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The doctrinal significance of the resurrection belongs to the Epistles; the tragic yet
triumphant history of that great event belongs to the Gospels. With this preparation, we
turn to the Gospels to gather what they teach and what lessons we should learn
concerning the blessed fact that "The Lord is risen indeed".
It is natural, when opening the Gospel of Matthew, to turn to the sign of the prophet
Jonah given in chapter 12:, but it should be remembered that while it speaks of "the Son
of Man" being "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth", Matt. 12: 39, 40
does not reveal that at the end of that time He would rise from the dead. That is not a
subject of revelation until the second half of Matthew is reached.
Jonah is mentioned nine times in the Gospels, and the point that is made at the
mention of his name is that the Ninevites repented at his preaching, but a "Greater than
Jonah" had been rejected (Matt. 11: 20-24; 12: 38-41).
The resurrection is not a subject spoken of in Matthew until the first half of the book
has been closed. This may call for a note of explanation, and will be more easily
visualized by seeing the structure.
Matthew
A | Genealogy.
B | Born King of the Jews.
C | Voice from heaven. threefold temptation of King.
D | From that time . . . . . began.
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D | From that time . . . . . began.
C | Voice from heaven. threefold agony of Priest.
B | This is Jesus King of the Jews.
A | Resurrection.
This structure is not complete, but it throws into prominence the two time periods
"From that time . . . . . began" (Matt. 4: 17 and 16: 21). If the Lord "from that time
began" to speak of His death and resurrection then He could not have spoken about it
before, of which Peter's immediate reaction, 16: 22, "Be it far from Thee Lord" is
evidence enough.
"From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go
unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and be raised again the third day" (Matt. 16: 21).
In Matt. 17: this forecast is given once again, with one addition,
"The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him, and
the third day He shall be raised again" (Matt. 17: 22, 23).
For the third time, with even fuller detail, He spoke to His disciples: