1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. (Matthew 28:1-10 KJV)
The Resurrection
For the proof of Christ’s resurrection, we have the testimony of both the angel and Christ himself. One might suppose it would have been better if many witnesses had seen the stone rolled away and Christ rise, as when Lazarus came forth from the grave. But we must not dictate to Infinite Wisdom. The witnesses were permitted to see him risen, not to see him rise. His resurrection, like his incarnation, was a mystery and therefore carried out in secret. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29). The proofs of his resurrection were in agreement with Scripture and with Christ’s own words (Luke 24:6-7, 44; Mark 16:7), for we are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Christ rose at the end of the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn (Matthew 28:1). This confirms that he rose on the third day, just as he had often said. He was buried on the evening of the sixth day and rose on the morning of the first, having remained in the grave about thirty-six to thirty-eight hours—long enough to confirm he was truly dead, yet not long enough to decay. He rose the third day, fulfilling the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:40) and the prophecy in Hosea 6:2: “On the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.”
He rose after the Jewish Sabbath, which was also the Passover Sabbath. His rest in the grave on that day symbolized the end of the Jewish ceremonial law, and that believers should now be dead to such observances. As Christ finished his work on the sixth day, declaring, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and rested on the seventh, he then began the new creation on the first day of the week. This day became the Christian Sabbath—the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10)—honored in Christian assemblies (John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). The resurrection marked a more glorious deliverance than the exodus from Egypt (Jeremiah 23:7-8). The seventh-day Sabbath was in remembrance of creation (Genesis 2:1-3); but since man marred that creation through sin, it was not fully restored until Christ rose, making all things new.
Christ rose at dawn, as soon as the third day began. He had promised his disciples they would see him again in a little while (John 16:16), and he kept that promise. His rising at daybreak symbolized the day-spring from on high visiting us (Luke 1:78). His passion began at night, the sun was darkened during his crucifixion, and he was laid in the tomb at evening. But he rose at sunrise, being the bright and morning Star (Revelation 22:16). Those who begin their Lord’s Day with early devotion follow his example and that of David: “Early will I seek thee” (Psalm 63:1).
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb—those who had followed him to the cross and watched his burial (Matthew 28:1). They were persistent in their devotion, still seeking him. Though the Virgin Mary isn’t mentioned, perhaps John, who had taken her into his care (John 19:27), kept her from the sorrowful visit. Their love for Christ at his tomb mirrors his love for believers in their graves.
They came to anoint his body, as the other Gospels say, or to observe the tomb, as Matthew notes. They may have wanted to confirm whether the tomb was undisturbed, having heard a guard was placed there. Perhaps they also remembered his promise of rising again. Visits to graves, particularly Christ’s, help believers become familiar with death and remove its fear.
A great earthquake occurred (Matthew 28:2). The earth had quaked at his death in grief; now it quaked at his resurrection in joy. This earthquake symbolized the breaking of death’s bonds and the triumph over the grave, echoing the prophecy in Haggai 2:6-7. It was a sign of Christ’s victory and a preview of the general resurrection when the earth will give up its dead. When Christ raises the soul to new life, the heart is shaken too, as with Paul, who trembled (Acts 9:6).
The angel of the Lord descended and rolled back the stone, then sat on it. Christ could have moved the stone himself, but it was done by an angel to show that his release was legal and just—Heaven itself had ordered it. Christ didn’t escape but was formally discharged. The stone, which symbolized our sins and divine justice, was removed by a heavenly messenger. This rolling back of the stone was not to let Christ out but to reveal the empty tomb to the witnesses. Though the enemies sealed the tomb, the angel broke the seal with ease. The angel sitting on the stone signified triumph, daring all powers to undo Christ’s victory.
The angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothes white as snow (Matthew 28:3), a symbol of divine glory, purity, and triumph. His dazzling appearance mirrored Christ’s own glory, as seen at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:2). This anticipates the resurrection glory believers will share when they become like the angels (Luke 20:36).
The guards, though soldiers trained to face danger, trembled and became like dead men (Matthew 28:4). Their fear showed how powerless human strength is before divine authority. Christ’s resurrection is joy for his followers but terror to his enemies. The word used for their trembling is the same as that for the earthquake—when the earth shakes, those who live for it shake too. Their mission failed; they couldn’t keep a dead man in the grave. Expecting frightened disciples, they encountered a mighty angel instead.
To the women, the angel said, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). Approaching a tomb alone is fearful enough, more so when an angel is present. But they were comforted. “Do not be afraid. I know that you are seeking Jesus who was crucified.” Their fear was gently calmed with reassurance. Their efforts to seek Jesus were noticed in heaven. He mentions “Jesus who was crucified” to praise their steadfast love—they sought him even in death, still clinging to the one who had been crucified. True love for Christ doesn’t fade with hardship.
The angel declared the good news: “He is not here; he has risen” (Matthew 28:6). “He is not here” would only alarm, but “He has risen” brings comfort. We must seek Christ as risen and glorified. To confirm their faith, the angel reminded them of Jesus’s own words: “He is risen, just as he said.” The proper object of our faith is Christ’s word. If he said it, we must believe it.
Next, he invited them to “Come, see the place where he lay.” By faith, they could see that Christ had truly risen. The empty tomb confirmed it. His body had not been stolen; he had risen. Then the angel gave them a mission: “Go quickly and tell his disciples” (Matthew 28:7). This was a day of good news, and the news must be shared. Public duty outweighs private devotion. The disciples, not the chief priests, were to be told first—Christ seeks to comfort his friends more than to confront his foes.
These women were entrusted with this message as a reward for their faithful love. Though women had been first in the fall (1 Timothy 2:14), they were now first to proclaim redemption. In this, God honored their devotion and humbled the disciples who had fled. He placed his treasure in earthen vessels—his message entrusted to the weak to shame the strong. They were to go quickly. The disciples were grieving, and Christ wanted them comforted without delay. Like Gabriel flying swiftly to Daniel (Daniel 9:21), these women were sent on a swift errand of mercy.
Christ instructed them to meet him in Galilee—a gracious provision for those still there and those too fearful to remain in Jerusalem. He meets his people where they are. The angel ended with a strong assurance: “Look, I have told you.” The message was certain and dependable (Hebrews 2:2). While angels no longer preach, the truth they once proclaimed—that Christ is risen—remains the foundation of our faith and the message we now carry.