Matthew 28

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers

and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’

And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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Matthew 28:5

“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.”

The angel's first words to the women are the same words that mark every divine encounter in Matthew's Gospel: do not be afraid. The angel says this to shepherds at the birth announcement in Luke and to the disciples at the Transfiguration — fear is always the human response to the divine breaking in, and the divine response to human fear is always reassurance. The specificity of the angel's knowledge — I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified — communicates that the resurrection is the answer to this specific search, not a general religious experience. The women came looking for the crucified Jesus, and the resurrection addresses that specific grief, that specific loss. The resurrection is the answer to the cross, not an escape from it.

Community Reflections

Markus Bauer100d ago

NoteThe armor of God - Matthew 28

My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. Faith isn't the absence of doubt - it's choosing to believe despite it. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. His timing, His methods, His purposes - all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good. God meets us exactly where we are - broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God is faithful in every circumstance. I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. What a reminder…

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Matthew 28:5

“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.”

Community Reflections

Markus Bauer100d ago

NoteThe armor of God - Matthew 28

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