuccessful; therefore, they adjured Jesus to tell them if he believed himself to be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus took it a step further saying that he is the Son of Man spoken of by Daniel 7:13-14. They accused Jesus of blasphemy and beat him with their fists. Peter being in the courtyard denied Jesus. Peter realized what he had done when a rooster crowed; therefore, Peter went away and cried with much grief.

What does it mean?

The leaders of the Jews wanted to kill Jesus by any means possible. They did not fear God but feared the people. They loved the position of honor and authority that they had. They could not find any wrong doing, so they got Jesus to condemn himself. Jesus went further than what they expected. Saying, “I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” (NASB) Jesus being a man was making himself out to be God. (cf. Jn. 10:33) Jesus knew that this would anger them. On behalf of his disciples, Jesus had to die as a sin sacrifice; therefore, he allowed this to happen.

What shall I do?

I shall worship Jesus as Lord and trust in him as my Savior. Jesus is not simply a good teacher. In this chapter, Judas called Jesus Rabbi (teacher) twice; when all the disciples were saying, “Surely not I,” and again when he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The world has no problem with Jesus being a teacher but the world has a big problem with Jesus being Lord. 

Matthew 16

What does it say?

Jesus had done many miraculous signs; healing all who were brought to him of their illnesses and casting out demons, yet the Pharisees and Sadducees asked to see a sign from heaven but the only sign that Jesus would give them is the sign of Jonah. Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees but called their teaching leaven, so the disciples thought he was speaking of bread; therefore, he had to explain the meaning to them. Jesus asked who do people say that he is and they answered a prophet. Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter spoke the truth: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus called Peter blessed and said that it was God who revealed this to him and not man. Jesus said that on this confession, he will build his church, and he said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” However, Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone at this time. From this time Jesus began to teach the disciples that he would suffer and be killed and raised from the dead on the third day but Peter rebuked him and Jesus called Peter Satan, and a stumbling block, because Peter was thinking in the flesh. Jesus told his disciples that to come after him, you must deny yourself, and be willing to die, rather than deny his name; trusting that Jesus will return in the glory of God and sit down on his throne to judge the people on the earth. Jesus said that some of those standing there will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. 

What does it mean?

There are a lot of people who believe varying things about Jesus. Some say that he was a good teacher or a charismatic leader, but none of these will do. There are only three possibilities: Jesus was either a liar, insane or God in human flesh. The question that Jesus poses to the disciples is the greatest question of all: “Who do you say that I am?” The answer that Peter gave is the answer on which the church of Jesus Christ is built. Christology is the study of Christ. Who was/is Jesus Christ. Was he only a man? Was he a Spirit because even Jesus said that God is Spirit? (Jn 4:24) The answer on which the church is built is two fold: 

1. That Jesus is the Christ which means he is of the lineage of king David; therefore, he has the right to sit down on David’s throne. This is the tile the the Roman’s would have a problem with. 
2. That Jesus is the Son of God. This is the title that the Jews had a problem with because by claiming this title for himself, the Jews understood that he was claiming to be God, yet he was obviously a man. (Jn 10:33)

What did Jesus mean by keys of the kingdom? I do not know but I can safely say that it has nothing to do with Popes. Peter who was called blessed by Jesus for his confession but is later called Satan, and a stumbling block for rebuking Jesus. We need to be very careful to accept the word of God and not make it mean what we want it to mean. Jesus is God’s Christ, and we must follow him, and not make him into what we want him to be. If it leads to death, we must be willing to follow the Christ of the Bible, and not the Christ of man. Government and false religion have always been the persecutors of Jesus followers. Some of the disciples who heard these things would depart from Jesus. However, the ones who remained would see Jesus coming into his kingdom. Jesus has already been inaugurated King but he has not yet returned in the glory of God to sit down on his throne.

What shall I do?

I shall confess before God and before man that Jesus is the Christ, a King and the Son of God, God in human flesh. I shall follow the word of Jesus Christ and not the word of man. I shall not merge human reason into my belief but trust the word of God alone. I shall follow Jesus no matter what it might cost me in the here and now because I know that Jesus will return in the glory of God to judge those who persecute his church. He promises to wipe away every tear from our eyes, and he promises that when that time comes, there will be no more death, crying or pain. (Rev 21:4) I shall follow Jesus Christ as Lord and trust him as Savior, for he is the God-Man who has all authority in heaven and on earth. I shall trust in the name of Jesus Christ to save me from death and hell.