Matthew 28:1-7: a reflection

1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. 5The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”

The women come to the tomb on the first day of the week, and find it empty, the stone rolled away, an angel sitting on it. Do not be afraid, the angel tells them; you seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. The tomb is empty; Jesus is risen, exactly as he had told them he would be. And the angel sends them to tell the disciples the astonishing news: he has risen from the dead.

Notice the phrase the angel adds: he has risen, just as he said. Jesus had told his disciples that he would be killed and rise again; they had not understood or believed it. But now it had happened exactly as he said. The resurrection was not only the greatest of miracles, the defeat of death; it was also the confirmation of Jesus' word. What he had said would happen, happened; his word proved true, vindicated by the empty tomb. He has risen, just as he said.

That truth, the resurrection, and its confirmation of Jesus' word, is the ground of our hope. Christ has risen; death is defeated; the tomb is empty. And it happened just as Jesus said, confirming that his word is true, that he keeps his word, that what he has promised he performs. If Jesus said he would rise, and rose, then his other promises are sure too; the God who raised him keeps his word. Rest your hope on the risen Christ, and on the word that proved true in his rising. He said he would rise, and he rose; his word is confirmed, his promises are sure, death is defeated. Do not doubt Jesus' word or lose your hope; he has risen, just as he said, and the empty tomb confirms that what he says is true. Rejoice in the risen Christ, and trust the word that the resurrection has proved true, on which your hope securely rests.

Lord Jesus, the women came to the tomb and found it empty, and the angel said, do not be afraid; he is not here, for he has risen, just as he said; come, see the place where he lay, and go and tell his disciples. Let that phrase reach me: he has risen, just as he said. You had told your disciples you would be killed and rise again, and now it had happened exactly as you said. The resurrection was not only the defeat of death, but the confirmation of your word: what you said would happen, happened; your word proved true, vindicated by the empty tomb. Let that truth be the ground of my hope. You have risen; death is defeated; the tomb is empty. And it happened just as you said, confirming that your word is true, that you keep your word, that what you promise you perform. If you said you would rise, and rose, then your other promises are sure too. Help me rest my hope on you, the risen Christ, and on the word that proved true in your rising. You said you would rise, and you rose; your word is confirmed, your promises are sure, death is defeated. Keep me from doubting your word or losing my hope; you have risen, just as you said. Help me rejoice in you, risen, Lord, and trust the word the resurrection has proved true. Thank you that you are risen, as you said.