Jesus is ALIVE!!! Matthew 28:1-10
Matthew 28:1-10 (NRSV) After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
Matthew 28:1-10 (NRSV) 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, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 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.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Matthew 28:1-10 (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.”
Introduction… The story of the two Mary’s What compelled these two women to see the tomb of Jesus? They probably still remembered what happened to Jesus just days before
Observations of the text… There is a sense of seeing and fearing that are interchangeable… Verse 1 - “…went to see the tomb” – Theorasai (gk.) meaning to watch, to observe, to hold vigil Verse 2 - “Suddenly there was a great earthquake…” – idou (gk.) meaning suddenly, behold, look here - seismos (gk.) meaning to shake
Observations of the text… What was the cause of the earthquake? Verses 2 & 3 – ”for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.” Insert yourself here in the story. How would you have reacted having experienced all this so far?
How would you react? Would you have gone on this roller coaster ride with the two Mary’s? Then come face to face with the angel sitting on the stone that has been rolled away… The atmosphere must have been intense
How would you react? Would you react like the guards in verse 4 – “For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.” Put yourself in their shoes (or sandals), there was the earthquake, lightning, angel, stone rolled away, etc… I think the lightning sealed it for them because “it is a power fraught with danger”
How would you react? OR would you react more like the two Mary’s – afraid, confused, etc… but given the opportunity to let it sink in Verses 5 & 6 – “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, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
How would you react? How long do you think the two Mary’s stuck around? Did they linger and touch everything in the tomb? Double (perhaps triple) checking what they are experiencing is true - we cannot see what is truly important without also experiencing fear.
What kind of fear? “Do not be afraid.” In English it sounds like a command Is it fear because we’re confronted with a threatening moment? But the angel was actually being reassuring and not commanding – “There is nothing to fear.”
What kind of fear? So it was more “awe” or “amazement” or “wonder” than fear… It sunk in for them – Jesus is not here. He’s alive! Right? Verse 8 – “So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy.”
What kind of fear & joy? And now here’s the double whammy of “awe”… they met Jesus in the flesh! Verse 9 – “Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.”
Application What do you get from seeing & fearing (awe struck)? Is this not how faith is shaped? This is the Good News… And here’s the important bit – they were commanded to share this good news with the other disciples And the extra important bit – Mt 28:16- 20; the great commission…