HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID

HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID

PROCLAMATION

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He is risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.’ ”  Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  After the body of Jesus was placed in Joseph’s tomb, a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance. (Matthew 27:59-60)  The chief priests and the Pharisees convinced Pilate to post a guard at the tomb to prevent the Jews from stealing the body and claiming that He had risen from the dead. (Matthew 27:62-66)  After the Sabbath, at dawn there was a violent earthquake.  An angel of The Lord came down from heaven, went to the tomb, rolled the stone away and sat on it. (Matthew 28:1-2)  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb and they saw the angel.  That was when the angel spoke to them and told them that Jesus, The Christ, had risen as He said that He would.  After the women left the tomb to tell the disciples the good news, Jesus appeared to them. (Matthew 28:8-10)  Later Jesus met with His eleven disciples and they worshiped Him.  He spoke with them and gave them what is referred to as “The Great Commission,” to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:16-20)

APPLICATION

The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, is recorded in all four of the gospels. (Matthew 27:26 to 28:8; Mark 15:15 to 16:8; Luke 23:23 to 24:9 and John 19:16 to 20:10)  It was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-6)  The resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, was not witnessed; it must be believed.  Thomas believed after he saw for himself and touched the wounds in His hands and side.  Blessed are those of us that have not seen and yet believe. (John 20:27-29)  However, after He rose from the grave, He appeared for man to see Him on more than forty different times before He ascended to heaven. (Matthew 28:9-10 and 28:11-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-50; and John 20:11-29 and 21:1-23)  For forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3) Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them, touched Him, and at times He ate with them.  His ascension to heaven from a mountain in Galilee was witnessed by the disciples. (Acts 1:9)  The Word of God says it and that settles it.  He is risen.

The Ordinance Of Baptism

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit ..."  Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

This was one of the last commands of Jesus, The Christ, as He spoke to His disciples after His resurrection, instructing them to go forth and preach, and teach others to obey The Word of God.  He told them to baptize the new disciples in the name of God The Father, and God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit.  This command, which is referred to as the great commission, was the ordinance of baptism.

When Jesus was baptized by John, the baptizer, in the Jordan river, He was immersed in the water.  (Matthew 3:16 and Mark 1:10)  Water baptism is an outward sign or demonstration of an inward conviction and commitment. It is an act of obedience and adherence to The Word of God.  Baptism does not confer salvation upon one. (Mark 16:16)  If you are baptized and do not believe, then you are a dry lost soul when you go into the water and you are a wet lost soul when you come our of the water.  However, pretending to believe, just to go through the act of baptism may bring about one's damnation. (Mark 16:16)   Baptism by itself does not save anyone, it is our belief in Christ which saves us. (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9)  As believers, when we are baptized, we are being obedient to our Lord's command. 

Go And Make Disciples Teach Them

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' "  Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

After His resurrection, Jesus, The Christ, told His disciples that He had been given all power in heaven and on earth.  Then He gave them the command, which is referred to as "the great commission", to go teach and preach to all the people in the world the things which He had taught them.  So that they would also become His disciples and be baptized.  Jesus also promised them that He would always be with them.

This final command of Jesus to His disciples, and to us as His present day disciples, to teach the gospel is recorded in all four of the gospels.  (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, & John 21:15-17)  We all are to tell others about salvation through belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not just the preachers and pastors.  We talk to a lot of people each day, but do we tell any of them about Christ?  It is time for us to make a commitment to obey the great commission and tell others about the gospel, in order to help non-believers become disciples of Christ.  Our job is to tell them about it.  The Holy Spirit's job is convict them, convince them, convert them, and consecrate them.