Translation: King James Version
Key Word: “make disciples” | Greek: “matheteuo” | Meaning: “to make disciples, to teach and train followers”
The tomb that was supposed to hold Jesus forever turns out to be empty. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Matthew 28.
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come to see the tomb, and a great earthquake occurs as an angel of the Lord descends, rolls back the stone, and sits on it, his appearance “like lightning” and his clothing “white as snow.” The guards shake with fear and become “as dead men.” The angel tells the women not to be afraid, since Jesus “is not here: for he is risen, as he said,” and instructs them to go quickly and tell the disciples.
As the women hurry away with fear and great joy, Jesus Himself meets them, and they hold His feet and worship Him. Jesus repeats the angel’s instruction, telling them not to be afraid and to tell His brethren to go to Galilee, where they will see Him. Meanwhile, some of the guards report everything to the chief priests, who bribe them to spread a false story that the disciples stole Jesus’ body while they slept.
The eleven disciples travel to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had appointed, and when they see Him, they worship Him, though some still doubt. Jesus then delivers what we call the Great Commission. “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.” The Greek word for teach here, “matheteuo,” means to make disciples, not merely to pass along information. Jesus closes the entire Gospel with an enormous promise. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Matthew’s Gospel opened with the name Emmanuel, God with us, and it closes with Jesus making that same promise permanent, I am with you always. Everything in between, the miracles, the parables, the cross, and now the empty tomb, all lead to this same enduring truth. The resurrected Jesus is still present with anyone willing to follow Him.
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