05/20/2026
Matthew 28 — An Extreme Promise That Changes How We Live
As I sit here and ponder, the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28 it is absolutely amazing. It changed everything—not only for those who witnessed it, but for everyone throughout history who has embraced it, even today.
When Jesus rose from the dead, it proved that everything He had been saying was true. He said He would die and rise again on the third day because He came to seek and save the lost. Now He had saved them, and He was about to empower them—empower them with the same power that raised Him from the dead. The power of Almighty God would now live in them and work through them to reach the world.
In Matthew 28, everyone who saw the risen Jesus was transformed. They went from being timid, scared, grieving, heartbroken, and shattered to becoming bold, fearless, joy‑filled people. Their grief turned to dancing. Their crushed dreams were restored. And what’s so amazing is that this same truth has continued throughout history. It wasn’t only those who saw Jesus risen who were changed—it was those who believed.
What did they believe? They believed that God loved them so much that He came to redeem them, save them, and rescue them from a life of self‑centeredness, sadness, doubt, fear, and hurt—a life enslaved to the flesh and sin. God loved us so much that Jesus came and lived the very law He created. He lived it perfectly, and then He paid the punishment for that law on behalf of those who broke it—all of humankind.
His blood on the cross was so precious, so valuable—more than all the people in the universe combined. His blood paid the penalty for our sin…for my sin…for my disobedience, my rejection of Him, my ignoring Him, and living as if life is about me. He paid that price for me. And then He rose again, conquering death, showing me that I no longer have to fear. He proved that everything He said was true—even the promise to Abraham that He came to be a blessing to all people.
When I think about the resurrection, I see a risen, ruling Jesus—who rose from the dead and now reigns in heaven, who sends the Holy Spirit to live in me. Now I have the power of Almighty God—the One who raised Jesus and created the universe—living in me. And I know He will never leave me because of the promise He made in Matthew 28:
“behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Wow. What a promise.
The God who created the universe, who made all mankind, determined before He even made one atom that He would come, die for me, rise again, send His Spirit to live in me, and never leave me. What do I have to fear?
This means I am invincible until He calls me home. No one can stop what He has called me to do or where He leads me to go. And on the day I see Him face‑to‑face, that day will come exactly as He has ordained—and He will be with me then too.
But even better is that I get God now. Do you understand what that means? It should change everything—and it has in my life. On the days I forget that He is now with me I become self‑centered, easily angered, and sink into self‑pity. But when I remember that Jesus will never leave me—and that I can have a one‑on‑one relationship with Him—it changes everything.
It is an extreme promise that changes how I live. Jesus came not just to save me, but to bring me to God. Know that He will never leave me gives me the will to live a life of faith in Him.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)
I CHALLENGE YOU
Read Matthew 28 today. Look at how the resurrected Jesus changed everyone who encountered Him.
Has the resurrected Jesus changed your life?
Has His promise—“I am with you always”—shaped how you live?
Paul said that when he believed Christ died and rose again, everything changed:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20)
You can live your life by faith when you know Christ died for you and will never leave you. You never have to fear again, be lonely again, feel abandoned, or feel disposable—because He is with you, He loves you, and He wants a relationship with you.
You don’t have to live by your feelings or circumstances. You can live by faith in what God says in His Word when you yield to Him and let Him live in you and through you. Jesus gave you an extreme promise—a promise that changes how you live.
PRAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS
“Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die and for raising Him from the grave. Help me today to believe the resurrection. Help me to believe what Jesus said in Matthew 28:20: ‘…behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ I can’t live this out on my own, but I trust You to live it through me. Let Jesus live through me this week as I walk in this promise so I never have to fear again. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
