The religious leaders of Israel thought they had put an end to Jesus. They sealed his tomb and placed guards around it, yet when it was time, Jesus rose, and an angel rolled away the stone. Jesus met with his disciples and commissioned them, first saying in Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. and then he sent them with a charge in Matthew 28:19–20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age.” but this was not possible in their own strength, Jesus also told then in Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth.” This power of the Holy Spirit also fell on the Gentiles as they believed and is the same Holy Spirit with power that God has given for us today.
Darkness Came Over All The Land
Matthew 27:45–56
Joseph Took The Body And Placed It In His Own New Tomb
Give Orders That The Tomb Be Made Secure
Matthew 27:62–66
Jesus was killed to stop his message and to scatter his followers so even after his crucifixion, they, the religious leaders are fearful that someone will invent a scheme saying Jesus has risen from the dead, in
Matthew 27:62–63 Now on the next day, which is after the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise.’
so, they ask Pilate to secure the tomb in
Matthew 27:64 Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
Pilate has already given them soldiers to help them keep the people in line so he responds in
Matthew 27:65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you know how.”
so they not only placed guards at the tomb, but they sealed the stone in
Matthew 27:66 So they went with the guard of soldiers and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
An Angel of the Lord Rolled Away The Stone
Matthew 28:1–10
Tell Them His Disciples Stole Him
All Authority In Heaven And On Earth Has Been Given To Me
Matthew 28:16–20
Jesus has risen and Mary has seen him at the tomb. Then he appears to them in several places over forty days. And while Matthews record does not give much information about these days, he does record that they were together with Jesus in Galilee and Jesus commissioned them saying first He now had all authority in
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
and from that authority, he now tells them to go in
Matthew 28:19–20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age.”
Jesus had also told them the Holy Spirit would come in
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
and, as Jesus prayed in John 17, he also said in
John 17:20 “And I do not ask on behalf of these only, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word
This commission continues today with this same charge to us.
You Will Be Baptized With The Holy Spirit
You Will Receive Power When The Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You
Acts 1:6–11
In his last moments with his disciples before he ascends to heaven, Jesus answers their big question “in Acts 1:6 “are you restoring the kingdom to Israel?” and Jesus responds with “not now” by telling them in
Acts 1:7 But he said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.
but, he says in
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth.”
Matthew recorded that Jesus told them to go. Here, in Acts, they are to go in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the angels wonder, what are they waiting for and ask them in
Acts 1:11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand there looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven like this will come back in the same way you saw him departing into heaven!”
Study Verses
- Matthew 27:62–66 Give Orders That The Tomb Be Made Secure
- Matthew 28:16–20 All Authority In Heaven And On Earth Has Been Given To Me
- Acts 1:6–11 You Will Receive Power When The Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You
Today’s Reading
- Matthew 27:45-66
- Matthew 28:1-20
- Acts 1:1-11