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 28:8-10 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, What haste and speed these holy women make to carry the news of Christ’s resurrection to the apostles; such as find and feel their hearts grieved for the absence and want of Christ, will be very ready to comfort such as are in the same condition. O how glad are these holy women to carry the good news of their Lord’s resurrection to the heart-broken disciples!
Observe, 2. How these holy women hastened, in obedience to the angel’s command, to tell the disciples to meet with Christ in the way. Such as obey the directions of God’s ministers, seeking Christ in his own way and means, shall find him to their comfort sooner than they expected. These holy women find Christ before they looked for him: as they went to tell his disciples, Jesus met them. O happy women, while they were weeping for a dead Christ, they find a living Jesus.
Observe, 3. The affectionate and loving title which Christ puts upon his disciples: Tell my brethren. He might have said, “Go tell those apostate apostles, that cowardly left me in my danger, that durst not own me in the high priest’s hall, that durst not come within the shadow of my cross, nor within the sight of my sepulchre.” Not a word of this, by way of upbraiding them for their late shameful cowardice, but all words of kindness: Go tell my brethren.
Where note, That Christ calls his disciples brethren after his resurrection and exaltation, as he had done before in his state of humiliation, to show the continuance of his former affection to them, and that the change of his condition had wrought no change in his affection to his despised members: but those that were his brethren before, in the time of his abasement, are so still after his exaltation and advancement.
Observe lastly, The place where Christ chooses to meet with and speak to his disciples, not in Jerusalem, but in Galilee; I go before them into Galilee, there they shall see me. Jerusalem was now a forsaken place, a people abandoned to destruction; Christ would not show himself openly to them, but Galilee was a place where Christ’s ministry was more acceptable. Such places wherein Christ is most welcome to preach, shall be most honoured with his presence. In Galilee they shall see me.\