Matthew 28:1-10 The King: Raised from the Dead WC McCarter
Introduction
There are
very few people, even scholars, who will deny that Jesus of Nazareth died and
that His death was by crucifixion. This is a historical reality. The issue is how
one may interpret that death. Yes, it was painful and ugly, but more than that,
we believe that Jesus Christ was absorbing in His soul the sins of the whole
world. His death was a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin as our
substitute on the cross. So, we believe that Jesus died literally, physically,
and historically, and His death was unique.
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
The Sabbath
would have ended at sun-down on Saturday evening which began the next day, that
is, “day one” after the Sabbath (which is Sunday for us). As the sun began to
come up on the first day of the week, a group of women went to the tomb. If we
look at all the Gospel accounts, we see that a variety of details are given.
Some even see contradictions. Yet, the accounts can easily be reconciled, which
we will not do now, but we can realize that it was a group of women who went to
the tomb, and Mary Magdalene played a key role in the narrative. After all, a
woman would not have ventured outside the city gates while it was still dark by
herself.
May
Magdalene was the woman who had demons cast out of her by the Lord. She became
a disciple of His and a supporter of His ministry along with several other
women. We are even told that the group of women followed Jesus from Galilee
down to Jerusalem in order to care for His ministry needs. They were at the
cross, saw where they laid the body of the Lord, and went to the tomb in order
to pay their respects on the first day of the week.
As they drew
near the tomb, there was a great earthquake because an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven. This was a surprising event that came with great awe and
wonder. The women were taken by surprise the tomb open and an angel of the
Lord. Now, let’s not be confused. The angel did not open the tomb to let Christ
out, but to let the women in (and the apostles, and the whole world). The angel’s
countenance (face) was like lightning which makes one think of Moses. After
being in God’s presence, Moses was said to have horns of light radiating from
his face. This was an angel of God who had descended which says so much. This
is not a crime scene, but an act of God. The angel’s clothes were as white as
snow demonstrating his purity and the holiness of God. Not only was the earth
quaking, but the guards were also shaking. They passed out from great fear at
what had just happened.
Surely the
women were also afraid, but the angel says to them, “Do not be afraid.” There
was no reason to be afraid. The angel meant no harm, and he actually had very
good news to share with the women. He knew exactly who they were looking for,
and he knew exactly what had happened. He said, “He is not here; He is risen,
as He said.” Notice that he reminds them that Jesus had already foretold these
things. In fact, Jesus had told His disciples that He would die and rise again
on several occasions. The women could go in and see where the body had been,
but it was no longer there. Next, the angel commissions the women to go and
tell the apostles that Christ is risen.
So, the
first eyewitnesses and testifiers to the resurrection event are women. This
should not be understated. If someone were to make up a story like this, they
would not make women the only eyewitnesses. Women were not even allowed to
testify in a Jewish court because their testimony was considered untrustworthy
by men (and men dominated the culture). Yet, the Lord chooses a group of women
as His first messengers. Mary Magdalene and the others were the first to
experience and share the Good News that Christ is risen.
Of course,
the women are obedient to the command of the angel. As they are heading to tell
the disciples, they are met by the Risen Lord. And what does He say? He says, “Rejoice!”
It makes me think of the Easter hymn which says, “Rejoice! Rejoice! Oh,
Christian, lift up your voice and sing eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the
King!” They definitely had reason to rejoice! Christ was alive! Their Master
was not in the tomb, nor was His body stolen. He was alive!
The women
fall to the ground and worship the Lord. Jesus says the same thing that the
angel had said (of course, the angel was delivering the message of the Lord), “Do
not be afraid.” He also says, “Go and tell. . . .” The message was for the
disciples to gather in Galilee, and they would see the Risen Christ there. We
will talk about it at another time, but let me mention that Christ is now
coming full circle by going to Galilee. He was raised in Galilee, mainly
ministered in that region, and now, after the resurrection, He is returning
there to show Himself to His followers and to ascend back to the Father. This
is significant because Galilee was known as “Galilee of the Gentiles.” This is
just the beginning of spreading the message of Christ death and resurrection
from Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Conclusion and Christian Application
(1) We are people who believe and
proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth died for our sins on a Roman cross and was
raised from the dead on the third day afterwards physically, literally, and historically.
This is the Good News of the Christian faith and Scriptures.
(2) “Go and tell” is the resurrection
commission. Because Christ has accomplished so much through His death and
resurrection, we are commanded to go and tell others the Good News. This is
most remembered from Matt 28:19.