“Lunacy!”
“And did you go?”
“Of course we did! His grave clothes were there, but He was not, for He has risen!”
“I don’t believe it.”
“You’re dreaming!”
“No! The angel told us to go quickly and tell you that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.”
“This cannot be! Swear by heaven that you are telling us the truth!”
“There’s more! As we ran from there to come and tell you, behold, Jesus met us on the way, saying, ‘Rejoice!’”
“You are most deluded! You two had better sit and regain your senses!”
“No! Believe us! It’s true, gentlemen! We fell at His feet and worshiped Him!”
“Did He say anything else?”
“Yes! He told us to not be afraid, and He said, as the angel had, that we were to go and tell His brethren to go to a certain mount in Galilee that you would know, ‘and there they will see Me.’ Do you know it and will you go?”
Matthew wanted so badly to believe. These women wouldn’t lie, would they? Of course not. But they could have been deceived. They wanted Jesus alive as much as anyone.
“Whatever shall we do?” Matthew said.
“Whatever shall we do?” Peter mocked him with a huge smile. “I don’t know about you, but I am going to Galilee! And yes, I know the mount of which He speaks.”
“You believe them?” Thomas said.
“I don’t know what to think,” Peter said. “But whether I believe them or not, I will not take the chance of missing Jesus, risen from the grave. Who is going with me?”
“I daresay we all are,” Matthew said, grabbing his cloak and making for the door.
“We have a long journey ahead,” Peter said. “Andrew, arrange for beasts and a cart. We must go straightaway!”
AN HOUR LATER as they hurried along, the disciples saw a contingent of Roman soldiers telling a crowd, “His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.”
Matthew told Peter he would catch up to the group and to continue on. He waited until the crowd scattered, then he pulled one of the soldiers off to the side.
“What really happened, friend? I know some of His disciples, and they were nowhere near the tomb last night.”
The man looked around, then pulled out his coin pouch and rattled it. “The earth shook and an angel from heaven appeared and rolled the stone away, and we were sore afraid. When we told the chief priests and elders what happened, they conspired together and paid us all handsomely to tell this story. They said that if it reached the governor’s ears that we had failed in our duty—punishable by death, I might add—they would appease him and make us secure.”
Matthew ran to catch up with the others.
“It’s true!” he said. “It’s true! I just heard it from another eyewitness!”
“Let us make haste,” Peter said. “Imagine soon seeing the Lord again!”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Thomas muttered.
Matthew couldn’t deny that despite all he had seen and heard, he was sympathetic to Thomas. He wanted it to be true so badly—and the Lord had predicted this very thing.
But could it be? He had seen many signs and wonders and miracles over the past few years. Why couldn’t this also be true? As he hurried along, Matthew allowed himself more faith with each step. All he wanted was to see his Friend and his Lord again. Yet what would he say if and when he saw Him? He was so ashamed at his own lack of faith and courage that he feared he would just hang his head.
Had he only trusted the Lord and believed that He would rise as He said, Matthew would have been afraid of nothing in the Garden of Gethsemane that night.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Matthew was intrigued by the attitudes of his friends as they finally reached Galilee and began to climb the familiar mount where Jesus had preached and taught and healed so many. Some of the disciples quickened their pace, smiling, talking excitedly. Believing. But others looked dubious, even frightened.
Peter led the way, of course. Matthew found himself hoping it was true and that the risen Jesus would really be there, almost as much for Peter’s sake as for his own. How sorely disappointed Peter would be if it was not true after all.
Matthew turned to his brother. “Do you believe it, James?”
His brother shook his head. “I want to so badly. The Scriptures prophesied this and He Himself predicted it also. But my faith is so weak.”
“You of all people! A student of the law!”
“I know. I just don’t know what I’ll do if He is not here. What will become of us, Matthew? Where will we go? What will we do? You cannot collect taxes again. I will certainly not be welcomed back into the temple in Jerusalem.”
Matthew laughed. “Did Father teach you nothing of his trade? You could open a shop!”
“You’re talking nonsense now, brother,” James said, holding out his hands, palms up, as he hurried along. “Do these look like the hands of a craftsman? Not a callus in sight. I will be relegated to being a scribe.”
“You can copy all that I have written and we can get others to do the same. That way we will spread the truth and the history of Jesus. People will find it hard to believe unless they witnessed it as we did, but His words must go out.”
James appeared distracted and turned. “Where is Thomas? He was here a moment ago.”
Matthew stopped and looked back. “He’s here. Surely. I spoke with him not an hour ago. But we can’t wait. I would not want to be the last to arrive if the Lord awaits us.”
“There he is!” James said. “Thomas! Make haste!”
Thomas trudged along alone. He waved acknowledgment but did not speed up.
“I’ll get him,” Matthew said. “You catch up to the others. Just don’t let them leave us.”
“I dare say they will not be listening to me as we get closer,” James said.
By the time Matthew reached Thomas, the man had stopped and was sitting on a rock.
“Now is no time to rest, friend. Do you need a walking stick? A hand?”
“I need to not go,” Thomas muttered.
“What? Why?”
“Because if Jesus is there He will know of my lack of faith. The others are so trusting, so eager.”
“And you’re skeptical?”
“I’m not! It’s just—I don’t know! I wish I could believe without seeing as so many of you others do. The Lord knows us, knows our minds and hearts. He has proven this over and over. I was there when He died, Matthew. You know I was. I saw them nail Him to that cross, and I saw them pierce Him with a sword. I will not believe until I see the nail marks in His hands and feet and the wound in His side.”
“Come, Thomas! None of us will know for sure until we see Him! You don’t want to miss this.”
“It’s not true. You all believe it. You all have faith. If He is not there and I am right, I will be as disappointed as the rest. But if He is there, He will know my heart.”
“He knows your heart whether you are there or not. He knows you even if He is not there but is in heaven with His Father! Now come, please.”
“I’m sorry, Matthew. I cannot. You go.”
Matthew looked into the distance. The others were getting too far ahead. “I am not a young man, Thomas. I must hasten if I am to catch them.”
“Go! Really. Go. I will be right here when you all return, and if you swear it’s true, then I will believe.”
“No, you won’t! You said yourself that you had to see His scars! How will you see if you do not come?”
“I’m not coming.”
“And I must go.”
“Go.”
Matthew hated to leave his friend. He knew what Thomas was going through, because he himself was conflicted, as he knew they all—perhaps with the exception of Peter—must be. He wanted to see Jesus, and nothing could keep him from it. But he was also desperate not to be disappointed. If Jesus was n
ot there, it would be like seeing Him die again. And Matthew did not believe he could endure that.
MATTHEW’S HEART POUNDED as he trotted along the road, and he was grateful to see that James must have asked Peter to wait for him. The eight men had stopped just before the last rise that led to where Jesus had taught and healed so many times.
When Matthew arrived, Peter said, “Catch your breath, old man. Just a little more climbing. Do we all believe?”
“I do,” John said. “But does it matter? He will be there or not be there regardless what any of us thinks.”
“I know He will be there,” Peter said. “And what of Thomas?” Matthew shook his head. “Allow the man to take his own counsel,” he said.
“Ready?” Peter said, and they all nodded.
The fisherman led the way, and as soon as he reached the summit, he called out, “My Lord and my God!” and began running. Matthew and the others rushed to keep up.
And there was Jesus, sitting on a rock, arms outstretched. “My friends,” He said.
Peter fell at his feet, weeping. “Lord, forgive me! I did as you said I would do, and I am wretched with shame!”
Jesus reached for Peter as the others fell at His feet. He embraced the man while everyone else exulted, “You’re alive!”
“It’s You!”
“You are risen as You said!”
Matthew found no words. He just wept as he reached for Jesus and saw the nail-scarred hands that he knew would convince even Thomas.
Jesus whispered, “Matthew, do not worry about him. When you are gathered for a meal, I will come to you, and then he will see and believe.”
“Lord,” Peter said, “will you now set up your kingdom and overthrow Rome and the religious leaders of Jerusalem?”
“No,” Jesus said. “I am here only a short time longer before I go to My Father. I have told you about the end. Watch and wait. My kingdom is not of this world.”
He instructed the disciples to go and tell others that He was alive, “and I will visit you again.”
But none wanted to leave His side. And so He taught them and encouraged them before sending them on their way.
MATTHEW AND THE OTHERS continued to rejoice as they descended, and when they reached Thomas it was obvious that he was embarrassed about not having gone with them. All excitedly told him of what they had seen and heard, and while he could not deny so many witnesses, their excitement seemed to make him only more resolute.
“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
EIGHT DAYS LATER the disciples were again inside eating, and Thomas with them. Suddenly Jesus appeared in the midst of them and said, “Peace to you!”
They fell to their knees, many of them frightened, even though they had seen Him little more than a week before. That He had appeared though the door was shut had startled them.
Jesus said, “Thomas, reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas, kneeling, said, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus reached for Him and helped him stand. “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus turned to face the others. “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
Still startled and overcome with joy at seeing Him again, Matthew and the others just stared and smiled. And Jesus said, “Have you any food here?”
So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb, and He ate. “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
“And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but I want you to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Now, come and follow Me.”
As they rose to follow Him out, Matthew was reminded of the day about three years before when Jesus had beckoned him alone and said, “Follow Me.”
While he had immediately risen and followed, leaving his old life behind, and while he had sensed that nothing in his life would ever again be the same, he had to admit that he had had no idea what his discipleship would entail. Matthew had witnessed the greatest miracles ever performed, had heard teaching so profound and so contradictory to the common wisdom of the age that he knew he had been in the very presence of the Son of God.
Despite all that, he had lost his faith and courage when Jesus was seized, but the Master had understood and forgiven him. And now to see the risen Christ yet again and to be taught by Him, well, Matthew felt a confidence and faith and resolve that could never be shaken.
As Jesus had died for him and for the sins of the world, Matthew believed he would die for Jesus. He would copy all his notes and all the sayings and teachings of Jesus and see that they were disseminated as far and as wide as possible.
Jesus led the disciples out as far as Bethany, and suddenly He stopped and lifted His hands and blessed 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
As soon as He finished speaking, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven before their very eyes.
Peter said, “Let us worship Him and return to Jerusalem with great joy. Let us be continually in the temple praising and blessing God.”
They made haste back into the city, telling everyone about the risen Christ.
EPILOGUE
After Jesus’ ascension and the founding of His Church on the day of Pentecost, Matthew used his copious notes to compile the sayings of Jesus—which many believe became the basis for his gospel.
THOUSANDS OF NEW BELIEVERS, SOME WHO HAD HEARD HIM AND MANY WHO HAD NOT, CLAMORED FOR HIS PROFOUND SAYINGS, COPIED FROM MATTHEW’S HARD WORK OVER NEARLY THREE YEARS.
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
MATTHEW
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
2Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6and Jesse begot David the king.
David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wifea of Uriah. 7Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.a 8Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon,a and Amon begot Josiah. 11Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
12And after they were brought to1:6 aWords in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Greek.
1:7 aNU-Text reads Asaph. 1:10 aNU-Text reads Amos.
Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.
&nbs
p; 17So all the generations from Abra ham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
Christ Born of Mary
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,”a which is translated, “God with us.”
24Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25and did not know her till she had brought forth her first-born Son.a And he called His name JESUS.
Wise Men from the East
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
1:23 aIsaiah 7:14. Words in oblique type in the New Testament are quoted from the Old Testament.
1:25 aNU-Text reads a Son.