Read: Matthew 28:1-20
This Lent, we have followed Jesus on his journey to the Cross, culminating with His death and resurrection. We live in a time when many of us search for purpose, the “reason for which we were made,” though we are often very distracted. One place we might be reminded of this is in visiting a tomb. There, we question our “dash,” or what happens between our birth and death here on earth. What makes for a great dash, one filled with purpose? This passage reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus points to two things Christianity says we have to have to find our purpose, two things we often resist: truth and authority. We see both in the journey to and from the empty tomb.
1. Truth - Journey To the Tomb
Matthew wrote this chapter so that we could go along with the women to the tomb, see that it is empty, and come to the conclusion that it is true. He is risen indeed! Jesus was not merely resuscitated or clinically dead, only to wake up. He was fully dead and then raised fully alive. He was scarred but fully healed, the same Jesus but altogether different: glorious, victorious, and transformed. Regardless of all that makes our lives busy, we must revisit the reason for the empty tomb. This truth is essential for all of us, whether we are newer to Christianity or have followed Jesus for a long time.
Eyewitness testimony is the best evidence of an extraordinary event, and we have it. Shockingly, the first eyewitnesses were women, which bolsters its validity according to the historical criterion of embarrassment. According to this criterion, a falsely crafted testimony would likely include embellishment rather than embarrassing features, as is often the case with true accounts. The empty tomb is powerful, but so is the primary testimony belonging to women. Jesus loves to honor and lift up those who are marginalized.
It’s surprising and comforting to see in v. 17, “When they saw him they worshiped, but some doubted.” Faith and doubt go together, but only one wins when confronted with truth. Seeing is not quite believing anymore, so we are often skeptical for good reason. We must wonder how we can receive anything as really true in an age of post-truth, AI, and deepfakes. But we are not meant to live in skepticism and doubt forever. Doubt may be understandable, but it can also be cowardly when we possess it as a false sense of security. We need truth to live a life of purpose and make our “dash” count. We must journey to the tomb.
2. Authority - Journey From the Empty Tomb
The fact that Jesus is risen, even if we assent to it wholeheartedly, is not enough. Bare facts don’t make someone a Christian or give people purpose. The tomb was empty, and Jesus rose from the dead, but what does it mean? Jesus tells us in v. 18: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” Jesus lived a perfect human life from womb to tomb. He charged into the darkness of death and faced the worst of evil. He has taken on the curse and consequences of all sin… And He won. Jesus is the authority on living in the “dash,” and he wants all who trust in him to possess a resurrection like His own. A life built on the solid truth of the empty tomb and lived under the loving authority of the One who rose from the tomb is a life of great purpose.
In v. 9 and 17, we read that the women fell down to worship him in response to this truth. The response that changed their lives and the disciples' shortly after was not agreement or assent but worship. Worship is a proper response to Jesus' supreme authority. If we struggle with truth, we probably also struggle with authority. We may have countless reasons to distrust all kinds of authority today, but the reality is that we can’t live without it. Jesus’ authority is different. He doesn’t condemn, berate, or seek control at the expense of others. Instead, his authority says, “Go and tell my brothers” (v. 10). Jesus uses his authority to lift up the very ones who deserted him and left him for dead.
If Jesus is the risen Lord, his truth and authority give our “dash” a great and overarching purpose. That purpose is that we are disciples who make disciples (v. 19-20). The main verb here is to make disciples. The subsequent commands to go, baptize, and teach are all important, but they flow from the primacy of “make disciples.” Our ultimate purpose is to commit to the journey of being transformed into the image of Jesus in lifelong discipleship. We call, model, and help others to do the same. For our church, Trinity, our purpose is not merely to run programs, hire everyone to fill needs, or to make more followers of us. It is to be disciples of Jesus Christ who make disciples of Jesus Christ. Whatever the date is on the right side of your “dash,” it is not the end but the beginning of a great and particular purpose. What will you do with yours?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?
When was the last time you questioned your life's purpose? What prompted it, and how did you get through it? How does the joy of Easter locate your purpose, even when you struggle to feel it?
What are some things in our culture that you are skeptical about? Is your doubt reasonable? How can doubt be positive? How can it be harmful? Describe an example of both.
Have you ever wrestled with doubts about the resurrection narrative? Why or Why not? What evidence resonates the most with you? How can the truth of the resurrection influence other questions or doubts you might have about Christianity?
How does authority give people purpose? Why do so many people distrust authority beyond their own? How is Jesus’ authority different from other kinds?
Can you honestly say that you approach Jesus' authority with a sense of worship? Why or why not? What might cause you to agree or assent to his authority without desiring to worship Him?
What would it look like for you to be a “disciple who makes disciples?” How does this impact your time, family, work, community service, and church attendance? How can you pray for more opportunities to carry out this great commission in loving expectation?