Just as He Said
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It has been a wonderful journey through the Gospel according to Matthew with all of you. Our first Sunday looking at this book was April 25, 2021. We went into Matthew for a couple reasons. 1, the church had just finished a long series in the book of Isaiah, and I think it is good to get a diet of both Old and New Testament books. Second, of all four gospel records, Matthew has the most prophecies quoted from Isaiah and the Old Testament in general, so it was fitting to go from prophecy and promise to see the fulfillment in Christ.
And fulfillment is one of the main themes that we have seen in Matthew. From fulfillment of the prophecies, to fulfillment of the law, to the promised fulfillment of all things at the end of the age. Matthew shows us that what God said thousands of years ago to his people are not old and dead words, but rather living words that were intended to be kept and brought to life.
And, so it is with what we have learned in Matthew. From the practical and life-giving instruction in the Sermon on the Mount, to the parables that teach us what it looks like to be a citizen of Christ’s Kingdom, to the stories of miracles that show Jesus’ power and testify to His mission, to his very death, burial, and resurrection which are for our new life and living walk with Him.
All of these things are not simply to be words on a page that inspire, or a simple record of the past. All these things are to find fulfillment as well. Fulfillment, in that God keeps his word and promises, but also fulfillment in that they are to impact our lives daily as we follow Him.
The worst thing that could possible come from this 2-year study of Matthew is that we would have filled our minds with more knowledge about the things that Jesus said and did, more facts and information about his life and teaching, but not have had those things make an impact on our lives.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
So here, in the last chapter of Matthew, we could spend a lot of time again examining the facts, but I want to leave us in this study with a call to action, because that is what Jesus left his disciples with.
Of course, we will look at the great commission that he gave, but really the whole chapter is a call to action, a call to apply what all of Jesus’ life and ministry portrayed.
Our faith, courage, and mission must rest firmly in our Lord.
Our faith, courage, and mission must rest firmly in our Lord.
1. He is Risen, Just as He Said - Vs. 1-7
1. He is Risen, Just as He Said - Vs. 1-7
One of the highest points in the book of Matthew is Peter’s great confession in Matthew 16, when Jesus asked “who do men say that I am?” and they respond with various answers. Then Jesus asks, “who do you say that I am?” And Peter responds with an answer that God the Father Himself had revealed to Him - “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Well, from that high point, Jesus takes them to what they perceive as a low point
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Just in Matthew, Jesus will go on to predict his death and resurrection two more times. From John’s Gospel, we know that he spoke about it even more than that, though sometimes in veiled language. Even so, Jesus’ disciples had been given every indication that Jesus would rise again, because every event that he described of his Passion was taking place just as he said.
Yet, when we come to his Crucifixion and burial, we find every indication that his disciples did not believe him. John was there at the crucifixion, but the rest had all fled. At his burial, none of the 12, now 11 with Judas’ betrayal and death, were there - only the women.
And the first visitors to his tomb after the Sabbath were not of the 11, it was those same women who we read of now.
The events described in the resurrection in the four gospel records are all slightly different, not in contradictory ways, but simply four accounts from four men. They give the details that they remember, that were important to them, not simply a party line that had been fabricated.
But what is included in all four accounts are three main things.
The women who came to visit
The empty Tomb
Jesus’ appearance and visit with his disciples
The angelic visitation that the women saw was one of power and comfort.
Power, in that the while glistering appearance was enough to scare the guards at the tomb to comatose. Power, in that the great stone that was rolled over the door now became nothing but a bench for this angel to rest upon.
Comfort, though, in that this angel bore the news that nobody expected, but had been predicted.
He is not here, for he has risen - as he said.
The proof was given, “come, see the place where he lay...”
He is risen, as he said. Just as he said.
In other words, don’t fear - it is all going to plan. Just as he said!
Don’t doubt, it is all taking place, just as he said!
Don’t fall away, it is all coming to fruition, just as he said.
What words of comfort, he is risen - just as he said.
Again, Jesus himself had predicted this more than three times. I am going to be delivered to death, and I will rise.
While the first time Matthew explicitly gives Jesus’ prediction of the resurrection was after Peter’s confession in Matthew 16, he had made reference to it earlier even in Matthew.
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Jesus told those Jewish leaders that they would be condemned by the converted citizens of Nineveh, for Jonah preached to them and they repented and believed. But these men did not believe. Even though a greater than Jonah was there.
And so that is the first great question as we look at this chapter.
Do you believe? The empty tomb, the risen Lord - do you believe?
He has risen, just as he said - do you believe?
The Gospel story has now come to life before our eyes in Matthew - the death, burial, and resurrection. He was crucified for our transgressions, he was buried in a tomb he didn’t deserve, but he was raised for our new life and justification. Do you believe?
I cannot stress this enough, for this is where a walk of following Jesus begins. You cannot follow someone you don’t believe in, and to believe means that you take Him at his word. This is the entry point, the threshold of the door to the Kingdom, as it were.
That Jesus Christ is who he said he is, the Son of God and the promised deliverer and redeemer, is proven and confirmed by the fact that he did what he said he would. He died, he was buried, and he rose again.
Do you believe?
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
It is the simplest question I will ever ask you, and I am asking you. We joke about the preacher looking you in the eye and feeling like you’re being preached at. Well, I’m looking you in the eye - if you’re in the room, take this as personal as it possible can be.
Do you believe in the Gospel story of Jesus Christ?
It is just as he said.
2. Do not Fear, Just as He Said - Vs. 8-15
2. Do not Fear, Just as He Said - Vs. 8-15
We go on, then, and see the women following what the angel had told them. For he said, go quickly and tell his disciples! Tell them that he has risen, and he is on his way to meet you in Galilee.
Galilee, where it all started. As Jesus walked along the sea shore and called his first disciples.
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Now, it is these women who are charged with going to tell these men, men who had been following Jesus for three years. Men who had done everything with him, and given everything for him. Men who were now in dismay and perhaps even disbelief. Yet, soon their greatest dread would turn to joy.
And as these women went, they had all of this confirmed in a way that could never be doubted.
He met them and greeted them. Their response makes sense, doesn’t it?
They came to him, grabbed his feet, and worshipped him.
We could go back in our minds to some of the first visitors to Jesus, the Magi from the East.
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
There we see worship used of Jesus for the first time. Here we see it again. It was the same Jesus, just a little farther along in the plan. The plan that had been in place from eternity past, which was brought to fruition in 33 years of our time. Yet whether as a baby, or the risen Lord, The Son of God has always been worthy of worship. Of honor. Of true reverence and fear.
Two kinds of fear.
A. Fear with Delight
A. Fear with Delight
We are told that the women were going to tell the disciples of the resurrection with fear and great joy.
A fear with delight.
The word is phobos, and it can refer to many facets of the idea of fear. It can refer to intimidation, it can refer to panic, it can refer to alarm, it can refer to deep respect or concern. And it is impossible to discern just what emotion these women were feeling, but we are told it was mixed with great joy.
What does Jesus say to them, as they grasp his feet and worship?
Do not be afraid.
Notice, he does not tell them - “do not worship me!”
He does not tell them, “don’t be so joyful!”
No, he tells them, do not be afraid.
Drop the fear, keep the joyful worship.
We can relate to this, can’t we? For we who have followed Jesus for many years understand that there are still times when fear, fear of any sort, comes upon us.
But our Lord, in all his glory and in the fulness of his majesty says, do not fear. Drop the fear, keep the joy.
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Yes, we do face fear, but in following Christ, it can be a fear with delight.
Out flesh and mind may tremble, but out soul can be calm and joyful knowing our Savior. We can have joy and peace throughout a tumult of circumstance in Christ Jesus.
B. Fear with Dread
B. Fear with Dread
The story that Matthew then tells of the chief priests is one of another kind of fear, a fear of dread. A fear that finds no resolution or comfort in the truth.
As we read this, it is very interesting to know that the story they were trying to prevent, that someone came and stole the body, is the story they have to deceptively fall back upon.
And it is nothing more than that, pure deception.
Writers into the middle of the second century confirm that this story was in fact circulated among the Jews.
A means of deception, with bribery even.
I wonder what they had to pay those guards to take the blame? Judas betrayed Jesus for only 30 pieces of silver.
These guards would have been taking their lives into their own hands, for falling asleep at such a post could be punishable by death.
But when there is this much fear to cover up, no amount of sacrifice suffice.
It is amazing what depths we will go to in order to cover up a lie, a deception. It is amazing how far we will go to comfort ourselves in our deceit, when all the while it is only truth that can free and give peace.
3. Make Disciples, Just as He Said - Vs. 16-20
3. Make Disciples, Just as He Said - Vs. 16-20
And it is that truth, then, that we are charged with.
Jesus had told the women, “tell my brothers to meet me in Galilee...” and so he did.
We aren’t sure on what mountain they met, but I can’t help but think of the Sermon on the Mount
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
There, perhaps the first great teaching of Jesus to his disciples took place.
Here, the last that would take place in person.
We are told that they had the same reaction as the women - they worshipped.
Worship - to bow down, to lay our lives down before Him.
But some doubted
And have mercy on those who doubt;
Three parts of the commission.
The Ground
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
What Jesus, the son of God, had willingly given up in taking on the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death, that battle was fought and that victory was won - now he resumes his rightful place.
But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
Authority is power or a state of control over something. It is a freedom of choice to act or decide. Jesus says that “all authority” is his. There is no greater power. The buck stops there.
The Goal
All nations, worldwide. No longer confined to Israel, but to all.
In the Name of the Godhead
Teaching
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The life of the disciple is different because of his attachment to Jesus Christ.
Not disciples in name only.
A disciple is a follower and a learner.
The Guarantee
I am with you
Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”