22nd July 2023

22nd July 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 28v1-20)


In a play called "The Cobbler of Preston" a famous idiom was born. Which one? It's "impossible to be sure of any thing but death and taxes." I suspect many of us have said these words and many of us believe them. I can't help you with your taxes but today I proclaim to you that death has been defeated. Christ became a substitute for His sinful people at Calvary's cross where He was crucified and breathed His last. His resting place was Joseph of Arimathea's new tomb and His guard was a cohort of Roman soldiers whose task was to prevent the theft of Christ's body.


The Romans were wasting their time. Christ's followers were distraught at the Lord's death and none of them made any plans to steal His body. Instead Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the Lord's tomb to mourn (v1) but got much more than they could have possibly imagined. A great earthquake shook the earth, a mighty angel descended from heaven and the heavenly messenger rolled the stone away from the tomb and sat on it (v2). The guards hadn't counted on the angelic visitor and they "became like dead men" (v4).


However the angel's message was not one of fear but hope. He 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.” (v5-7)


Can you imagine the excitement, adrenaline and nerves? These ladies had just encountered an angel and his message was the extraordinary "Christ is risen!" and if that weren't enough, as the women ran to tell the disciples, Jesus Himself met them and declared "Greetings!" causing the ladies to fall at His feet in worship (v9). Christ informed the women that they were not to be afraid but were to go and tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee.


The message of the risen Christ didn't just get reported to His disciples. Some of those guarding Christ's tomb went into the city and told the chief priests what had happened (v11). Sometimes in life we all have to accept that we've got something terribly wrong and so make amends. The chief priests however decided that the best approach was not to back down but to double down. They paid a "sufficient sum" to the soldiers and offered them propaganda laced with a promise. They said “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” (v13-14). This "fake news" quickly made its way among the local populous and Matthew tells us "this story has been spread among the Jews to this day." (v15).


Nevertheless, as the guards spread lies around the city, the disciples met with Christ (v17). Matthew's account of their interaction is brief but he records for us Christ's final words of command. The Lord charged His disciples in this way “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.” (v18-20)


The disciples were to go and make other disciples. The Gospel was for "all nations" and soon the Gentiles would hear the miraculous message of the crucified and risen Christ. The sign of baptism was to be applied in the name of the Triune God and those believing the Gospel were to observe the teaching of Christ. It sounds so simple and yet at that moment I'm sure the eleven felt overwhelmed. Their enemies were many and the world so huge - would the mission be a success? It would and it continues to bear fruit to this very day. But doesn't Satan rage against the church? Yes he does, but he can do nothing to stop the advance of the church. Jesus is with us to the end of the age, He builds His church and the gates of hell never prevail against it.


It's a desperately bleak life if only death and taxes are certain and so I'm incredibly glad for the Gospel. Jesus died for my sin and was raised for my justification. Christ has put death to death and all who believe in Him will be saved. Brothers and sisters, pay your taxes and then rest in Christ, because of Him death has lost its sting. Thanks be to God! 


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition? In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
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