He is Risen

Matthew 28 

The Resurrection

28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 

6 He is not here, for he has risen,

 as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” 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 tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The Report of the Guard

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

The Great Commission

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Hello Ladies,

It is insteresting that Matthew 28 ends with the purpose of the resurrection, so that not only is it a miraculous event, it also has a purpose, a ministry, and a continuing duty of the teaching of the gospel while we live.  Verse 19 gives us a description of the work there is is do.

It is also interesting how this anniversary can be traced almost to the date of the event, since it was in the Passover season. When Christ instituted the Lord's Supper in the upper room before His death, he was celebrating the Passover. That is why we use the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (grape juice) to represent His body and his blood when we participate in the memorial service on the first day of the week, which was the day of the week in which He rose from the grave.

Today we in the Lord's church celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ each and every Lord's Day by taking that memorial, commonly called communion (because we commune with our Lord). 

The way His garment was folded in the tomb is to some historians of the culture at that time, an indication that He was not coming back to that tomb, that He had risen.