Matthew Chapter 28 {The Resurrection} {SideNote: Characteristics of the Resurrection Body of Christ per the Scriptures - and I Corinthians 15:49 says we will have a body EXACTLY like His heavenly body. So we will have an image of an adult/33 year old body:   1. The nail imprints in His hands were visible - Psalm 22:16;  Zechariah 12:10; and John 20:25-29   2. The scar in His side was visible - John 20:25-29   3. He was recognized by the disciples - 17 different appearances   4. He could eat - Luke 24: 42-43   5. He had substance and could be touched - Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:39; John 20:17   6. He could breathe - John 20:22   7. His body possessed flesh and bones (no record of blood) - Dr. Luke in Luke 24:39-40   8. His body could walk through closed doors - Luke 24:36; John 20:19   9. His body could appear and disappear - Luke 24:17  10. His body could move vertically or horizontally - Matthew 28:10 and Acts 1:9-10 Also see the original Greek of I Corinthians 15:35 and following . . . the bodies will be the same, but the 'ability to reflect the light/glory of the Lord' will be different.} {Verses 1-10 Resurrection is verified} 28:1~~Now after the Sabbath {anytime on 'Saturday' night after sundown} . . . just before dawn {still very dark} on the first day of the week {Sunday is the first day of the Jewish week}, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb {they were the best students of doctrine and expected the resurrection of Christ}. {Note: The Jews have many Sabbath's. Our Friday night after sundown to Saturday night sundown is the Jewish Saturday and Sabbath. All the feast days are also Sabbath's - so the Passover feast was a 'Sabbath'. Jesus arose on another 'Sabbath' the feast of the First Fruits - a Jewish Sunday.} {Mechanics of the Opening of the Tomb} 28:2~~And there was a severe earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone . . . and kept on sitting on it {waiting for the ladies apparently}. 28:3~~His {the angel} appearance kept on being exactly like lightning {he emanated}, and his clothes were white as snow {almost transparent and translucent}. {Note: Apparently angels have a body composed of light. We also know from Hebrews 1:7 that Jesus made them as spirits, higher than mankind.} Note: Nachash means serpent in Hebrew. Its base word is 'light'. RBT says that the serpent in the garden was the most attractive creature made before its fall. Satan is also called a serpent quite often.} 28:4~~The guards became like dead {passed out} from the ultimate source of fear . . . because they were so afraid of him {the angel}. 28:5~~And the angel said to the women, "Stop being afraid, because I know that you are looking for Jesus . . . Who was crucified." {Note: Notice the angel used the name of His humanity as being crucified.} 28:6~~"He is not here, because He has been raised . . . just as He said. HERE . . . see the place where He was lying." 28:7~~"Having gone quickly . . . tell His disciples, 'He has been raised from the ultimate source of the dead {means death has no more claim on Jesus - 'death has no more sting'} and is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see Him there.' I have followed my instructions and told you." 28:8~~So they left the tomb quickly, with awe and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. {Note: The concept of 'awe' is Occupation with Christ. And 'great joy' is tremendous inner happiness.} 28:9~~Behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Greetings!" They came to Him, fell down and clung to His feet and worshiped Him. {Note: This is the second resurrection appearance. The first is recorded in John 20:11-17 to Mary Magdalene alone. RBT says the ladies apparently ran and separated in their sprint and Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first. Then the ladies came back together and Jesus appeared to both of them.} 28:10~~Then Jesus said to them, "Don't get excited {relax}. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see Me there {if they BELIEVE they will WALK}." {The Perjury of the Roman Guard - Verses 11-15} 28:11~~While they were going, some of the {Roman} guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 28:12-13~~After they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers an enormous amount of money, 28:13~~telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came at night and stole His body while we were asleep.' " {Note: Roman guards can NOT sleep on guard duty - they would immediately be EXECUTED! And, if they were asleep they would NOT know what happened. But the hearers of the lie were prejudiced so they accepted the lie on the face of it.} 28:14~~"If this matter is heard before the procurator {Pontius Pilate} -maybe it will, maybe it will not - we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 28:15~~So they took the money and did as they were instructed {over and over - drilled into them}. And this story is told among the Jews to this day {negative volition - they WANTED to believe it!}. {The Great Commission - Verses 16-20} 28:16~~So the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. {Note: Did not make a short walk to the tomb so they get a long walk to Galilee - maybe 100 miles.} 28:17~~When they saw Him . . . they worshiped Him, but, in contrast, some {back in Jerusalem} doubted {due to the report of the guards - those who saw Him did not doubt}. {Note: This is the tenth resurrection appearance.} 28:18~~Then Jesus came up and said to them, "All authority in heaven {Jesus is sitting at the right hand side of the Father} and on earth {The completed Canon of Scripture is the Mind of Christ - and is the authority today on earth until the millennium} has been given to Me." 28:19-20~~"Having gone, therefore {commands Jesus} . . . teaching in a conversational manner {matheteuo} all nations   {teach individually worldwide . . . and make the issues clear} . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .   {after teaching, baptism expresses their positive response to the   evangelism and 'identification' (baptizo) with Christ} 28:20~~teaching them in a teaching situation {didasko} . . . to guard {Bible doctrine} in all things {the New Testament Doctrines} I {Jesus} have commanded. And remember I keep on being with you always . . . even to the end of the {Jewish} age. I believe it {Amen}." {Note: Matheteuo is the Greek communication word that means to instruct in a one on one conversational situation. Didasko is the Greek communication word for teaching in a classroom situation under the strict academic authority of the communicator. This does not have to be face to face, but it is not one on one type teaching - that is matheteuo.} {Note: Jesus was WITH the Old Testament believers. In the Church Age, Jesus is WITH and IN believers. And again, in the Tribulation He will again be WITH believers.} ************************************************ This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. This page also sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.