The Dawn of Resurrection: Embracing the Promise of New Life
"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. 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. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 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." - Matthew 28:1-7
As the sun began to cast its golden rays across the horizon that fateful Sunday morning, the world was about to undergo a monumental transformation. Matthew 28:1-7 captures this pivotal moment in history when two devoted women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, made their way to the tomb of Jesus: "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." Their journey was fueled by love and sorrow, the weight of despair palpable in their hearts as they approached the sealed grave of their beloved teacher.
The encounter was electrifying in every sense of the word. As they arrived, the earth shook violently—a dramatic introduction to the angel of the Lord who descended from heaven. "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it." The stone that had sealed the tomb, a symbol of finality and loss, was rolled away. For the two Mary's, this moment signified that death did not have the final say. How often do we allow the stones in our lives—whether they be grief, disappointment, or failure—to keep us from witnessing the miraculous? Like the angel who rolled away the stone, God often requires us to confront these barriers and witness the power He holds over every situation.
The description of the angel's appearance shines with divine majesty and awe. "His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow." This vivid imagery serves as a reminder of the holiness and glory of God, who transforms darkness into light. In moments of deep despair, we can forget that God sees our situations through a lens of hope—He does not carry the weight of our burdens; He illuminates them, inviting us to see them from His perspective.
As the guards trembled in fear, paralyzed by the divine presence, the angel's words brought clarity and peace to the women: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." There is profound power in these words. The assurance conveyed through the angel bids us to shift our focus from fear to faith. When faced with our struggles, perhaps the Lord is gently prompting us to remember His promises, urging us to believe in the resurrection—not just as a historical event but as a vital reality within our own lives.
The angel invites the women to "Come and see the place where he lay." This invitation is significant. It beckons us not just to observe but to witness and engage personally with the truth of the resurrection. Are we making time in our lives to 'come and see'? When we approach God’s Word with curiosity and reverence, we open ourselves up to His revelations about who He is and who we are in Him.
The command that follows is equally transformative: "Then go quickly and tell his disciples…" The resurrection brings not only reassurance but also commission. We are to share the good news. In our own lives, how are we proclaiming the hope of Christ's resurrection? Our testimony of faith can be a source of strength for others, revealing the reality that Jesus is alive and at work.
As we reflect on this powerful account, let us embrace the dawn of newness that resurrection brings. Jesus is not just alive in a historical context—He is alive in our hearts today, calling us from fear into freedom, from despair into hope. May we find courage in the moments we face our own tombs, trusting that He is rolling away the stones, bringing forth life where we might only see death. The risen Christ goes before us, prepared to meet us in our Galilee, where transformation awaits.
Let us rejoice and share the message of hope: "He has risen!" In every aspect of our lives, may we embrace the promise of new life, knowing that in Christ, nothing is ever truly lost, but transformed.
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Matthew 28:1-7 Artwork
Matthew 28:1-7 - "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you."
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you." - Matthew 28:1-7
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you." - Matthew 28:1-7
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you." - Matthew 28:1-7
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Matthew 7:7
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Matthew 28:1 - "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."
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matthew 28:19
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"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:" - Matthew 7:28
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Matthew 28:7 - "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." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.
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Matthew 28:19-20
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