Hide the Resurrection

Matthew 28

The Resurrection

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Everyone has a different point of view about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. You will remember that not everyone was happy that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha were happy. Many of their neighbors were happy but Judas was not happy. He wanted money.

The Chief Priests were not happy. They wanted power and glory. Not everyone is happy to hear good news.

We have the same kind of thing happening in this story. The followers of Jesus were happy and excited but confused. The women were the first to hear that good news. They told everyone but were not believed. The same is true today. I know the resurrection occurred for it affected me and I can still sing the old hymn: "I serve a risen Savior; He is in the world today. I know that He is living; no matter what men say!"

Read the following passage and see that many of the same characters who wanted to kill Jesus and Lazarus in the first place now wanted to cover up the truth.

The Guards' Report
11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.

And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

This last line reminds me of the resistance of many people today, 2000 years after the resurrection. Some people still do not want to hear good news. They are still trying to hide the fact that Jesus is alive. He is not dead. They may try to hide Jesus but He keeps coming back.

But don't give up. The Holy Spirit is still moving among the people of the world bringing them to Jesus.

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!