Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
679 words, 4 minutes read time

One Man and a Message

Scripture: Matthew 28:5-6; Luke 24:5-8

In the previous lesson we listened as the two men told the women about a previous conversation in Galilee when Jesus said that he would be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise from the dead. In this lesson we will learn about the instruction given to the women.

^{Mt 28:5} The angel said to the women, ^{Mt 28:7} “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, ^{Mk 16:7} just as he told you. ^{Mt 28:7} See, I have told you.” ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, ^{Mk 16:8} for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. ^{Mt 28:9} 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.”

Matthew seems to remember an angel, but Mark remembers two men. I side with Mark and have the two men giving instructions to the women. Mary Magdalene had already left to tell Peter and John, but now these two men instruct these two women to go and tell the disciples to go to a place in Galilee where Jesus would meet them. In obedience they departed quickly and went with mixed feelings. They still felt a degree of fear for what they had witnessed, and the instruction given, but there was joy over the fact that Jesus had risen from the grave and is alive. These women trembled from their experience with the two men and were astonished over what they had seen and learned about Jesus.

As they were leaving the area of the tomb the young man who was described as siting to the right apparently got up and quickly came to the women and said, “Greetings!” The women immediately recognized the young man as Jesus, and they took hold of his feet and worshipped him. Jesus then instructs them to not be afraid and go as instructed by the two men and deliver the message to the disciples.

The fact that the women took hold of the feet of Jesus indicates that this is not a mere vision or hallucination but a physical resurrection. Allowing the women to engage in this act of worship, Jesus is acknowledging his deity, as only God can be worshipped.

The instruction was to go and tell the disciples to go to Galilee where Jesus would meet them. The question arises over whether the term “disciple” meant the eleven or a broader group of disciples that used to follow him around listening to his teachings. A footnote on Matthew 28:10 in the ESV Study Bible says, “Perhaps the Eleven, but more likely the broader group of disciples who had followed Jesus.” This broader sense is suggested because of the instruction of go and tell my “brothers.” If it were the broader group of disciples then it might be those described in 1 Corinthians 15:6 ESV: “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep (died).”

Conclusion

When Jesus appeared to these two women and said, “Go and tell” Christianity began. Jesus had died in our place and taken upon him our sin and now he has risen from the dead and revealed himself to these two women and instructed them to go and be a witness. Ever since that day, believers have been going and telling others about the risen savior. One day the last lost sheep will be found and the body of believers, the bride of Jesus Christ, will be complete and then Jesus will return.