Today’s devotion is Matthew 28:1-15. Jesus is risen!
“1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.
” 11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’
14 “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”
15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.” Matthew 28:1-15.
Many articles and books have been written about Christ’s resurrection and its meaning to us. The glory and the victory over death deserve that attention. However, we have heard so much about Christ’s resurrection that we may be tempted to think that we already know enough. Yet, even Paul keeps pressing on: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:10-14.
And so, we too press on, seeking to learn more about Christ and the power of His resurrection.
In reading this familiar Scripture again today, I was especially impressed today with verses 9 and 10. “And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Matthew 28:9-10. (Emphasis added.)
We can focus so much on the awesome glory, power, and victory of the resurrection that we may overlook Jesus’ very personal and loving action of meeting and greeting Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and Jesus’ very personal and loving action of calling His disciples “My brethren” and providing to also meet them and greet them soon.
Consider that it would have more than sufficiently demonstrated the awesome glory, power, and victory of the resurrection if Jesus proceeded immediately to ascend to heaven in front of many witnesses. Jesus could have rightly focused on Himself and all the glory and power that He experienced. Jesus could have at least talked about Himself and what He had just experienced. But, Jesus cared about Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and personally sought them out to meet and greet them on the very day of His resurrection. Jesus cared about His disciples and honored them by calling His disciples “My brethren” and by providing to also meet them and greet them soon.
Such understanding of Jesus’ personal and loving actions may help us to easier understand and believe more the meaning and application of the resurrection to us. “Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” 1 Corinthians 6:14 . “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-21. “… Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood–and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father–to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 