Just like Jesus Said

 Read Matthew 28.

The Old Testament law was clear.  "And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?'--when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken presumptuously.  You need not be afraid of him." (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).  In fact, false prophets in Israel were subject to the death penalty.

Then, Jesus came.  Throughout the book of Matthew, fulfilled prophecies in the birth and life of Christ are noted.  In His first coming Jesus fulfilled hundreds of them.  Those validate the truthfulness of the writing prophets in the Old Testament.  In addition, we have Jesus' own predictions.  Here are a few examples that relate to this chapter.

1. His resurrection. (v.6)
"For just as Jonah was three day and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (12:40)
"From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (16:21)
"The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him and he will be raised on the third day." (17:22-23)
"And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and delver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." (20:19)
"But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee." (26:32)

On that Sunday morning after the crucifixion, an angel rolled the stone away from the tomb for all to see.  "He is not here, for he has risen, as he said."

2. His meeting in Galilee. (v.16)
Jesus not only predicted His resurrection but set a post-resurrection meeting place with the disciples.  It did not take place in Jerusalem but in the northern area of Galilee.  He stated this in 26:32.  The angel repeated it in 28:7.  "Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him."

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  And when they saw him they worshiped him..." 28:16-17).  Just as He said.

3. His return. (v.20b)
Jesus commissioned them to continue the work of making more committed followers and expanding the ministry to all nations.  He promised them His empowering and authoritative presence.  He also promised "I am with you always, to the end of the age."   

But there are hundreds more yet to be completed when He returns.  Jesus encouraged these men prior to the crucifixion with these words:
"Let not your heart be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3)  Jesus will come again.  Just as He said.