Matthew 28:1 – 3

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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.”

As the sun was setting, Joseph and Nicodemus cleansed and perfumed Christ’s battered body and laid it out.  Then Joseph “rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.”  v  60, 61

Fast forward.  Now, as the sun rose on the day after the Sabbath, these two devout “Marys,” recalling the very tomb where Jesus was placed, arrived there early.  I doubt whether these two women expected Jesus to rise from the dead even though Jesus  had expressly told his disciples that he would rise on the third day.  That makes the appearance of the dazzling angel even more impressive. He appeared, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The angel did not roll away the stone to let Jesus out, but to show the women that Jesus was not there at all!  His body simply had passed through the material world, a new reality.

The glowing angel then sat on the stone, completely relaxed. He said, “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen risen just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.” v 5, 6  He then urged them to tell the disciples to rush to Galilee to see Jesus.

“Afraid yet filled with joy,” the women left the tomb to tell the disciples.  Then, probably still in the vicinity of the open tomb, out of nowhere, “Jesus met them, saying, ‘Greetings.'”  v 8, 9  “Don’t be afraid, go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me.” v 10  It was Jesus himself!

This scene ripples with excitement.  Jesus appeared first to these two women, not to the disciples!  To women?  Yes, to women. It made no difference to Jesus, all are his.  They became the first evangelists!  So much was happening and they knew little but one thing was for sure, they met Jesus. His first appearance was not to Peter or Matthew or John but to Mary who once had demons and another Mary. I find that noteworthy.

I have similar feelings when I realize that I, a most obscure person, was privileged to witness to the faith of Jesus Christ in countless situations all over the world in my life-time. His story is my story, and it is true.  I live in that blessed mystery of the grace of God.