Matthew 28

Women go to prepare the body per Jewish custom but Jesus is not there. An angel (messenger from God) tells them to go tell the disciples that Jesus has risen from the dead, just as he said he would. Jesus then greats them and says the same. The women are overjoyed and afraid at the same time. That is not a bad set of feelings. Joy for what is possible. Fear because we cannot control it or easily understand it.

 

The religious authorities need to do damage control and tell people to say that the body was stolen. Note (verse 15) that the rumor that the body was stolen was still active in Matthew's day, some 60+ years later.

 

Finally, Jesus meets his disciples in Galilee, just as they were instructed to do and just as he said he would. Even then, some are not sure what's going on. The church will always have those in her midst. They are a part of us to be embraced through their doubt.

 

Jesus tells the disciples that God has now given him all authority. As a result, the (we) must  

            Go out of our comfort zone and take the initiative

            Make more followers of Jesus by teaching what he taught and baptizing

            Not give up, Christ is with them

 

These are the final marching orders to the disciples and to we, the Church.