ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tusite Me 4, 2021

He is not here, for he has risen!

‘Oku ‘ikai te ne ‘i heni: he kuo ne toetu‘u!

 Matiu 28(Matthew 28)

 (v.6-7) 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 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.”

 (v. 6-7)  6 ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne ‘i heni: he kuo ne toetu‘u, ‘o hangē ko ‘ene me‘a. Omi ‘o mamata ki he potu na‘a ne toka ai. 7 Pea mo ō ke vave ‘o tala ki he‘ene kau ako, ‘o pehē, Kuo ne toetu‘u mei he pekia; pea ko eni ‘oku ne mu‘omu‘a kiate kimoutolu ki Kāleli; ko e potu ko ia te mou mamata ai kiate ia: ko ena, kuo u tala atu.

 

*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide on Matthew*

 He is not here, for He is risen: For the first time, the followers of Jesus – these faithful women – heard what they did not expect to hear. They heard that Jesus was not in the tomb, but risen to resurrection life.

 There are several examples in the Bible of people being resuscitated before this, such as the widow’s son in the days of Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Lazarus (John 11:38-44). Each of these was resuscitated from death, but none of them were resurrected. Each of them was raised in the same body they died in, and raised from the dead to eventually die again. Resurrection isn’t just living again; it is living again in a new body, based on our old body, perfectly suited for life in eternity. Jesus was not the first one brought back from the dead, but He was the first one resurrected.

 We should also say that Jesus still is risen. He ascended into heaven and continues to reign as resurrected man, still fully man and fully God.

 In Israel, one may see many graves and tombs – there is an ocean of tombs on the Mount of Olives, and vast sea of graves outside the eastern wall of the temple mount. You can see the tomb of Rebekka, the tomb of David, the tomb of Absalom – but you won’t find the tomb of Jesus anywhere. He is not here.

 As He said reminded these women – and all the disciples – that they should have expected this. It was just what He promised.