HE IS ALIVE!!! Matthew 28

Matthew 28 unfolds a startling, concrete account of the resurrection and its implications for faith and practice. The narrative describes women arriving at the tomb at dawn, an earthquake, an angel rolling back a multi-ton stone, and soldiers rendered unconscious by sheer fear. The angel’s command—“Do not be afraid”—and the announcement that Jesus had risen led the women to run with fear and great joy, encounter the risen Lord, and worship him. Matthew records the chief priests’ attempt to bury the truth with a bribe to the guards, yet the account points beyond cover-ups to overwhelming eyewitness testimony preserved across Scriptures.

The transcript emphasizes historical and textual confidence: Paul’s citation of more than five hundred witnesses, fulfillment of messianic prophecies, and abundant manuscript evidence combine to push the resurrection beyond myth. The risen Christ then issues the Great Commission: all authority rests with him, and discipleship requires baptizing, teaching, and communal life as ordinary, daily action—“as you go.” The exclusivity of salvation appears strongly in John 14:6 and Acts 4:12, framing belief in Christ as the decisive route to the Father.

Practical implications follow. Confession and faith open bold access to God’s throne, but conversion does not erase suffering; Christian life still navigates a broken world with a distinct, living hope. Communion receives attention as a covenantal practice that proclaims the Lord’s death until he returns and as a tangible reminder of body, blood, and promised redemption. The congregation’s benevolence offering models how liturgical observance flows into concrete care for neighbors in need. The overall tone stresses clarity, urgency, and invitation: the resurrection stands as historical fact, the call to mission follows naturally from that fact, and individual response remains essential and transformative.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The tomb is historically empty The gospel accounts and early testimony present an empty tomb as an anchored historical claim, backed by multiple eyewitnesses and manuscript consistency. That emptiness functions not as a mystery to admire from afar but as the hinge on which worship, confession, and mission turn—if the grave could not hold him, then life and authority follow. Consider how historical certainty shapes personal trust and public witness. [38:36]
• 2. Fear met with divine command Angelic brilliance and the risen Lord repeatedly tell onlookers not to fear, turning terror into obedience and proclamation. The pattern shows that divine encounter does not erase emotion but reorients it—fear becomes fuel for testimony rather than paralysis. Let the command to not fear shape the next difficult step. [28:07]
• 3. Resurrection fuels ongoing mission The Great Commission roots mission in Christ’s bestowed authority and promises presence, making disciple-making an ordinary, communal task rather than episodic heroism. Baptism and teaching knit converts into covenantal families who live and learn together, carrying the gospel through everyday callings. Read mission as sustained relational formation, not mere event-based outreach. [42:26]
• 4. Salvation is exclusive through Christ Scripture frames access to the Father through the person and work of Jesus alone; confession and inward belief form the decisive response. That exclusivity demands both humility before truth and urgency in sharing the gospel, because eternal consequence follows definitive choice. Faith remains a gift that requires the risky act of trusting what the witnesses affirm. [46:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:08] - Announcements and Connections
• [20:21] - Giving and Stewardship
• [24:53] - Focus: Matthew 28
• [27:32] - Reading: The Empty Tomb
• [28:07] - Angel’s Declaration: Do Not Fear
• [29:09] - Jesus Appears; Worship
• [36:54] - Guards, Counsel, and Bribe
• [38:36] - Eyewitness Evidence: 500 Witnesses
• [42:26] - Explaining the Great Commission
• [46:12] - Exclusivity of Salvation
• [56:07] - Instituting Communion
• [65:20] - Benevolence Offering & Dismissal

Bible reading
Matthew 28:1–10, 16–20 (ESV)
*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. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 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.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”*
*…Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”*

Observation questions

1. What specific details does Matthew include about the events at the tomb that highlight the supernatural nature of the resurrection?
2. How did the women respond emotionally and physically after encountering the angel and the empty tomb? [28:07]
3. What instructions did Jesus give to his disciples in the Great Commission, and what authority did he claim? [42:26]
4. How did the religious leaders respond to the guards’ report, and what does this reveal about their willingness to accept the truth? [38:01]

Interpretation questions

1. Why do you think the angel and Jesus both specifically told the women “Do not be afraid,” and how might that command have shaped their next steps? [28:07]
2. Jesus says “all authority” has been given to him. How does that authority shape the mission he gives his followers? [42:26]
3. Some of the disciples worshiped Jesus, but some doubted even when they saw him. What does this suggest about the nature of faith and doubt?
4. The religious leaders bribed the guards to spread a false story. Why do you think people are often more willing to believe a complicated lie than a simple truth? [38:01]

Application questions

1. The resurrection is a historical fact supported by eyewitnesses and evidence. How does knowing the tomb was actually empty change the way you trust God with your fears and doubts? [38:36]
2. Jesus’ command to make disciples is meant to happen “as you go” in everyday life. What would it look like for you to live with more gospel intentionality in your normal routines—at work, in your neighborhood, or with your family? [43:26]
3. Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus. How does this exclusive truth affect the urgency and humility with you share your faith with others? [46:12]
4. The women left the tomb with both “fear and great joy.” When have you experienced those two emotions at the same time in your walk with God? How can fear become fuel for trust instead of paralysis? [28:07]
5. Communion is a tangible reminder of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood for us. How can regularly remembering his sacrifice deepen your gratitude and obedience? [56:07]
6. The early church shared what they had to meet each other’s needs. Who in your life right now could use practical help or encouragement, and how can you show them the love of Christ in a tangible way? [01:04:27]
7. Jesus promised he is with us always, even to the end of the age. How can you lean into his presence this week in moments when you feel alone or overwhelmed?