Matthew 28:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Mark also includes Salome; however, Luke does not name her but refers to John as well, adding “and the other women with them,” which implies Salome and others. Following this listing of the women, Luke notes that “their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” What happens next is recorded uniquely by John, specifically concerning Mary Magdalene, details that the others did not recount. Since the testimonies of the women appeared insignificant to the apostles, and they chose not to believe, Mary Magdalene, pondering that perhaps they had been misguided and that all they had seen was a specter (though the more discerning did not perceive it as such), felt compelled to act. She hurried to the tomb while it was still dark, expecting to find it sealed. Upon discovering that the stone had been rolled away, Mary momentarily forgot the prior events, having dismissed the news from the disciples. She assumed that Joseph had relocated the body of Jesus Christ to a more secure location. Hence, she dashed to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, proclaiming, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Then John recounts the subsequent events. Thus, a complete harmony emerges among all the evangelists, forming a unified narrative, especially when their accounts are examined in proper sequence. What one evangelist may have overlooked, another has included. Divine providence has orchestrated this, making it evident that they did not collaborate beforehand.

After consulting with the elders, the chief priests instructed the soldiers to claim that Jesus’ disciples had come during the night and taken His body while they were asleep. The chief priests assured them that they would advocate for them if this information reached Pilate. Upon concluding their discussion, the chief priests provided the soldiers with a sum of money to ensure their cooperation. The soldiers accepted the bribe and followed the instructions given to them. A rumor subsequently circulated among the Jewish people and has continued to persist to this day, remaining until the time when the Apostle Matthew compiled the Gospel. For further insights, one may refer to Matthew 27:65.

And if this news reaches the governor, we will persuade him, and we will shield you from any repercussions.’” The soldiers accepted the bribe and acted according to their instructions. Greed prevailed over integrity. Thus began the dissemination of this false narrative, leading to the assertion that “this word has spread among the Jews even to this day,” as noted by the evangelist.

The falsehood was not hard to propagate. The announcement of Christ’s resurrection is so magnificent, so grace-filled, and so joyous that it is not unheard of to doubt it with delight, just as some of the disciples did. Yet, rejecting this truth requires one to wildly contradict all of history, defy the most compelling evidence, renounce common sense, and suppress one’s sense of historical authenticity. If it is plausible to claim that the Roman Emperor Tiberius never existed or that the Jewish people who crucified Christ scattered like dust across the earth, or that the mighty deities of Greece and Rome bowed down before the preaching of fishermen, tax collectors, and carpenters, then it is even more credible and undeniable that which is solemnly celebrated each year and every week by the best of humanity: the miracle of Christ’s resurrection.

He noted that upon scrutinizing the Jewish accusations, he found no wrong in Jesus and made several attempts to free Him from the angered Jewish leaders but ultimately succumbed to their demands due to public pressure. Following the crucifixion, when extraordinary phenomena occurred in nature, and many who had died were raised, Pilate, gripped by fear, informed Caesar of all that had transpired, acknowledging Christ as an object of faith and divine nature.

Historians like Justin and Eusebius detail that such affirmations from the Roman governor fueled Tiberius’ own belief in Christ. It is said that he proposed to the Roman Senate to deify Jesus, which the Senate rejected, choosing instead to conduct no investigation, yet Tiberius, in response, decreed punishment for those who would insult Christ’s followers. Pilate himself, however, did not escape his fears. Four years later, he was called to Rome due to grievances from the Jewish populace, stripped of his authority, and exiled to Gaul. In one account, burdened by remorse, he took his own life, while another tradition states he repented, prayed to Christ, and was granted forgiveness.

Prior to Jesus' trial, a coin was intended to be minted featuring a large image of Caesar on one side and a small likeness of Pilate on the opposite. On the day of the trial, Pilate’s wife implored him to spare the Righteous One, posing the question: "What will you do to rectify your guilt if it turns out that this man is indeed the Son of God rather than a criminal?" Pilate responded, "If He is the Son of God, He will rise again, and I will be the first to prohibit my image on coins during my lifetime." Pilate's biographer, the learned Greek Hermidius, confirmed that after Christ’s resurrection, Pilate indeed forbade his image from being minted on currency. Historical records indicate that after Jesus’ execution, coins bearing Caesar’s image circulated, yet no coins featuring Pilate appeared.

Opponents of the resurrection of Christ often cite a lack of evidence, but in truth, Labirinthios, an official present at Christ's resurrection, witnessed the stone rolled away and the brilliant figure ascending from the tomb. Labirinthios and his team hurried to inform the authorities of what they observed. Hermidius, initially skeptical, ventured to the tomb that night seeking reassurance that Christ had not risen, and instead, he and his colleagues experienced the resurrection themselves. He recounted that upon approaching the tomb, they found the guards in a state of shock, the atmosphere charged with an inexplicable light. A woman’s voice cried out that the tomb was opened, revealing the stone mysteriously rolled aside.

Eishu, a distinguished physician and naturalist, was also tasked by Pilate to observe the tomb leading up to the resurrection. Accompanied by his assistants, he kept vigil at the tomb, acutely aware of the prophecies surrounding Christ's resurrection. On that fateful night, they maintained a watch, and each of them confirmed seeing the risen Christ, despite their prior disbelief.

A notable professor, Academician V. P. Buzeskul declared, "The resurrection of Christ is supported by historical evidence as irrefutable as the existence of Ivan the Terrible or Peter the Great. To deny Christ’s resurrection is to deny the existence of Pilate, Julius Caesar, Nero, and others." Many other historical sources corroborate the resurrection as well, from figures who lived during Christ's time or were near Jerusalem, including Epiphanius Africanus and Eusebius of Egypt.

Jewish sources from that period, though often downplayed, include credible witnesses like Urista the Gamian and Miferkant, who was involved in the initial stages of the resurrection investigation. Miferkant arrived at the tomb to pay the guards just before the resurrection and later confirmed the miraculous events.

The historian Josephus Flavius acknowledged Jesus’ significant impact, detailing His marvelous deeds, His gathering of followers, and how Pilate ultimately condemned Him under pressure. Jesus’ resurrection occurred on the third day, fulfilling prophetic declarations.

Research estimates, according to Academician Petushin, place reliable testimonies of the resurrection at over 210, with contemporary findings exceeding that number, strengthening the claim of Christ’s return to life. Studies have shown the Shroud, a holy relic bearing the imprint of Christ's crucified body, supports these assertions. This Shroud, intricately woven and historically significant, has been adorned with the essence of Christ’s suffering, death, and miraculous return, and became known as the "fifth Gospel."

In the 20th century, the Shroud began to exhibit striking changes, leading experts to remark that it appeared to come alive, deepening their belief in its divine authenticity. Major scientific congresses aided in the study of the Shroud, attracting individuals of varying faiths and backgrounds, some of whom experienced profound spiritual transformations during their investigation.

Moreover, the Shroud bears witness to Christ’s glorious resurrection, illustrating His divine love for humanity—His sacrifice and subsequent victory over death, granting believers hope and a path to eternal life.