WHY it matters//
The expectation of God’s saving Messiah was first prophesied at the fall of Adam and Eve and then is spoken of throughout the Old Testament. Jesus came as the final sacrifice for our sin (the passover lamb) who would die and then be raised from the dead. In his resurrection, we who believe in him, are resurrected with him to new life through his Spirit!
WHAT it's talking about//
The Gospel of Matthew was written by the disciple Matthew as an eye-witness testimony of the life of Jesus. Most scholars believe that it was written sometime between 50-70 AD. The readers were mostly Jewish, but would have likely included some gentiles also. In this passage of scripture Matthew is recounting the resurrection of Jesus and the first proclamation that he is alive! Everything Jesus promised concerning his death and resurrection has now come to pass. This is the very start of the church age and the beginning of life in the new covenant. A covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus.
Matthew 28:1-10 NLT
1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.
3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.
7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.
9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”