November 14

Matthew 28; Mark 16 (biblegateway.com)

From Death to Life: The Turning Point of Redemption

After witnessing the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus, the story now turns to the dawn of a new day. What appeared to be the darkest defeat becomes the greatest victory. In Matthew 28 and Mark 16, we come to the triumphant center of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lifeless body that lay in Joseph’s tomb at the close of Luke 23 now rests no more. The One who was pierced and buried in John 19 rises in glory. The long Sabbath has ended, and the Lamb who was slain has completed His work of redemption. Heaven’s silence breaks, and the earth trembles as the power of God bursts forth from the grave.

Between the Cross and the Empty Tomb

Between the cross and the empty tomb lies a mystery filled with glory. Though unseen by human eyes, these three days reveal the depth of Christ’s obedience and the fullness of His triumph. For three days, Jesus’ body lay in the tomb, fulfilling both Scripture and His own prophecy that “the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40; Jonah 1:17). Those days confirmed that His death was real, His rest complete, and His resurrection certain. The “third day” appears repeatedly throughout Scripture (Hosea 6:2; Luke 9:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4), marking divine completion and demonstrating that God’s plan unfolds in perfect faithfulness.

While His body lay in the tomb, Jesus’ spirit entered the realm of death itself—the full experience of dying that every human faces. Scripture says He “descended into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9) and “went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19). These phrases do not describe a place of torment or waiting but the reality of death that He willingly entered and then overcame. His atonement was finished on the cross when He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30); His descent was not to suffer further but to proclaim His victory.

In fulfilling the prophecy “You will not abandon My soul to Sheol, or let Your Holy One see corruption” (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27), Jesus entered the very realm that had held humanity in fear and broke its power forever. As Peter preached, “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” (Acts 2:24). His victory reached even to death’s domain, showing that no power on earth or in eternity can stand against the Redeemer.

The phrase “He proclaimed to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19) reflects this declaration of triumph. Whether referring to rebellious spiritual powers (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) or those who perished in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:1–4), the message is the same: Christ announced that sin, Satan, and death had been defeated. His authority extended into the depths of death itself, proving that He is Lord of all.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus forever changed what death means for His people. Because He conquered the grave, those who trust in Him no longer face separation from God but immediate fellowship with Him. For believers, to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Luke 23:43). His cross removed sin’s penalty, and His resurrection removed death’s sting (1 Corinthians 15:55–57). The three days in the tomb reveal the depth of His obedience and the completeness of His triumph.

The Believer’s Hope in Christ’s Triumph

The three days between the cross and the empty tomb stand as a testimony to every believer that God’s promises never fail. The Savior who entered death has forever conquered it, turning the grave into a passageway to glory. Because Christ lives, those who trust in Him live also (John 14:19). The risen Lord holds “the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18), guaranteeing that not even the final enemy can prevail against His redeemed. What once symbolized fear and separation now points to victory and eternal life. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead works in all who believe (Ephesians 1:19-20), assuring us that one day we too will rise in His likeness and dwell with Him forever.

Matthew 28 — The Resurrection, the Witnesses, and the Great Commission

The silence of the tomb gives way to the sound of divine power. After the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to see the tomb (v. 1). Suddenly, there is a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descends from heaven, rolls back the stone, and sits on it (v. 2). His appearance is like lightning, and his clothing white as snow (v. 3). The guards tremble and become like dead men in terror (v. 4). Heaven acts and earth shakes as God reveals His victory. The stone is not rolled away to let Jesus out, but to let witnesses in, to see that the grave is empty and death defeated.

The angel announces 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” (v. 5–6). The empty tomb becomes heaven’s testimony to the truth of Jesus’ promise. The messenger then instructs them to go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and will meet them in Galilee (v. 7). Filled with fear and great joy, they run to share the news (v. 8).

As they go, Jesus Himself meets them and greets them with peace. They fall at His feet and worship Him, recognizing the living Lord (v. 9). He repeats the command: “Do not be afraid; go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me” (v. 10). The message of resurrection is immediately joined with the call to worship and witness.

Meanwhile, some of the guards go into the city and report to the chief priests all that has happened (v. 11). The priests and elders consult together and bribe the soldiers with a large sum of money, instructing them to say that the disciples came by night and stole the body while they slept (v. 12–13). They promise to satisfy the governor if this report reaches him (v. 14). The soldiers take the money and spread the false story, which continues among the Jews to this day (v. 15).

This deliberate deception reveals the hardness of unbelieving hearts. Rather than submit to the truth they cannot deny, the religious leaders attempt to conceal it with lies. Yet their false report only magnifies the power of God’s work: human deceit cannot silence divine truth. The empty tomb stands as an unshakable witness to God's victory, undeniable, unchangeable, and confronting unbelief in every generation. Attempts to explain away the resurrection only affirm that something extraordinary occurred, something beyond human explanation or control.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the final and ultimate proof of His divine identity and the completion of redemption. Death could not hold the Author of life. By His resurrection, every promise of God finds its fulfillment, and all who belong to Christ share in His victory over sin and the grave. What humanity lost in Adam has been restored in the risen Lord. The resurrection confirms that the cross was not defeat but triumph; the payment accepted, the curse broken, and the way to eternal life opened to all who believe.

The eleven disciples go to Galilee to the mountain Jesus designated (v. 16). When they see Him, they worship Him; yet some hesitate (v. 17). Faith and uncertainty coexist, but Jesus meets them where they are. He comes near and declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (v. 18). His resurrection confirms His universal sovereignty, establishing Him as Lord over all creation. It's divine proof that every promise of God finds its fulfillment in Him.

Jesus then commissions His disciples: “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” (v. 19–20a). This command extends the mission beyond Israel to every people group, marking the true beginning of the church’s global ministry. Discipleship involves going, baptizing, and teaching, as well as inviting others into saving faith, identifying publicly with Christ, and learning a life of obedience shaped by His Word.

Jesus concludes with a promise: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (v. 20b). The risen Lord assures His continual presence through the Holy Spirit as His followers fulfill their mission until He returns. His authority sends them; His presence sustains them. The commission carries both comfort and responsibility: believers go not in their own strength but under the authority and companionship of the King Himself.

Christ’s final command still defines the church’s purpose today. Every believer shares in the task of making disciples by living faithfully, sharing the gospel, and teaching others to follow Christ’s Word. His authority guarantees the success of His mission, and His presence guarantees that no servant labors alone. Matthew’s Gospel ends not with defeat or uncertainty but with power, purpose, and promise: the risen Lord reigns, and His people go forth under His unending care.

Mark 16 — The Empty Tomb, the Risen Lord, and the Commission of His Followers

Mark 16 parallels Matthew 28, recording the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the angelic announcement at the tomb, and the commissioning of the disciples. Both Gospels describe the women discovering the empty tomb early on the first day of the week, receiving angelic instruction, and being told to inform the disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. However, while Matthew emphasizes the angel rolling away the stone and Jesus appearing to the women on their way, Mark’s account focuses more concisely on the discovery itself, the announcement, and the reaction of fear and astonishment.

When the Sabbath is past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy spices to anoint Jesus’ body (v. 1). This mirrors Matthew’s note of Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” going to the tomb, though Mark adds Salome, indicating a slightly broader group of women. Early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb, wondering who would roll away the heavy stone (v. 2–3). This detail, unique to Mark, reveals their practical concern and human limitation. Their worry proves unnecessary, for they find that the stone has already been rolled away; God’s power has preceded their arrival (v. 4).

Entering the tomb, they see a young man clothed in a white robe, sitting on the right side, and they are alarmed (v. 5). Matthew describes this messenger as an angel whose appearance is like lightning and whose descent causes an earthquake (Matthew 28:2–3). Mark’s account, more restrained, focuses on the encounter itself and the women’s astonishment. The angelic messenger speaks: “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” (v. 6). Both Gospels highlight the same message; the empty tomb is not evidence of loss but of victory.

The angel continues, “Go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you” (v. 7). This wording is distinctive to Mark and highlights the evangelist’s careful inclusion of Peter by name. The mention likely reflects Peter’s prominent role among the disciples and anticipates his later restoration (John 21:15-19). While Matthew also records the command to go to Galilee, Mark’s phrasing uniquely emphasizes personal recognition and reassurance toward the disciple who had denied his Lord.

The women flee from the tomb, trembling and astonished, for awe and fear have overtaken them (v. 8). Mark’s Gospel originally may have ended here, emphasizing the human response of fear and amazement in the face of divine power. Matthew, by contrast, records the women encountering Jesus on their way to tell the disciples and worshiping Him (Matthew 28:9-10). Where Matthew closes the scene with joy and worship, Mark leaves the reader in suspense, a literary device that draws attention to the magnitude of the resurrection and the call to faith beyond fear.

Ancient manuscripts vary at this point: some end at verse 8, while others include verses 9–20, which summarize post-resurrection appearances and the Great Commission. The longer ending harmonizes with the accounts in Matthew, Luke, and John, emphasizing the same risen Lord who restores His disciples and sends them forth in mission.

According to verses 9–11, Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast seven demons. This aligns with John 20:14-18, where she mistakes Him for the gardener until He speaks her name. She tells the disciples, but they do not believe (v. 11), a detail shared by both Mark and Luke, revealing the disciples’ initial skepticism. Later, he appears in another form to two disciples walking in the country (v. 12), paralleling Luke’s account of the two on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35). When they report it, the others still do not believe (v. 13). The repeated emphasis on unbelief contrasts sharply with the growing revelation of Christ’s presence, highlighting that faith comes not from rumor but from encountering the risen Lord.

Finally, Jesus appears to the Eleven as they recline at table and rebukes their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen (v. 14). This moment mirrors Matthew’s summary that some worshiped while others doubted (Matthew 28:17). Yet grace abounds, as those who doubted are now entrusted with the greatest commission.

Jesus commands, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (v. 15). Matthew records the same global mandate but frames it as “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Together, the two accounts reveal the full scope of the church’s mission: proclamation and discipleship united under Christ’s authority. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (v. 16). Faith is the essential response to the gospel, and baptism serves as the public declaration of that faith.

Jesus promises that signs will accompany those who believe, such as casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, protection from harm, and healing the sick (v. 17–18). Luke and Acts confirm similar apostolic signs, showing that these miracles served as divine authentication of the gospel message in the early church. Many understand these early signs as transitional, confirming the message before the completion of Scripture, while recognizing that the power of the risen Christ continues through transformed lives and answered prayer.

After speaking with them, Jesus is taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God (v. 19). The ascension, also recorded in Luke 24:50–51 and Acts 1:9–11, marks His exaltation, intercession, and sovereign rule. The disciples go out and preach everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by accompanying signs (v. 20). Mark, who began his Gospel with “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (1:1), now ends with that good news spreading to the ends of the earth.

Conclusion

Mark 16 complements Matthew 28 by showing that the resurrection leads directly to mission. Both Gospels affirm the reality of Christ’s bodily resurrection, His authority over all creation, and His promise to be present with His followers as they proclaim His gospel. Mark’s shorter style emphasizes awe, immediacy, and response through faith in action, while Matthew’s longer conclusion highlights authority, instruction, and the enduring presence of Christ.

For believers today, both accounts converge in a single truth: the risen Christ reigns and sends His people to proclaim His salvation to every nation. The resurrection is not the end of the story but the beginning of the church’s mission. Fear must give way to faith, hesitation to obedience, and silence to proclamation. The same risen Lord who met the women at the tomb and the disciples in Galilee still empowers His church to declare, “He has risen; He is not here.”