But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee

Matthew 28, which deals with the past, the present, and the future of Jesus’ disciples, begins at the tomb of Jesus. The disciples had literally bet everything on His words. The tomb is where the disciples’ dreams and hopes of their past three years, even of their entire lives, were buried with Jesus. What do they do now?  

What do we do when it seems that our hard work and dreams are dead and buried? Some may be feeling this way now. The two Mary’s did the next right thing. Were they expecting to find the tomb empty? It doesn’t appear so. They didn’t understand, but they loved Jesus and acted upon that love. Then an earthquake happened in their lives. It was in the form of an angel rolling away the stone. 

Could this be what we should do when we look for Jesus and can’t seem to find Him? Has an angel shown up during the earthquake we and the entire world are experiencing right now? It sometimes seems we are just faced with empty - empty homes, empty careers, empty bank accounts, empty hopes, and empty promises. We might even feel we are approaching an empty throne.  

What did the angel say? “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.” There is the hope. This is our hope. He has risen - indeed. 

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. Not the twelve now, but the eleven. It shouldn’t be a shocker that some give up, and many of us deal with doubts, even as we worship Him. 

This is another time in this chapter when Jesus was raised. This was as the disciples were being informed of their (and our) future; where to go, what to do, and the promise of His continual presence. 

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

—Dave Edwards