The Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Wrap-up

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

The Resurrection

Discuss:

How does Matthew's account of the resurrection of Jesus differ from Mark's?

The Four Signs (27:51-54)

What kind of lessons or applications can we draw from Matthew for the modern Church?

1. Curtain in the temple torn in two.

2. Earthquake cracks rocks and opens tombs

3. Holy ones raise from their graves and appear to many in Jerusalem

4. The centurion recognizes Jesus as the Son of God

What kind of theological significance might there be in these events?

1. Jesus speaks with authority like God (Mt. 5-7)

2. Jesus passes this authority on to his disciples (Mt. 10)

3. Discipleship, which involves teaching and obedience, is opened up to all nations.

4. "God With Us" (Mt. 1:23)

Q: How does the Great Commission wrap up and summarize themes we have encountered so far in Matthew's Gospel?

The Great Commission

The Crucifixion

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus as the Jewish Messiah: The Fulfillment of Israel's Story

• The narrative occurs largely the same way in Matthew that we saw in Mark
• However, there are a couple distinctives that fall in line with Matthew's theological purposes:

• From the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus is revealed as the "Son of David"--but this is linked to Jesus' healing compassionate ministry.
• Like in Mark's Gospel, Jesus is a messiah defined by service and self-sacrifice.
• Matthew shows Jesus as the fulfillment of the OT promise--God's covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David, and his purposes for Israel and the Danielic Son of Man.

(1:1; 1:16-17; 2:2, 4-6; 9:27; 12;22-23; 15:22; 20:30-31; 21:14-15)

Matthew's Christology

Mt. 27:20-26

Mt. 26:3-4

Jesus as Immanuel

3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Matthew continues to emphasize the complicity of the Jewish leaders in Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

Key verse: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). (Mt. 1:23)

• Matthew seems to portray Jesus as the actual presence of God (e.g. Mt. 5:21-34; 8:1-4; 9:2; 12:25; 14:28-33)
• Matthew also uses OT imagery to connect Jesus to God, especially Jesus' role as final judge of humans, and promising his presence to the disciples after he ascends. (e.g. 18:20; 28:16-20)

What effect does Matthew's inclusion of this passage have?

Jesus as the Son of God

• Matthew seems to put a special emphasis on this title for Jesus.
• God himself declares this of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel (3:17; 17:5)
• Satan and demons recognize it (8:29; 4:3, 6)
• The disciples confess it (14:33, 16:16)
• Seems to bring together both the messianic and divine aspects of Jesus' identity
• "Ultimately, the title identifies Jesus as the obedient Son, who reveals the Father's will, inaugurates the kingdom, and accomplishes God's salvation through his sacrificial death on the cross." (Strauss, 242)

The Resurrection (cont.)

The Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Wrap-up

Matthew doesn't let the religious leaders off the hook, all the way to the bitter end.

Mt. 26:2-28:20