Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 28:1-10
I know it is Easter morning but I want to back up to Friday evening for just a moment. The scriptures tell us that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were watching as Joseph from Arimathea wrapped Jesus body in clean linen cloth and laid him in the tomb. They also saw him roll a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb. The text from Matthew only mentions Joseph taking the body but it also mentioned that Joseph was a rich man. He would not have been alone, there were likely servants with him to help carry the body. One man would not have been able to care for Jesus body alone.
The Gospel of John mentions that Nicodemus accompanies Joseph. So there were more than likely two or three men who laid Jesus in the tomb and rolled the large stone across the entrance. My first question then is: The women saw the tomb sealed but still decided to go to the tomb that morning to anoint the body of Jesus. How did they plan to roll that stone away? Did they plan to ask the soldiers to let them in?
Like with many of my questions about scriptures…it really doesn’t matter because God had already taken care of it…
The stone was rolled away for the women by a higher power!!!
The stone wasn’t rolled away so they could get in to anoint the body of Jesus but instead to see that he was not there…Jesus body was gone!
The women not only didn’t need to be concerned about who would move the stone, they didn’t even need all the special spices or anointing oils they had brought with them. At first they must have had such fear and confusion. Why was the stone rolled away? Where was the body of Jesus? They had seen with their own eyes Joseph and the others laying Jesus in the tomb and rolling the stone over the opening. There must have been so many questions that immediately came to mind.
The women are welcomed by an angel who says, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” How amazed the women must have been!
Even taking that first step toward the tomb to look inside must have been surreal. The words in our scriptures seem so simple but we know it must have been an overwhelming experience. Think of all the emotions that these women must have been experiencing – fear, amazement, confusion, wonder, cautious joy, and anticipation about what the future might hold.
After seeing for themselves that Jesus was not there in the tomb they follow the directions of the angel and head back to tell his disciples. Would the disciples believe them? What proof did they have? Jesus did say this would happen but no one really understood until now…
Even as they are hurrying to tell the disciples and trying to think how they would explain it all, they are suddenly stopped in their tracks as Jesus is standing right in front of them. There he is! He simply addressed them with, “Greetings.” How do the women react? They fall at his feet and worship him.
The relief the women must have felt. The body had not been stolen. Jesus had truly risen from the grave. Jesus was alive and right in front of them. They could feel his feet, they could hear his voice….there was no doubt. He was alive!
This morning we didn’t come to this sanctuary thinking that we were going to have to face a big stone and figure out how to move it, in order to see Jesus. We didn’t come with oils and spices to anoint his dead body.
We woke up this morning and with full confidence knew that we could gather together with others to celebrate the risen Christ! We came here, having heard the story over and over and wanted to hear it again. Jesus Christ – God’s one and only Son, is not dead but is alive! Jesus has won the victory over sin and death for us. Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins and has been raised to life. Jesus is resurrected from the dead and is alive forever more!
There is nothing stopping us from coming into the presence of our living Savior. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “There is nothing that can separate us from knowing the love of God through His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
This morning as we come into this sanctuary, we do not have to be afraid or confused. We can come with joy, excitement and gratitude that Jesus has risen and that through Him we have full access to God and to Eternal life.
With that knowledge and freedom let us continually fall down at the feet of Jesus and worship him with all that we have and all that we are.
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