Day is Dawning

A Great Earthquake

Matthew 28:1 (NRSV)

The Resurrection of Jesus

(Mk 16:1–8; Lk 24:1–12; Jn 20:1–10)

28 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Imagine as you are rushing to the tomb, What are you thinking? What are you hoping to find? Do you suppose, they were hoping to find an empty tomb?

Then as you are running together suddenly the Earth Shakes and you are knocked off your feet, (You have just witnessed the raising of the Lord) Did you imagine it this way? Did you even know what this was?

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible D. Jesus’ Burial and Resurrection (27:57–28:20)

News of the resurrection (28:1–10) comes early on Sunday morning when the two Marys come to the tomb (28:1; cf. Mark 16:1–2) to continue their vigil (cf. Matt. 27:56

If you think you are, or would be terrified of what is happening, think of the guards left to guard the tomb.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible D. Jesus’ Burial and Resurrection (27:57–28:20)

It is he, not the earthquake, that terrifies the guards (v. 4); such are his power and presence (vv. 2–3). The women do not arrive until after the angel’s descent, the earthquake, and the flight of the guards (v. 11).

Nowhere does the Bible record the actual resurrection. I am almost positive that the guards could testify, but could they ever speak of it? Perhaps the Angel could testify to what had happened, as he sat on the stone, that he had just rolled away. (A feet no man could have done alone) The ladies arrive some time after Jesus arises. The appearance of the Angel, Matthew 28:3 (NRSV)

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. Why do you suppose the Angel gets described here in this verse? Because the Angel testifies to the accomplished fact of the risen Lord.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible D. Jesus’ Burial and Resurrection (27:57–28:20)

The stone is removed (v. 2)—not to let Jesus out, but to let his followers in—so they can see that he is gone

Everything that Jesus does, He does for us. Matthew 28:4 (NRSV)

4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. The guards were placed there to stop the Jews, followers of Jesus, from taking the body from the tomb. Imagine, if you can that they are watching the sun rise in the garden, when suddenly the Earth shake violently, and the stone rolls away seemingly on its own. Then you see it, as you wipe the crud from your eyes, a brilliant being sitting on the stone. Verse 3 describes what the guards saw as like lighting, or very bright, along with white as snow. These are descriptions used to describe both God, and Jesus.

The Angel tells the women, do not be afraid, for I know you have come looking for Jesus, He is not here. Would your first thoughts been ones of imagining Jesus as risen?

The Angel invites the women to come and look, see the place where He laid. The women first, thought that the Romans had taken the body and hid it somewhere. This is somewhat the way we can react whenever we suffer a lose through death.

Think about the next couple of verses very thoroughly. The two women had been there the night that Jesus was removed from the cross, they knew more than anything that he was dead. Now, so suddenly they are experiencing something outside of human capacity to understand. Trust me it was not the empty tomb that proves he is risen, but the fact that He now lives in you and I. Matthew 28:7 (NRSV)

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” Imagine that you were there to investigate the empty tomb, so quickly after he had risen. What are you feeling? Matthew 28:8 (NRSV)

8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. To think of the very possibility that what Jesus had been telling them, might actually be true, has these two women shaking.

Then imagine that in your journey to tell your friends about the risen Lord, He appears before you. Do you think you would know him? Go forward to the Disciples on their way to Emmaus, did they know Him when He appeared? No, but they did break bread with Him and afterwords realized that their hearts were warmed when He was near. I pray that your hearts are warm inside you this morning.

Matthew 28:9–10 (NRSV)

9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The thought of the women clasping His feet shows that there was a substantial body before them. Notice one final thing before we finish this morning. Jesus repeats the message that the Angel had for the women, to go and tell the Disciples, but Jesus calls them brothers. You, my brothers and sister, are family to Jesus this morning.