Matthew 28:1 - Now
after the Sabbath, as
the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for
He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. *These post-resurrection appearances of Christ show that Jesus purposefully chose the
first day of the week to meet with His disciples.
The evidence shows that these appearances occurred on a
Sunday, the first day of the week. After the resurrection of Jesus, whenever He met with His disciples and the day is identified, it is NOT the Sabbath, it is
the first day of the week! - To Mary, On the morning of the resurrection - Matthew 28:8-10; Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18;
To two disciples going to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-33; Mark 16:12-13;
To Simon (Peter) - Luke 24:31-35;
To the eleven disciples on the evening of Resurrection Sunday - Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-44; John 20:19-23;
To the Eleven disciples "Eight days later" - John 20:26-29
Pentecost happened on the first day of the week! The Church was born on the first day of the week! That doesn't make Sunday the Sabbath, it just shows you that after the resurrection of Jesus, the Sabbath is not emphasized and is not binding on Christians under the New Covenant. When a day is mentioned in connection with the appearances of the risen Lord Jesus, it is on the
first day of the week. Look at the very important events that occurred in the life of these followers of Christ on the first day of the week.
Jesus startled them when He appeared to them on the first day (John 20:19).
Jesus received worship from doubting Thomas (John 20:27-28).
On Sunday evening, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to His disciples evidently like He had in instituting the communion meal (Luke 22:19) and their "eyes were opened and they recognized Him" (Luke 24:31).
On Sunday evening, Jesus blessed His disciples twice saying "Peace be with you" (John 20:20; 26).
That same Sunday evening Jesus "..breathed on them and said, 'receive the Holy Spirit'" John 20:22.
On Sunday evening Jesus gave His disciples the ecclesiastical authority to proclaim forgiveness to those who believe in Him through the gospel (John 20:23).
Why did the Disciples meet on Sunday? Because it now carried a special symbolic/anti-typical significance for them. Jesus chose to reveal Himself to them on Sunday. That must hold some kind of
Divine significance. Jesus could have chosen to meet with His disciple on the Sabbath. This would have clearly set a New Covenant precedent, yet He did not chose to do so. The Sabbath was the sign of a fulfilled covenant with the Israelites (see Exodus 31:17 & Hebrews 8:13).
*Colossians 2:16 - Therefore
no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a
Sabbath day — 17 things which are a
mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
When are you going to
stop worshipping the shadow and
start worshipping the Savior?