Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-16)

We all know that there are significant days, whether in the lives of individuals, or in the progress of companies, or in the situation of countries. Getting married brings many changes to the persons involved, acquisitions bring alterations to the ways that companies promote themselves, and treaties affect how countries move ahead. There can be significant days in the life of the church which have had their consequences. We come in this service to think about an event that has had global consequences as far as time is concerned and cosmic consequences as far as eternity is concerned. The event is the resurrection of Jesus.

The only place where we can discover the significance of the resurrection is in the Bible and different aspects of it are mentioned in the four Gospels. Each account highlights different features of what took place on that significant occasion. Matthew’s approach seems to connect the resurrection of Jesus with a later gathering in Galilee because both the angel and Jesus instruct the women to tell the disciples to go there.

The women’s desire

Matthew begins by mentioning again the presence of these two women at the tomb. He is not as specific as other accounts which say that they went to anoint the body of Jesus. Nor does he mention the presence of other women who were with them. The one detail that he highlights is that they went as soon as possible, at about six in the morning, when dawn comes in that part of the world. They were going to do something for Jesus and their example tells the best time to do it, which is as soon as possible. Obviously, they had their expectations, but what they were going to experience was far beyond what they could have imagined.

The other factor that we should remember is that they did not let difficulties prevent their attempt. They knew that a large stone had been rolled across the tomb, which was too great for all of them to move. Still, they did not let such a problem deter them from going. There are two locations to face a problem. One is that we can review it from afar, and when we do that, the Lord often just lets the problem remain. But if we proceed with our good intention, we will find that in providence the Lord removes the barrier. And even if he does not, we still know that we have tried.

The majestic visitor

When we look at the Gospel accounts, we can work out that two angels were present at the tomb. Matthew focuses first on how one of them dealt with the problem of the guards who had been placed there to prevent the disciples from taking away the body of Jesus. This probably occurred while the women were making their way to the tomb. 

His arrival caused the earth to shake, a reminder of the incredible power that angels possess. What is impossible for a human to do, they can do with ease. A human army invading a territory does not cause an earthquake, but the arrival of one angel can. 

Why did he come? We imagine that it was to let Jesus out of the tomb, but that is unlikely. A better answer is that he came to let the women into the tomb, therefore he rolled away the stone. This had been their problem and maybe they had prayed about it. Little did they know how wonderfully it would be answered. God often uses angels to answer the prayers of his people.

He also dealt with the problem that the women did not know about, which was the presence of the guard. They saw the angel, but they heard nothing from him. What a solemn situation! Sinners standing beside the empty tomb of the Saviour and the messenger from heaven has nothing to say to them. Instead they are so afraid that they passed out. We should also observe that their experience did not prevent them going along with the silly rumour suggested by the elders, and that their willingness to be accomplices in trying to stifle the news of the resurrection tells us what type of people they were.

On this occasion, this angel looked like a spectacular creature. On other occasions when angels appear, they look like humble travellers, such as the ones who appeared to Abraham. I suppose we can deduce from the appearance that angels appear appropriately for the occasion. This angel has come to announce the triumph of the risen King and declare that triumph to enemies (by saying nothing) and to friends (by speaking about Jesus).

Andrew Bonar has a sermon in which he imagines several angels discussing the various missions on which they were sent, and how they gave him advice. This is how he describes the contribution of this angel: ‘By this time the fervour of the angelic assembly was gloriously intense. Everything about our Redeemer was evidently as interesting to them as to me. And forthwith the theme was continued; for the next speaker was the Angel who rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre (Matt. 28:2). "I was bidden that morning to put on the brightest robe in heaven, white as the snow, and my countenance was made to shine like the lightning, on which no man could gaze. I was to be employed in some very great work that day. Soon I learnt that what was required of me was to go down to your world, and, in Joseph’s garden, roll away a stone from the door of the sepulchre of your Lord and ours. Was this a work worthy of an angel’s powers, and of one so arrayed in glory? Angel (pastor) of yonder church on earth, tell your people that to do the least service to the Lord of glory is an inconceivable privilege and joy. Let it be known to your Church Officer, let it be known to those who “keep a door” in God’s house, as well as all who carry a cup of cold water to the sick, or sew garments for the poor, that no moment in my past life in heaven was to me half so sweet as was that time I sat on the rolled-away stone. I was rewarded by seeing him come forth, breaking the bands of death: a sight so glorious that no words could describe it to men. My task was very simple – the day before two men had rolled that stone to its place – and yet this was my reward! O the joy of working for the Lord of glory! O the bliss of being permitted to serve Him in the commonest and easiest duty!”’

The message

The angel invites the women into the tomb, and Mark tells us that when they did enter it they saw another angel sitting inside. But Matthew focuses on what the first angel had to say to them, and some of the comments were reinforced by the other angel when they entered the tomb.

Two angels were given the great privilege of being the first of God’s creatures to declare that the resurrection of Jesus had occurred. Their audience was a group of women who had not listened carefully to the words of Jesus when he had predicted his death and resurrection. The angels did not mind the lowliness of the audience, and one reason for that was the dignity of their Master. They assessed things by the One who gave them their commission. We can imagine the delight with which they fulfilled their task.

The obvious feature of this interaction is that the angels were not going to tell the male disciples about the resurrection of Jesus. Instead, this task was given to the women. What were they to say? We can see some details in the charge of the angels. First, God often responds to the state of our hearts, and whatever else can be said about the women their hearts longed for Jesus. Second, the angels reminded the women of the importance of listening to the words of Jesus – ‘as he said’. Third, they saw what only Joseph had previously seen – the exact spot where Jesus lay. But now they would be glad he was not there. Fourth, they were given a task and the angel stressed that they had to do it quickly. There was to be no slacking in passing on a word of comfort and direction to the disciples. Fifth, the disciples were also to go to Galilee and meet with Jesus there.

How did the women respond? They obeyed. In their hearts, there was a mixture of emotions, but there was also a strong sense of brotherly love, expressed in them running to the disciples. They set off as quick as they could. It is very likely that they went in different directions because we know that Mary Magdalene went and told Peter and John, and then went back to the tomb where Jesus met her (John 20). That meeting occurred before Jesus met with the women here (Mark [16:9] tells us that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene). So this group of women, without Mary, must have been going to other disciples who were further away than Peter and John.

The meeting
It was wonderful for the women to have such clear guidance from the angel, and perhaps they could not imagine a greater blessing in the circumstances. There was one important detail missing from the angelic message and that was the current location of the Saviour. Still, the woman would have realised that he was somewhere, and wherever he was it was better than him being in the tomb. Then suddenly they discovered where he was – he was there with them, speaking to them.

Matthew does not say a great deal about what took place at this meeting. Nor does he say which of the women were there. A striking detail is that Jesus only had to say one word and they recognised him. The word translated as ‘greetings’ is not the same as a basic hello. Rather it stresses the reality that all is well and we can see the relevance of such a meaning when we consider where Jesus had been in the last two days. Basically, he is reminding those loyal women that everything was well because of what he had done on the cross. That same message could be said to all who trust in Jesus, even if like the women they are facing a time of spiritual darkness.

The response of the women is one that should be imitated by us in our hearts, and that is worship. To make such a response to a mere man would be idolatry. But this man is more than a man because he is also God.

Matthew records that Jesus calls his disciples by a beautiful name – ‘my brothers.’ This was how he regarded them, and still does. They belong to the same family, the family of God. Perhaps he meant for the women to keep repeating the instruction to the disciples as a means of encouragement after he appeared to them on two occasions in the upper room. The emphasis in the message is that they would see something special about Jesus at that meeting in Galilee, and when we read the closing verses of the chapter we can see that in Galilee he informed the disciples that he possessed universal authority and that he had very important roles for them to fulfil for him.