Epicenter

Matthew 28:1 ESV

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

Not an unusual event. Women going to cry and tend to a dead man that they had loved and cared for deeply. Yet, this passage and event stick out above all the rest. Toward the dawn of the first day everything changed. The epic of creation had a new chapter. Morning had broken into the story and brought an end to the reign of death and destruction. To understand any event in the text of Scripture one must know its relation to the turning point of the story.

In my reading this morning I read of Jacob fleeing his brother, coming to the flocks of his uncle, working seven years for his wife, being deceived into working another seven for her, a wife, unloved, conceiving sons in hope of becoming loved. Of Esther giving a party to ask for another, of the hatred and pride of Haman, and the building of his gallows. After reading of this passage, I read of Paul surviving shipwreck to be bitten, to heal a noble’s father, only to make it to Rome and annoy the Jews there; so that some would listen and other walk away from the Church for ever.

To understand these events, we must see them in light of that glorious morning when Christ walked out of the tomb. As the eldest son of Isaac had given himself over to disdain the things of God specifically his inheritance, and was making plans to join Cain in murdering his more righteous brother. In the midst of the fall, God was preserving for himself a people. Using broken, fallen, and week people to build a great nation. Preserving the line of Abraham in the midst of sin, corruption, deceit, and cowardice. Using the longing of an unloved woman to bring forth the namesake of the Lion of Judah. The fourth son of an unloved wife, four sons before she would stop seeking fulfillment in her husband and seek it in God’s embrace.

Finally, the sin, corruption, deceit, and idolatry of God’s people pressed them to the point of being forsaken. Driven from his presence into the hands of their enemies. As they stand on the cusp of genocidal vengeance of their foe, the question presses hard against us, how far is God going to drive them? Yet, he prepared a girl to save his people. He worked in might in the weakness and humility of a girl. God will not utterly forsake his chosen. He will not let them rot in the tomb of another empire. He will uphold them and call them forth.

Morning broke from the tomb and the world changed. Sin, death, and deceit would try and press him back in as guards are bribed and lies are spread, yet, the victory is to great and the truth is one. Looking to Paul standing on the redeemed side of the cross, longing for the people and culture he loves to survive and flourish under the light of the Gospel. Rejoicing in growth of God’s kingdom as it conquers the Gentile nations drawing them out of death and into life. Seeing his frustration grow as he comes to the frustrating realization that “his people” are not all God’s people.

We rejoice with all the church looking back on the day morning had broken, and we those who were not a people, became a God’s people, we who had not received mercy, have received MERCY! Our commission and comes in the same place our hope is born Chapter 28 of Mathew tells also we are to go and make disciples of all nations. How many are you discipling today? Who are you discipling and teaching the ways of God to? “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

Coram Deo