TODAY’S DAILY BIBLE VERSE

April 20, 2025

Matthew chapter 28 verse 6:
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

VERSE CONTEXT

The Gospel according to Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew, a former tax collector turned disciple of Jesus. He wrote primarily to a Jewish audience, showing them that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies—the promised Messiah and King. The events of chapter 28 take place three days after the crucifixion. Roman soldiers had guarded the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from stealing His body, but something happened that no guard could prevent: a divine resurrection.

Verse 6 is spoken by the angel who appeared to Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” when they came to visit the tomb early on the first day of the week. The verse itself captures the heart of the Gospel message. The angel declares that Jesus is no longer in the tomb—not because He was moved or stolen, but because He has risen. This simple but profound declaration changes everything.

“He is not here:”

This is a direct and physical statement. The body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb. This is not symbolic or spiritual—it refers to His actual, physical absence. The Gospel writers emphasize that His resurrection was bodily, not just spiritual or visionary. The tomb was empty.

“For he is risen, as he said:”

This phrase confirms that Jesus had prophesied His own resurrection multiple times during His earthly ministry (for example, Matthew chapter 16 verse 21: “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples…that he must…be killed, and be raised again the third day”). This was not an unexpected miracle—it was a promised fulfillment. The resurrection proves that Jesus spoke the truth about His identity, His mission, and His divine authority.

“Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

The angel invites the women to look at the evidence with their own eyes. They are not asked to believe blindly—they are called to witness the empty tomb for themselves. Christianity has always been a faith grounded in historical events, not myth or vague spirituality. This tomb had been sealed, guarded, and occupied—but now it stood open, unguarded, and empty.

It is also critical that this message was first delivered to women—in a culture where women’s testimony was not even considered legally binding. Yet God chose them to be the first eyewitnesses to the greatest event in human history. That detail further confirms that this account was not fabricated for credibility—it was recorded just as it happened.

This verse stands at the heart of Christian doctrine: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for sin, was buried, and rose again the third day. His resurrection was not only foretold—it was accomplished publicly and visibly. This singular truth sets Jesus apart from every other religious figure who has ever lived. We do not worship a teacher who died—we worship a Savior who lives.

BROADER CONTEXT

Matthew chapter 28 is the final chapter of Matthew’s Gospel and serves as the climax of the entire book. It begins with the resurrection of Jesus and ends with the Great Commission—the final instruction to take the message of His death and resurrection to the world. This chapter does not merely serve as the conclusion of a story, but as the launching point for the Church’s mission. In this way, the resurrection is not just an ending—it is a beginning.

From a broader perspective, the resurrection of Jesus is the central doctrine of Christianity. Without it, everything else collapses. The apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 17: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” This means that the resurrection validates everything Jesus claimed about Himself: that He is the Son of God, that His death was sufficient for sin, and that eternal life is found in Him alone. Without it, the cross is a tragedy; with it, the cross becomes victory.

Matthew builds his Gospel to emphasize this reality. From the genealogy in chapter 1 establishing Jesus as the rightful heir to David’s throne, to His miracles, parables, and final Passover meal, Matthew shows Jesus as the Messiah-King who fulfills all righteousness. But in chapter 27, the King is crucified. He dies not for His own sins, but for the sins of His people. If the story ended there, Jesus would be no different from every other prophet, rabbi, or religious teacher who died and was buried. But chapter 28 changes everything. The tomb is empty.

In Jewish history, resurrection was already understood to be a sign of the last days—a final victory of God over sin and death. But Jesus’ resurrection happens in the middle of history. This means the end has broken into the present. His resurrection is a firstfruits, a preview of what will happen to all who belong to Him (First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept”). The angel’s declaration in Matthew chapter 28 verse 6 is the fulfillment of Jesus’ own prophecies and the validation of all messianic hopes. This is the point where faith in the crucified Christ becomes trust in the living Christ.

This moment also distinguishes Christianity from every other religion in the world. No other religious founder predicted His death and resurrection and fulfilled it. Let’s consider this historically. Buddha, born in the 6th century B.C., taught the Eightfold Path to enlightenment and died at the age of 80. He was cremated, and his ashes were divided among relics. He never claimed to rise from the dead. Muhammad, the founder of Islam in the 7th century A.D., taught that he was a prophet and received revelations from Allah. He died in Medina in A.D. 632 and was buried. His grave remains a pilgrimage site. Confucius, a philosopher of ancient China, died in 479 B.C. and is buried in Qufu. His teachings formed a moral system, not a path to divine union or resurrection. Krishna and other Hindu deities appear in mythological cycles involving reincarnation, but these are not bodily, historical resurrections rooted in verifiable events. Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, was killed in 1844. His body remains in the ground in Illinois. In every case, their bodies remain in their tombs or were cremated. Their teachings continue, but they are dead. But Jesus of Nazareth walked out of His tomb, and over 500 people saw Him alive (First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 6). The resurrection is not a metaphor. It is not a symbolic victory over hardship. It is a real, historical event with real, eternal implications.

Historically, even skeptical scholars like Bart Ehrman (an agnostic New Testament scholar) acknowledge that the disciples believed they saw the risen Christ and were willing to die for that belief. That doesn’t prove the resurrection to a skeptic, but it does prove that the men who saw the empty tomb were convinced—even unto death—that Jesus rose. This resurrection is what caused the early Church to explode into existence. It wasn’t Jesus’ teachings alone that changed the world—it was the belief that the crucified Christ was alive. The apostles did not die for a philosophy—they died for a risen King.

When the angel says, “He is not here: for he is risen,” he is not simply stating a fact. He is declaring the defeat of sin, the triumph of truth, and the beginning of a new creation. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. Because He lives, all who trust in Him will live also (John chapter 11 verse 25: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”).

APPLICATION

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a seasonal celebration—it is a permanent reality that demands a perpetual response. When the angel declared, “He is not here: for he is risen,” he wasn’t offering a poetic statement to inspire one day of the year. He was announcing the final and total defeat of sin, death, and the grave. That kind of victory does not allow for part-time faith. This is where the danger lies for many who identify as Christian in name but not in life. Every year on Easter, churches are filled with people—some with sincere belief, and others simply participating in a tradition. You can hear the words “He is risen” roll off lips that haven’t uttered a prayer in months. Suits are worn. Eggs are hunted. Pews are filled. But for many, Jesus remains a figure they acknowledge—not a Savior they follow. We need to be clear: Easter is not a holiday. It is a declaration of war against sin and death. It is not a photo opportunity or a family gathering. It is the anniversary of the moment when death itself was overthrown, and our debt was paid in full. To respond to that with seasonal attendance or casual acknowledgment is not just inadequate—it is offensive to the very cross we claim to celebrate.

You cannot proclaim “He is risen!” while living as if He is still buried.

The resurrection demands total surrender. Jesus did not rise from the grave so we could give Him an hour on Sunday or a nod on Christmas. He rose to be Lord of our lives—not a guest we invite in once a year. Romans chapter 6 verses 4–6 declares: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life… knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed.” That newness of life is daily, not annual.

If Christ is risen, then He is alive now. And if He is alive now, then He is King now. And if He is King, then our only proper response is to bow in obedience every day, all day, not just when it’s convenient or culturally expected. The resurrection was not God’s attempt to impress us—it was His demand that we turn from sin, repent, and live unto righteousness.

The once-a-year Christian must be warned in love: admiring Jesus will not save you—only following Him will. Jesus said in Luke chapter 9 verse 23: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The cross is not a holiday emblem. It’s a death sentence to our old life. The empty tomb is not an Easter prop—it is proof that Christ’s victory over sin is final, and our response must be faithful submission.

Let the resurrection remind every believer that this is our identity now: we are no longer dead in sin but alive in Christ. And let it be a warning to the nominal, cultural, or holiday-only Christian: God is not mocked. A risen Savior demands more than seasonal praise—He demands your whole life. So what shall we say to those who attend church on Easter and return to sin on Monday? We say: Come all the way. Die with Christ. Rise with Christ. Live with Christ. Or else, you are only decorating a tomb He already walked out of.

FINAL THOUGHT

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” These are not just words for Easter—they are the foundation of the Christian life. Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave, just as He promised. That fact alone separates Christianity from every other religion and worldview. Every other founder lies buried. Every other teacher has returned to dust. But not Jesus.

The resurrection proves His identity, validates His sacrifice, and demands our full allegiance. Not one hour. Not one day. Not two holidays a year. But every day, all day. To say “He is risen” with our lips while living as though He is still in the grave is hypocrisy. The risen Savior is not seeking admiration—He demands obedience, repentance, and surrender.

For the true believer, today is a celebration of life, hope, and eternal promise. For the cultural Christian, it must be a wake-up call. Easter is not a seasonal tradition—it is a heavenly declaration that Jesus Christ is alive, Lord of all, and returning again. And when He comes, He’s not coming back to be ignored.

So let the resurrection not just inspire you today—let it transform you for life.

PRAYER

Risen King Jesus,
We give You glory today because You are alive. The tomb could not hold You. Death could not defeat You. And sin has no claim on You. We worship You as the living Savior who conquered the grave and bought our freedom with Your blood.

Lord, awaken every heart that has treated this holy day as just another tradition. Shake the souls of the comfortable and call back the wanderers. Let every once-a-year worshipper hear Your voice and come to full surrender.

And for those who are already Yours, fill us with resurrection power. Help us walk in the boldness, hope, and holiness that comes from knowing You are alive and reigning. May our lives be a living testimony that the tomb is empty and that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We praise You, Jesus, and we long for the day when faith becomes sight. Until then, keep us faithful. In Your matchless name we pray,
Amen.

CLOSING

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Shalom Shalom.