All power is given unto me

The Saviour had already risen, early, on the first day of the week, when the angel came, rolled back the stone and sat on it! Just one angel in Matthew’s Gospel; only one from those legions who stand in the presence of God, yet his coming caused an earthquake and rendered the guards unconscious; we wonder what effect ‘more than twelve legions of angels’ would have had!

The invitation to the women to witness the empty tomb was sufficient to assure them that the Lord was risen. The instruction is similar to that which we are given, ‘Come and see’: be assured of the absolute certainty of the truth we believe. ‘Go and tell’: make it known to others that they also may believe.

On rising from the dead, the Lord did not make a spectacular appearance on the steps of the temple to challenge the unbelief of those who had pursued Him to Golgotha; their day will come! Instead, He departed into Galilee to be with His own. The rulers of the nation despised His Galilean connections; the Lord was never embarrassed about His humble circumstances, ‘He made himself of no reputation’.

It was, of course, only to His disciples and followers that He showed Himself in resurrection. Faith alone is that which grasps the truth upon which all else depends. We recall the apostle’s words to the Corinthians, ‘If Christ be not raised’ all else is vain. Then he will say, ‘But now is Christ risen’, 1 Cor. 15. 17-20, so everything for the believer’s future is secure!

Matthew takes time to record the dilemma of the Jewish elders: inventing a story, buying the silence of the guards with ‘large money’, no doubt rather more than the thirty pieces of silver, in fact pursuing any avenue rather than accept the truth!

There is no mention of the ascension in Matthew’s Gospel. The earthly people of God, the Jews, are much in his mind, and it is to establish a kingdom on earth that the Lord will return. Before that time, however, the Lord is building His church, a heavenly people, and the guarantee we have as a motivation for service is in Christ’s closing words, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go . . . make disciples . . . baptize. teach: and, lo, I am with you always’ - blessed assurance!