Jesus Has Risen!
Today’s passage: John 20:1, along with Matthew 28:2–4, Mark 16:4, and Luke 24:2–3
Focus verse: Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (John 20:1)
John, Mark, and Luke all simply write that when Mary Magdalene and her friends arrive at the tomb, they find the stone has been rolled away.
They state this as fact and without explanation. The women’s question of “Who will roll away the stone?” becomes a nonissue for them when they arrive. Someone has moved that obstacle from their path.
Yet Matthew gives us the explanation we seek and in the most dramatic fashion. There’s an earthquake.
This is the second one in a couple of days. Recall our prior reading. When Jesus dies, the earth quakes, graves open, and the bodies of holy people come to life.
Now there’s a second quake. Matthew calls it a violent one. God’s angel comes down from heaven, goes to the tomb, and rolls away the stone that blocks the entrance.
This is easy for him to do. The angel sits on the stone. He glows like lightning and his clothes are white like freshly fallen snow. What an impressive sight.
I imagine him sitting on his perch, sporting a self-satisfied look of accomplishment. I sense a bit of a smirk, assuming angels may do such a thing.
Matthew doesn’t tell us how Mary Magdalene and her friends react to the angel and what he did. Yet we can imagine a sense of astonishment and fear, mixed with relief.
We know the women wondered who would roll away the stone so they could access the tomb (Mark 16:3). They may have considered who they could seek for help. Or they may have prayed for God to send someone to assist them.
He certainly did, but not how they expected. God didn’t send a person to roll away the stone for them—he sent one of his angels.
Though we don’t know the women’s reaction, Matthew does tell us about the guards. They tremble at the tomb in fear. They become frozen as if they’re dead.
The women see that Jesus’s body isn’t there. It’s missing. They don’t yet realize he has risen from the dead, just as he promised.
Questions:
How often does God answer our prayers in a way we don’t expect?
How often do we pray for a supernatural answer instead of a natural one?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we seek you when we have a need and thank you for your provisions in whatever way you provide them.
Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his return to heaven in The Victory of Jesus. The Victory of Jesus is another book in Peter DeHaan’s beloved Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series. Get your copy today.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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