Matthew 28:1-10 1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
It is here in these few verses of Matthew where death (which had been with humanity since the original sin of Adam and Eve) lost and Life Won! With Christ’s prophecy-fulfilling resurrection, we no longer need fear death, but now can live confidently in our eternal LIFE with him in heaven!
It seems appropriate that the two women who kept the faith, who were with Jesus through the lowest points in his earthly life … both his crucifixion and his burial (Matt 27:55-56, 61), were the first ones to receive the good news at the empty tomb of our Lord’s resurrection and our eternal LIFE!
As they are receiving this wondrous news, the women are asked two things. First, is to believe (“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”)! Second, they are asked to tell the Good News (“Go quickly and tell his disciples” and “Go and tell my brothers …”)!
In this time of Easter, we are asked to do likewise. Believe that through Jesus’ resurrection, death has lost and LIFE has WON! With this wondrous news, we can’t help but spread this Gospel of LIFE to those around us.
He is risen! He is risen indeed, Hallelujah! John H.