The Empty Tomb
May 28, 2019
Commentary
On Sunday about dawn, a group of women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, and others went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body (v. 1). As they approached, an earthquake occurred, and an angel rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb (v. 2). The stone was not rolled away so Jesus could come out (for He already left the tomb) but so that the people could see that the tomb was empty. Jesus did exactly what He had repeatedly said He would do. This is God’s way, always. We can count on His promises and build our lives on them, for He always does just what He says. These believers went through three basic stages of experience:
1. They thought He was dead (v. 1). It wasn’t because Jesus had not taught them on many occasions that He would rise from the dead (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 26:32;). It is just that they failed to believe Him. The world believes that Jesus died, but the world does not believe that He rose from the dead.
2. They heard that He was alive (v. 2_8). One of the angels spoke to the women and calmed their fears telling them Jesus had risen. The empty tomb was proof that He had risen. If He had not risen He would have been a deceiver and unworthy of further devotion.
3. They met the living Christ personally (v. 9_10). As the women were on their way to tell the disciples what had happened, suddenly Jesus met them. He repeated the same message the angel had previously given to not be afraid. He also told them to tell the disciples that He would appear to them in Galilee.
Application
“Come and see” was followed by “Go and tell!" Just as the angel sent the women to tell, I must not keep the Resurrection news to myself. Who can I share the Gospel with this week?
Matthew 28:1– 10 (NET)
1 Now 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 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 8 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
Illustration: Ben Franklin’s Epitaph
In one of his lighter moments, Benjamin Franklin penned his own epitaph for his tombstone. He didn’t profess to be a born-again Christian, but it seems he must have been influenced by the Bible’s teaching of the resurrection of the body. Here’s what he wrote: "The Body of Ben Franklin, Printer is Like the Cover of an old Book, Its contents torn out, And stripped of its Lettering and Guilding, Lies in this grave, Food for Worms, But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as He believed, Appear once more In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended.” by the Author. (Source unknown).