Go and Tell

April 24, 2011

Background Scripture: Matthew 28
Lesson Passage: Matthew 28

Go and tell. Is it a suggestion or is it a mandate? Is it for all Christians at all times or is it just for the first century apostles? Or perhaps it’s just for those called of God to be preachers. The answers to these questions will probably not change how we look at the twenty eighth chapter of Matthew’s gospel but the answers will change how we view ourselves relative to it. As Matthew closes out his account of the gospel, the final chapter begins with a brief historical summary of what happened on the first Easter Sunday morning. (The parallel accounts of the gospel help us fill in the details.) Some very faithful women who had followed Jesus and ministered to his needs went to the place of his burial with the intent of anointing his body with ointments as was customarily done in that day by the Hebrews. In fact, this was after the time it normally would have been done because there was insufficient time to do so between his dead body being removed from the cross and the need to bury him before sunset because it was the start of the Jewish Sabbath. According to Jewish law, the land would have become defiled if the body was not quickly buried before sundown. But once the Sabbath was over, these women were determined to complete the process out of respect for Jesus. On the way there, they wondered who would assist them to remove the heavy stone that had been placed over the opening of the tomb so that they could gain access to his body. That question was soon answered and replaced by others. They were greeted at the tomb by an angel who was seated on the stone which had already been removed from the opening. The angel assured the women that they should not be afraid of him and the best part was that Jesus, whom they sought, was not there but had indeed risen from the dead even as he said he would. The angel invited the women to look inside the tomb and note that it was empty. Then he sent them to carry this good news to Jesus’ disciples and to inform them that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. As they left the tomb with mixed emotions, the morning got even better. Jesus met them as they went and greeted them. After exchanging greetings, they worshiped him. Then Jesus sent them on their way to inform his disciples and let them know that he would meet them in Galilee. Matthew closes out this last chapter and his account of the gospel by relating what happened at the meeting between Jesus and his disciples in Galilee. They worshiped him even in the midst of some of them having doubts of what it all meant. Jesus declared to them that he had been given all authority in heaven and in the earth. Then he instructed them to do three things. They were instructed to go and make disciples of all people, to teach those disciples what he had taught them, and then to teach them to continuously repeat the process. And this was sealed with the promise that Jesus would be with them all the way to the end of the world (or time). I believe that a careful review of Matthew’s account answers the questions asked at the beginning. The process continues to be repeated and new disciples are being made. Whether you consider it a mandate, a mission, or just a privilege, it all starts by going and telling the good news of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection from the dead.

Robert C. Hudson
April 15, 2011