Naming Jesus in Matthew 28

Abstract

The Easter narrative of Matthew 28, unlike those of Luke 24 and John 20 and 21, does not refer to the Risen One as ‘Lord’. Unlike Luke 24, it does not call him ‘Son of Man’. While once naming him as Son (in a baptismal formula), Matthew 28 five times calls him ‘Jesus’. This is the personal name which the evangelist explained in his opening chapter, the name which held together the teaching, healing, and other activity of Jesus’ ministry, and which unified the final Easter chapter. Up to Chapter 27, Matthew has cited the Scriptures to illuminate the ministry of Jesus. Now the Scriptures fall silent; the risen Jesus speaks for himself, the divine Emmanuel (Matt 1:23) who accompanies the Church on her universal mission. He will be ‘with’ his community until the end of history (Matt 28:20).