Women come to the tomb of Jesus early on Sunday morning because they want to anoint His body with the traditional burial spices. They had to wait until then because it was the Sabbath, and no one is allowed to work on the Sabbath. They had scoped out the place, a garden tomb that belonged to a rich man. The hollowed-out cave had a rectangular door, and a huge round stone, about six feet in diameter, had been rolled down a ramp to cover the opening. And for good measure, Pilate ordered the Roman seal on the stone so everyone would be able to tell if the grave had been disturbed, and set his men to guard it. These passionate, loving women, they are on a mission, and the obstacles of the stone, the seal, the soldiers, nothing is going to keep them from getting to Jesus and performing these last rites. Yes, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had given Jesus a royal burial with 75 pounds of spiced ointment, but what did men know about these things? So as early as they can they go to the tomb, multiple Marys show up.
But the tomb is empty! Earthquake, guards senseless, seal melted, door open, and the tomb is empty! Seated casually atop the rolling stone is the angel who opened the tomb, telling them not to be afraid, that Jesus is risen from the dead! What a message of hope! Why? Because Jesus rose with the power of an indestructible life, and that means we all get eternal life. The resurrection is the slam-dunk of Christ’s victory because He has defeated death, has passed through and come out on the other side, blazing the way for all of us to follow Him to Paradise and glory. The immortality that was lost in the Garden of Eden is restored at the Garden Tomb. The angels says:
“Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. See, I have told you.”
Come and see! Go and tell! The angel tells the women that they cannot keep this good news to themselves, but must share it with the disciples. In all four Gospels it is the faithful women who get the first announcement that Christ Jesus is risen from the dead, and they are the first who are sent to tell this great, good news. The Lord Jesus will appear to many more people – Mary Magdalene, His disciples, Thomas, the two on the road to Emmaus – in all more than 500 people are witnesses of the risen Christ. But the first encounter is with the faithful women at the tomb, women who came and saw, and then went and told.
Prayer: Eternal Lord Christ, thank You for rising from the dead forever! Thank You for blazing a path to Heaven for me! Show me the way, and empower me to follow You into eternity. I pray in Your name, amen.