Jesus completed the Plan of Salvation. This daily devotional looks at how the women learned that Jesus was alive.
Nuggets
- Though Jesus told His followers that He would rise from the dead, they really didn’t comprehend that – but were obedient to Him still.
- The angel provided evidence of Jesus’ resurrection – and then called for a response.
- Jesus revealed Himself to the women.
Devotions in the Living Life Connected to Christ series
Jesus hung on the cross and died. But that isn’t where the story ended.
Let’s see what happened next.
Let's Put It into Context
Here is a running list of nuggets for the series.
Continued Obedience
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified’” (Mt. 28: 1-5 ESV)
Though Jesus told His followers that He would rise from the dead, they really didn’t comprehend that – but were obedient to Him still.
It is easy for us, now, to read this passage and wonder what the big deal was. We are not living in the terror that the apostles were at the time. They were in fear for their lives.
All who followed Jesus were in hiding. If the Jews were so concerned about the disciples stealing Jesus’ body, we can bet they were looking for anyone they could find.
They probably weren’t hiding in one spot, since there were so many of them. It is believed that the apostles, at least, were hiding in the upper room where they celebrated the Passover meal and ate the Lord’s Supper.
Think about it. The last three days would have been exhausting and terrifying. On top of that, there would have been excruciating pain at the loss of their Leader.
All Jesus’ followers would have been hurting.
We didn’t feel the earthquake that Hacker likened to a trumpet that heralded victory. The earth shaking was probably disconcerting after the darkness of Good Friday.
Resource
We didn’t see the angels that were waiting outside the tomb. (If angels show up one day where we are, we will be scared too.)
God Himself was ensuring that Jesus’ closest friends, especially, were being comforted. Because of this, He sent His special messengers to assure them that everything Jesus said would happen actually did.
Jesus had told them that He would rise again on the third day. From the women going to the tomb, we see they did not believe that – yet.
Also, from what Mary said in John 20: 11-15, she didn’t get it in one.
So, God sent His messenger to shake them up as well as comfort them. They needed to get with the plan.
We celebrate the memory of Christ’s resurrection on Sunday. We also acknowledge His work in redeeming us. Redemption is where God bestows His gift of grace on us in order to deliver us from sin.
We have to remember that the guards were as dead men – they didn’t die. They just had the wadding scared out of them.
Personal opinion – they needed to be incapacitated so they didn’t see what was happening when Jesus was coming back to life. That is something we have to take on faith, not something that has been handed down generation to generation.
Instead, we focus on the women. They were devoted to ministering to their Lord, even in His death.
They thought there would be an obstacle in the stone that closed the grave, but they went anyway. They were probably afraid of the guards. These weren’t temple guards. They were Roman guards who were probably going to be executed because they did not perform their duty.
What the guards did perform was eyewitnesses to the fact that Jesus was most definitely dead.
That was replaced by fear of the angels – then joy.
Life Restored
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.’” (Mt. 28: 6-7 ESV)
The angel provided evidence of Jesus’ resurrection – and then called for a response.
It wasn’t enough that the angels told the women that Jesus had risen. They needed to be shown.
They saw with their own eyes that Jesus was not in the tomb. Later they saw Him face to face.
Jesus had risen from the dead – just as He said He would.
Did the angels have to remind them of Jesus’ words? Probably. They had been on such a roller coaster of emotions already.
This was probably difficult for their hearts to take. In the matter of hours, they had gone from bone-crushing defeat to breath-taking victory.
The angel told the women not to dilly-dally around. They were to immediately return to the apostles and tell them the good news.
Ward reminded us of something that I think we tend to gloss over. He wrote, “The resurrection furnishes the only positive proof of our immortality.”
Resource
If Jesus hadn’t have risen from the dead, all the talk of resurrection could have been just words. Instead, they are the foundation of the gospel.
Oh, the Jewish leaders were going to try to squelch that talk. They didn’t succeed.
Jesus had accomplished everything He set out to do and said He would do.
We need to take note that Jesus didn’t censure the apostles for not making the trip to the tomb. He didn’t say one negative thing about the guys.
Jesus wanted to make sure they went to Galilee.
An Unexpected Visitor
“So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me’” (Mt. 28: 8-10 ESV)
Jesus revealed Himself to the women.
The women did what the angels told them to do. They went back and told the other followers.
Their fear had turned to great joy.
It really turned to joy when they saw the resurrected Jesus. There was no room for doubt now.
Because of the joy, the women worshiped Jesus.
Jesus didn’t stop their worship, but He did interrupt it. There was work to be done.
The women had to return to the apostles and tell them the good news. They had to be given their travel itinerary.
They were going to Galilee.
Matthew is the only gospel to tell us of the appointment to meet Jesus. What came out of that appointment was the Great Commission.
Making the Connections
Hacket gave us six reasons why the earthquake occurred. One and two tie together.
Resource
There is a great struggle between good and evil. This was portrayed by Jesus’ struggle with death.
We think that was a struggle. Just wait until Jesus comes back.
That is going to be a monumental struggle.
But seeking Jesus isn’t really a struggle. God calls us to salvation. We know, when we seek Jesus, we will find Him (Mt. 7: 7).
How Do We Apply This?
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
- Hold to the fact that Jesus’ resurrection completed the Plan of Salvation and secured our redemption.
- Do all for Christ through love.
- Personally minister to others.
- Don’t worry about our death.
Resources
Father God. We worship You. We worship Your risen Son. Thank You for showing Your power and Your love on that first Easter morning. Amen.
What do you think?
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