4-5-26           EASTER        Matthew 28:1-10

1 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. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for 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. 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 and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Grace, mercy, and peace are for you, this day and always.

In our day we have tamed down our Easter celebration considerably from what is described here. We might search for Easter eggs and enjoy a few treats from an Easter basket. We make our way to churches for worship with fine music, lively hymns, and chants of Alleluias. There may be special meals may be included in your day. But did you hear what those near the grave site were experiencing. Matthew describes a very active and exciting morning. These faithful, caring women got up at dawn to go to check out the tomb, perhaps to weep there and consider what the crucifixion would mean for their coming days and months. They had been following Jesus as he traveled from place to place, preaching, healing, and encouraging the people. They had witnessed some amazing things and had been moved to accept Jesus as their Lord. What would they do now? They had dedicated themselves and their resources to the support of this ministry. Certainly they were stressed out and no doubt overwhelmed by what they had to deal with during this last week. 

Suddenly the earth itself gets caught up in the turmoil and responds with a great earthquake! The activity was indeed seismic! That is how it reads in Greek - seismos.    It is as if nature is reacting to the death & resurrection of Jesus and perhaps also to the arrival of this angel. Jesus is risen! [] That angel rolls the stone away from the tomb opening and then plops atop that boulder challenging anyone to countermand his action. Matthew provides a visual we don’t get from the other gospel accounts. 

Can you imagine it? This angelic being dressed in bright sparkling clothes and with such a piercing brightness that it appears like lightning. The Roman guards that had been stationed to keep watch and prevent any monkey business get quite a seismic shock, with the quaking ground and the angel’s appearance. They fall into a trance-like state. So much for the mighty power they represented, whose authority claimed to be god-like and invincible. It seems obvious there is a higher power than Rome, then any of these earthly ones. Jesus is risen! [ ]

This angelic warrior has a message. It was for the women and it is for us. Do not be afraid!  What was it that was meant to dissolve those fears? ‘Remember what Jesus told you!’ the angel says. Hold on to his word given to you! Jesus is risen! [ ] He had made it known to them, he would be raised and then he would meet them where their mutual work of ministry had begun - in Galilee. That angel had come to pass along this reminder message, rather like the reminders that come on your cell phone for those important appointments you are not to forget.

Except, when this reminder comes Jesus’ followers act like they weren’t even expecting a resurrection. The women are astounded but they very much want to believe it. We are told they run to tell the disciples about this, with fear and great joy. It was almost too good to accept, being laced with the lingering fear and grief of that crucifixion, which they had seen with their own eyes.

Suddenly, as they hurried along, they are met by Jesus himself. They fall before him and worship. What else could they do? Again, they are privileged to see for themselves. This was marvelous, Jesus, alive, in front of them. He repeats the message of the angel, bidding them to lay aside their fears.  He urges them to move forward into a new future, to go and share this news and get those disciples moving.  He would gather with them in Galilee, their work had started there and it would resume there. There was a new truth to share. Death was not an end, not an end to Jesus. For Jesus is risen! [ ] And it was not an end to the Word of life that needed to be spread, even more than before. This was a new day and the people needed to be informed. This is Easter and people still need to hear this basic message, upon which all the rest of the good news is built. Jesus is risen! [ ]

This victory over the grave is God’s promise for us all and for the world. Death does not rule, it is a consequence of our sin. Yet in the love of Christ and by his obedience, forgiveness comes to us. We are not to live in the terror of death; it no longer has any real power to threaten us. Let it go!  We are to live with the sure hope that our Lord leads us beyond its ending into a new beginning. We are called to share that news and live daily in that promise. The blessings of Easter are yours!