31 March - Matthew 28

Today's reading in our daily plan is Matthew 28. Take a moment to pray, asking God to speak to you from this passage. Then read, using the following notes and questions to help you get everything out of the passage.

1. This chapter holds the key to the Christian faith; the resurrection of Jesus. There are a few things that are unique to the Christian faith but the fact that Jesus raised from the dead is the most important. 
2. If Jesus didn’t really raise from the dead then our whole faith is worthless. The religious leaders knew this and that’s why the paid the guards off to tell a lie and say Jesus’ disciples came at night to stole the body of Jesus.
3. However, Jesus was seen by tons of people after he came back from the dead and these events are recorded in the books; Mark, Luke and John (by my count around 515 people in total) But the first people who met Jesus were two women, both named Mary. Jesus told them to inform the other disciples that he would meet them in Galilee. 
4. The closing words of the book of Matthew are the last words Jesus spoke to his disciples before returning to heaven. Jesus told them to go throughout the world, tell people about him and his love, baptize them and teach them to live like Jesus showed us when he was on earth. With his last words Jesus told his friends that he would be with them as they went. Jesus gives us the same promise today. 
5. Did you enjoy reading Matthew’s account of the life of Jesus? By reading the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we get a really good picture of the life of Jesus. This chapter talks about the greatest thing about Christianity. We serve a living God.
6. If we follow him then Jesus says he will do life with us. We can’t see him but Jesus is with us as we go to work, hang out with our family, go to church, play at the park with our kids; if you follow Jesus then he is always with you.
7. Jesus willingly died in our place to take our sins away but then rose from the dead. Jesus showed his power over death. This is why as followers of Jesus we live a life that is fully alive. We don’t even have to fear death.

What do you think about the parting words Jesus had with his disciples? Jesus’ final command was to go and share the love we’ve experienced from God with others. So, who are you sharing God’s love with today? It would be selfish to not share God’s love with people.