Mark 16:1-8; Matthew 28:1-8; Acts 2:22-24

What amazing words we have: whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.  The prophecies had to be fulfilled.  As Son of God He could not be overcome by anything or anyone.  All His enemies must be subdued.  He must fulfill the sure mercies of David.  Of course Peter was right: death could not hold Him!  The accompanying details of His resurrection indicate how momentous was the occasion.  Old Testament saints came to life.  A great earthquake accompanied the rolling away of the stone.  The guards were frozen for fear.  Not to mention that Christ, in absolute calmness, neatly folded what had been around His head and placed it in clear sight before walking out of the tomb.

It may seem incredible that Christ spoke often of His resurrection and yet it caught his friends by surprise.  If we think like that it may be we have not accepted the astounding nature of the event.  The fact is that it was God’s plan that those who saw Christ alive after He had been truly dead would be the infallible proofs required for others to believe in Him (Acts 1:1-3).

Let us seek to put together the events of that morning. 

·        The women came early, leaving in the dark (Jn. 20:1) and arriving at morning light (Mk. 16:2).  Besides Mary Magdalene (each of the Gospels mentions her by name) there were others including the other Mary, Salome (Mk. 16:1) and Joanna (Lk. 24:10).  The earth shook during the night and the stone was rolled away (Mt. 28:2-4) by the time they arrived with additional spices.

·        There were 2 angels, though each writer emphasizes one or the other depending on their sources.  Given the fear and wonder of the moment it is not surprising the differences; but there is no conflict.  The angel inside the tomb told the news.  His position “on the right” (Mk. 16:5) indicates an arrangement somewhat similar at least to the Garden Tomb where the preparation chamber is on the left and the burial chamber on the right.

·        The women returned to town to tell the disciples talking to no one on the way (Mk. 16:8).  Peter and John came and looked and then returned.  John may have returned a second time before Mary Magdalene returned alone to the tomb, seeing the risen Lord (Jn. 20:10-18) Who later appeared to the other women (Mt. 28:9-10).

The words of the angels make clear that this amazing event is itself not the end of the earthly ministry of Christ.  Christ seems to stay in the Jerusalem area for a week, then goes to Galilee, before returning to Jerusalem at the time of the ascension.  The door is opening for the amazing birth and growth of His Body, the Church.  The women as well as the Apostles will be in at the start.

Nevertheless the women were encouraged, first, to “come see the place where He lay.”  Should we not do the same?  We need to stop and meditate on this historical and powerful event.  Ask the Lord Himself to make it real to you.  “He is not here; He is risen!”  May we stand in awe of the Risen Son of God!