Matthew 28:1-10 Angels Among Us
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 26, 2019 Matthew 28:1-10
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
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. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said 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. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
(Understanding the Text) Matthew does a summary here. He speaks of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary going to the tomb on Sunday morning just before dawn, so about 5:00 in the morning, and he finishes with Jesus appearing before both women. However, there were actually more than three women. Luke says “Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles” (Luke 24:10). John only mentions Mary Magdalene and her private encounter with Jesus. Mark says “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him” (Mark 16:1). But Mark also indicates that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. I think that Matthew is summarizing the two different events-angels talking to women and Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene- into one general event.
The women came to the tomb and there was an earthquake when an angel from heaven rolled away the stone and sat on it. The guards were all unconscious, but the women were not. The angel told the women not to be afraid because Jesus was not there since He had already risen from the grave. I think that the women arrived on the scene after the angel had already rolled away the stone. The earthquake must have happened as they were on their way. Why did the angel sit on the stone. Was it to keep other evil angels from trying to roll it back? Was it so that the guards could all see him and cower? Was it so the women could see him clearly? Was it so that he had a good view of where Jesus was standing watching and doing other stuff like directing the other angels who were there to accompany Him. I’m sure that all the angels wanted to be there with Him and keep Him updated on what He had missed while in the tomb and to just love on Him. Maybe the angel was watching the reunion while staying in place to give the women the news that Jesus had risen.
The message among the gospels is consistent to go to Galilee and meet Jesus there. Why? I think because there, they would have freedom of movement without the fear of Jewish authorities coming to arrest them. They would have space to move around and meet together without outsiders trying to stop them. Galilee was their home territory, where they would feel more at ease. It’s funny though. After Pentecost, the disciples made Jerusalem their home base rather than Galilee.
(Revelation of God) Jesus did not call the disciples “My disciples” or “My followers.” He called them “my brothers.” As a risen glorified human, Jesus identified those who he had been teaching as brothers.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that there are angels all around doing God’s will and protecting me. I need to believe that God will protect me from the evil ones of this world. I need to expect to meet Jesus unexpectedly and rejoice when I do. I need an attitude adjustment so that I see You in all aspects of my life. I need my eyes opened so that I see the angels guarding and helping me as I go through life. Show me that You are with me and that You have many others working alongside of me.