August 9, Matthew 28
The first evangelist of the resurrection was an angel, but the first human carriers of the empty tomb story were the women who came early that morning. Their emotions had quite a workout that Passover weekend, and the fear and joy mixture they felt as they hurried to tell the news turned into worship at Jesus’ feet when he appeared to them. All he had said about being Messiah was true! All evidence pointed to the truth, and his resurrection sealed their hearts in devotion to him.
When the eleven remaining apostles went to Galilee as Jesus had instructed through the women’s words, most of these men who had walked with Jesus and knew him best bowed in worship, too. Oddly, some of them doubted, even in the presence of his resurrected body. Maybe it was hard to get past the last views they’d had, over their shoulders as they ran away in the garden. Had they watched from a
distance as his trial went wrong, as he was tortured and crucified, and as his mangled, blood-soaked body was removed from the cross? He had mentioned resurrection, but who could believe that anyone could come back from such an ordeal? Now the words had moved from memory and theory to concrete reality. It must have been hard, at least for some of them, to believe.
The chief priests didn’t believe before he died, and they weren’t about to concede faith in him now. The men who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the nation chose to bribe
wide-eyed guards and bury the story about what really happened at the tomb that morning under a lie about grave robbing disciples. A character in one of Jesus’ stories was told that people who wouldn’t listen and believe the
prophets’ message also wouldn’t believe if one they knew to be dead returned to deliver the warning to repent. Sure enough, when Jesus did come back, they chose to lie rather than admit the truth about him.
The disciples were galvanized, fortified by seeing Jesus alive and well. The denial, the running away—all that was over. They would faithfully testify about him for the rest of their lives, and most of them would pay with their lives for doing so. They obeyed his parting
orders to go make disciples. Because they did, we’re blessed to know their story and Jesus’ story. Put yourself in their sandals. How would you react? Ponder the record and the claim. Will
you worship, or will you deny? Will you believe or doubt? Will you obey or refuse to recognize his call on your life?
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide
for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—August 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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