Behold

Matthew 28:7b: And indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.  Behold, I have told you.

 

We have mentioned that the word "angel" is literally a messenger.  The unnamed angel in Matthew 28 has a specific messge that is concluded by the words: "Behold, I have told you."  The angel had completed the mission--and it was the Good Message (euangellion in Greek, and from which we get the word evangelical).  We hear the terms evangelical and orthodox--and find that both seem to be in opposition to each other. 

 

Churches that have orthodox in their name are often not very evangelical--do not make the Gospel plain, are very cold, or do not aggressively seek the lost--the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Greek Orthodox Church  would be  examples.  I have visited both and had all those criticisms confirmed.  Other churches emphasize the Gospel but do not give the doctrines that promote orthodoxy--some of the preachers on the Trinity Broadcasting Network would fit in that category.   A church that disregards either side is missing out.  Our boat (church) needs an anchor (the doctrines proclaimed in the Bible) to keep us from veering off the truth, and we need a strong net that will draw in those who need to hear the Gospel.  The greatest doctrine is the Resurrection, and we need to shout that Good News wherever we go.

 

The angel's message in the latter part of verse 7 emphasizes that they would find Chist in Galilee.  This is said on Resurrection Sunday.  Does that mean that Jesus would not make appearances in Jerusalem?  The other Gospels indicate that he did stay in that region for at least a week (Luke 24:15, 34, 236; John 20:19, 26). 

 

The point is that the major post-resurrection appearances would be in Galilee.  I Corinthians 15:6 states that Christ was seen by more than five hundred brethren at one time.  That was the greatest confirmation of the Gospel.  Perhaps a few could see a phantom Christ, or someone who looked like Christ, but the chance of deceiving 500 people at one time would be difficult if not impossible.

 

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