Allan's thoughts on Easter Sunday about Matthew 28:1-10. The reading is below.
2020 04 12 Remade, Reformed, Renewed.
” a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.”
Notice the human logic contradiction – earthquake = stone rolled away = a natural occurrence – no mystery – the angels are an imagination of the woman who came early morning – a trick of light or a deep inner desire becoming visible? All fits neatly enough.
or
Angel = rolled the stone away = earthquake from the explosion of the Lord Jesus’ life bursting from the tomb and the angel then rolled the stone away to let us in!
For a believer in God it is not a contradiction –
What could you expect when the Word of Creation defeated death by Life Eternal surely creation would shake with joy if not explode!
V5 “the angel said to the women, ’do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
Come see – the place where he was lying and go and tell”
And they left the tomb with fear and joy … and Jesus meet them and said “hello“ (side margin literal meaning)
“Don’t be afraid”
And today for you and I – it is the same message –
“Jesus died – past tense – and through death the power of life in him has defeated death forever”
Shall we tell others?
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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”