“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).

All authority belongs to Jesus.  No one has authority except what is granted from above.  The Lord has His reasons, even with the tyrants and despots who exercise authority.  Those who have faith are directly connected to the One who has all authority.  Learn from the Centurion, or others who have understood, that when Jesus speaks, that is all that is needed.  People of faith, we are under the direct authority of Jesus who is above all.

Lord, help me to understand that only under You am I in the right place.  You have guided me thus far and You have set before me the promise of eternal life.  Guide me so that I live according to Your will and under Your authority.  Keep me from all danger and help me live this life which You have given me by faith and in Your grace.  Keep me from straying from the path You have set before me.

Lord Jesus, You who hold all authority, teach me to walk with You as my authority.  If you tell me to speak to a mountain to be moved, let me so speak.  If You tell me to lay hands on another and tell them they are healed, let me so speak.  If You give me any task, or words to speak, help me to do all things knowing that it is under Your authority that I live this life of faith which You have given me.  Amen.

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful” (Matthew 28:16-17).

There are always doubts.  We each have our way of being confronted by truth and we are not sure what to do with it.  The truth sometimes feels either too awful or too good to be true, but truth is truth.  Go where the Lord directs and, from the story of the disciples, you will see truth revealed more and more such that your unbelief goes away.  The Lord promises to lead us into all truth.

Lord, help my doubts and fears so that I am not rendered useless.  Life is to be lived, and in the living, I discover more about this gift of life which You have given me.  Guide me so that I seek the truth that You will reveal as I journey on the path of faith.  You have given me the gift of faith.  Help me to walk by that faith, and not by the ways of this world, so that I may become ever more like Christ.

Lord Jesus, You give clear instructions for steps of the journey of faith.  The faith You give requires that I step out and go where You send me.  Help me, I pray, to live by faith, trusting You each step of the way.  Guide me into all truth, for You are the way, truth, and life.  Lead me so that I endure through all doubts, doing what You give me to do, and help me now and always to trust Your word above any words of this world.  Lead me in faith, dear Savior, and help me finish the course You have set before me.  Amen.

“And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”  And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day” (Matthew 28:14-15).

The false story still goes forward.  Sinners prefer the lie over the truth.  If Jesus was raised from the dead, then what we hold onto in this world is false.  If He was not raised from the dead, then we die in our sin.  Everything else falls on one side or the other of this simple dividing line.  We all must make our choice as to what we will believe.  It is either this world’s lies, or else the hope that because Christ lives, we too shall live.

Lord, the equation is very simple.  You have been speaking over the ages through Your word of salvation.  Salvation is before all.  You took our iniquities and buried them in Your death.  But death cannot contain You.  You rose and gave us the promise that if we are united with You, we shall be raised with You.  Help me make the right choices and walk on the side of what is true.

Lord Jesus, the lies continue in our time.  There are lies all around me.  Help me to see truth.  Guide me in the way of hope.  Teach me to take Your hand of grace and follow You wherever You lead.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, for You have spoken the words of truth and have demonstrated them with the resurrection.  You live and because You live, I am filled with hope, not for this world, but for eternity.  Guide me into all truth.  Amen.

“And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep’” (Matthew 28:12-13).

Liars lie.  Those who have what they think is power will lie, cheat, and steal to retain their power.  There are those whose god is money.  They will take money and do whatever is requested for a few coins in their pocket.  And so the story which still moves forward to our day, is that somehow Jesus being raised from the dead is a hoax.  They sell the lie that these feeble disciples were able to overcome the authorities and make this up.

Lord, the truth always has that little something that reminds us that it is the truth.  The message of the resurrection has gone out into the whole world and nothing has stopped it.  Through faith, You have resurrected me to see and believe.  Help me to not focus upon what the world does, but to continue to look to You, through whom all worlds exist and continue a life which believes in and prepares for eternity.

Lord Jesus, what You encountered in this faithless world continues.  It hammers at me all the time.  Help me to shed myself of the unbelief that surrounds me, the false gods that tug at me, and live into the life You have set before me.  Guide me, Jesus, in the way and truth of eternal life and help me so that nothing gets in the way of living the faith You have planted in my heart.  Lead me through all of the lies and liars that I meet in this world to hold fast to the faith You have given me.  Amen. 

“Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened” (Matthew 28:11).

There are always those who are opposed to what the Lord is doing.  Count on it.  Some seed falls on rocky soil.  Go ahead anyway and share what the Lord has given you.  The only One to fear is the Lord.  Though some may seek to take Your life, they can never take what Jesus has given you, for you have the promise of the resurrection, having been eternally connected with Jesus.

Lord, You know that I do fear in this age. I fear those who can destroy my body.  I also know that this body will wear out.  Lead me so that I do not fear what may come.  Grant me prudence to not be reckless, but help me so that I remain bold in the faith You have given me.  Others will report all kinds of things, but You have shown me the truth and spoken the words of eternal life.

Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the steps that are needed.  As You instructed the first witnesses to share love with others, help me to love those around me.  Grant that I not fear those who give other messages in this world who mean You harm.  Lead me where You would have me share the good news.  Guard my mouth and actions so that I am consistent in the message You would have me give.  Grant me boldness to be firm in conviction.  Amen.

“And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.  And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me” (Matthew 28:8-10).

He is not dead but risen!  This message has resonated since that day when, as Jesus said He would, rose from the dead.  We are not to be afraid of the message of truth.  Because Jesus lives, we too shall live.  There are sisters and brothers everywhere and you and I must go and tell them so that they may hear the voice of the Master and awaken from the curse of this age to follow where He leads.

Lord, I was awakened by those who came and spoke the message of truth which You have revealed through Your death and resurrection.  You send us into an unbelieving world so that those who will hear Your voice may do so through the words You give us to speak.  Teach me to speak that others may hear and then see that You have risen and conquered the grave.  In awe for what You have done, but with joy, equip me as You intend.

Lord Jesus, I shall never fully comprehend all that this means.  The task You undertook or the cost You bore for our sake is more than I can fathom.  But You have conquered the grave and offered to me and through me to others the truth of eternal life.  Lead me in this life You have made possible so that I may walk in Your way, going where You send me, and living the life You intend.  Grant me the words to speak that others may hear the good news of great joy.  Amen.

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.  Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you” (Matthew 28:6-7).

He is not in the grave.  He has risen, just as He said He would.  Jesus speaks the truth.  The world may argue about whether or not the words of Jesus are true, but Jesus speaks truth.  Listen to the truth, for the truth will set you free.  Be guided by the One through whom all things have their being.  He is going ahead of you and He will lead the way.  You have been told.  Will you hear, trust and obey the One who is calling you?

Lord, help me to hear Your call as You call me into the future You have planned for all who believe.  Guide me ever deeper into the faith You have given me.  Help me to not waver, nor become still, but continue on the path which You have laid before me.  Guide me, dear Jesus, so that I go to those places which You set before me, doing what is the Father’s will, and learning obedience from You.

Lord Jesus, my Savior, You have accomplished all that is needed so that I may humbly walk with You wherever You lead.  Guide me this day to listen and obey as You guide my footsteps.  Help me to walk through the obstacles that will come.  Help me to see things as they are and trust that You have spoken the words of everlasting life.  Come, Lord Jesus, and help me to be Your guest in the journey You have placed before me.  Amen.

“The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified” (Matthew 28:4-5).

What would you do if someone dead walked out of a grave?  This world is filled with fear and then terror.  Our minds say this cannot be.  We do not believe.  But the Author of this world cannot be contained in a grave.  People may shut Him up in a dark place in their minds, but He cannot be contained.  Come then and follow the One who has accomplished all that is needed that you might be with Him forever.

Lord, help me to hear the message of Your messengers.  Help me to not be afraid in this world nor live by unbelief.  Many are looking; help me to find.  Or should I say, find me where I am and lead me to where You know I need to be.  The world may not listen, but Lord, You have given me the words of everlasting life.  Help me to listen to You and live into the eternal life which is my hope and that which You have promised.

Lord Jesus, lover of my soul, guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Lead me according to Your grace and mercy to not stand still, nor live as one dead, but instead, become alive and live into the life which You have promised.  Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear so that I may be guided by You, the One who is leading the way that I may remain in Your love for all eternity.  Amen.

“And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.  And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow” (Matthew 28:2-3).

The Lord makes known what He shows to those who are His, and it is for His purpose.  The most important thing to understand is that the stone was rolled away.  No grave can contain God.  The world may want to think that God is dead, but the Creator of all things is alive forever.  All things exist through Him.  The wicked stop short of the simple truth that if God did not exist, we would not be.  He through whom all things were made was not kept down by the grave.

Lord, the simple truth of the resurrection is the pivotal point of the hope we have in faith.  He, having been raised from the dead, shows us that all He said is true.  Our sins are forgiven, we have hope of eternal life with Him.  There is the peace which surpasses all understanding.  Help us to open up the grave of our hearts by faith to know the reality of what the resurrection means so that we may live by faith and not by sight.

Lord Jesus, You have done all that is needed for our salvation.  Guide me in the way of living that I may see the things You have done and understand their meaning.  Help me to trust in You, the author and finisher of my faith.  It is through You alone that we have hope, eternal hope, and the promise of Your life being poured into us.  The stone is rolled away and the will of the Father has been done.  Amen.

“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave” (Matthew 28:1).

As those who mourn do, they came to the grave to perform the death customs the first day of the week.  How often do we come to the grave rather than look for the resurrected Lord?  We lament the state of the world and do not believe the promises of the Lord.  Our Lord loves us still, but why not choose the better portion?  Death is not the final answer.  The Lord of all creation has the final word.  Trust in the One who will tie all things together according to the Father’s will.

Lord, this world segregates and separates so that we do not see that You are the Lord of all.  We constantly go to graves rather than expecting life to emerge.  This world is dead in sin, but because of what You have done and are doing, there is always new life.  Guide us away from thinking only of death and think instead of the new life You give.  Lead us along the path of living in You now and always.

Lord Jesus, sinners expect nothing new, but You are making all things new.  Guide me in the grace You have given me to live into the life You intend for me to live.  Although I come with an attitude befitting a graveyard, grant me a spirit that sees new life and then lives it.  Help me learn how to trust that You are the One who will accomplish all things for the good.  Lead me in faith to know that no matter the surprises that come, You are with me always.  Amen.