Matthew 28
It was Sunday, the day after the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday). The stone in front of the tomb had been sealed. An earthquake occurred and opened the seal. An angel came to roll away the stone, opening it for the resurrected Christ to walk out. The guards that were watching the tomb were in shock! Can you imagine? Their orders were to watch the tomb because Jesus said He would rise from the dead on the third day, and He did!
Jesus had told His disciples and many others of the plan to rise on the third day. I wonder if He considered who might be at the tomb waiting for Him to come out of the grave. There were women watching and waiting, women with anticipation. The angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.”
The angel gives instruction to the women to go tell Christ’s disciples that He has risen from the dead. As they arrived, so did Jesus, in His glorified body. It may seem like it would be an obvious choice, but still, Jesus appeared to His disciples first. More than likely, they were mourning their friend because the first thing Jesus says is, “REJOICE!” The men surrounded Him, worshipping Him, embracing Him by the feet. Oh, the joy and the amazement they must have felt!
Some of the guard at the tomb came into Jerusalem to report to the chief priests all the things that had happened. This news must have shook them to their core! The religious leaders bribed the soldiers to remain silent about what they had seen and heard. Instead, they were to lie to people and tell them the disciples came and stole His body away.
Jesus then gave instruction to the disciples, telling them that all authority had been given to Him in heaven and earth. Then He tells them to go into the world:
- To make disciples of ALL the nations
- To baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- To teach them to observe all things He commanded them.
Then Jesus makes this promise, “I am with you, always, even to the end of the age.”
Leviticus 20-21
The Lord gave Moses penalties for breaking the Law. He also gives regulations for conduct of priests. Here are a few notes:
- Sacrificing children to the god Molech was punished with stoning. Why stoning? Death was the punishment the crime deserved.
- Not only did God consider it a sin to sacrifice children to the idol god, Molech; but He would also hold the people accountable that knew the sin was taking place and did nothing about it.
- Not only would God hold the person accountable who hide his/her eyes, but the entire family of the person.
- Cleansing the sin also was about consecrating the nation to be holy before the Lord.
- Adultery and other sexual perversions were punished by death.
- A menstrual period is not a sickness. It is the way a female’s body cleanses the reproductive system when a pregnancy does not occur. This cleansing time was considered a time where purity needed to take place. For a man to be with a woman during her flow was considered unholy.
- God said the promised land would vomit them out if there was sin among them.
- Dealings with mediums or familiar spirits was punishable by death. The guilty needed to be purged from the nation.
- The rules for the priests were stricter. As leaders, as mediators, they were more responsible and needed more consecration to handle the ministry of the tabernacle.
- The anointing oil of God is on the priest, which required consecration from the world. In another place, it is said not to touch God’s anointed, as to bring them harm. They represent the Lord, and the Lord takes it personally when these representatives are dishonored or put into distress by rebellious people.
- No one with a defect was allowed to serve in the tabernacle.
Remember, this is the old covenant Law, a tutor that leads us to grace and forgiveness through the blood of Christ.
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