Matthew 28:1-6
From the Other Side
In his book “Six Hours One Friday,” Max Lucado tells the story of a missionary in Brazil. This missionary had discovered a previously unknown Indian tribe living in a remote corner of the Brazilian jungle. The village was set beside a wide, deep river. One day a terrible viral epidemic broke out among them. People were dying every day. Everyone was in desperate need of medical help. The hospital was not far away — it stood on the other side of the river. But the people were afraid to cross the river, because they believed it was inhabited by evil spirits. For them, stepping into the river was as good as certain death. The missionary explained to them that he had crossed the river many times and always come out unharmed. But they were not impressed by his account. So he led them to the riverbank and dipped his hand into the water. Still they would not go in. Then he waded in up to his waist and splashed water on his face. They still did not believe him — they were still afraid to enter the river. Finally he plunged beneath the surface, swam underwater, and came out on the far side. From there, in a sign of victory, he raised his fist triumphantly into the air — he had gone all the way in, crossed the river, and remained unharmed. When they saw this, the Indians broke into shouts of joy and followed him to the other side of the river. And so the village was saved from the terrible epidemic.
This is exactly what Jesus did for us. He kept telling people that they should not fear the “river of death,” but they would not believe him. So he touched the coffin of the widow of Nain’s dead son and brought him back to life. He entered the house of Jairus and said to his dead little girl, “Talitha koum!” — “Little girl, get up!” He let Lazarus spend four days in the tomb. Then he cried out, “Lazarus, come out!” and Lazarus came out of the grave. But people still would not believe him. Finally, Jesus himself entered the river of death and emerged on the other side. In Matthew 28:1-6 we read:
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 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; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:1-6)
This text from Matthew’s Gospel offers us two themes for reflection connected with the resurrection — the glory of the resurrection and the terror of the resurrection. And I want to draw your attention to the fact that in each of these aspects, Christ’s resurrection is a foreshadowing of our own resurrection.
The Glory of the Resurrection
In order to rise, our Lord did not need the help of an angel. After he rose, he could have rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb himself. But God sent his angel to roll back the stone and reveal the majesty of the empty tomb. Why? Because he wanted to make the resurrection of his only begotten Son a glorious event, accompanied by signs and wonders. And so, when he rose as the victor over sin and over death, God shook the earth and sent an angel to proclaim this most glorious event in human history. In verses 2-3 we read:
2 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. (Matthew 28:2-3)
Christ could have risen even without an earthquake and an angel, but God shook the earth and sent his angel to make the resurrection of the Son of God even more glorious. What is wonderful is that in the very same way an angel bore witness to Christ’s resurrection, our resurrection too will be attended by angels. According to the apostle Paul, it will be at the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17):
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Just as Christ’s resurrection was glorious, so our resurrection too will be glorious. Just as Christ rose in glory, we too will rise in glory! Here on this earth we often run into trials, sorrows, persecutions and problems, tears and even death. But take heart! Glory awaits us. Even if we die, in the same way the grave could not hold Christ any longer than the time appointed by God, it will not be able to hold us either! We will rise from the dead. Because he lives, we too will live. In John 14:19 Jesus himself says:
Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:19)
And in 1 Peter 1:3-5 the apostle Peter exclaims:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
A living Lord — a living hope!
Where Is the Key to the Coffin?
In America there was a father who was a widower, raising his little girl alone. One day they had to travel to a neighboring town on some business. There they stayed in a modest hotel. But during the night the little girl suddenly fell ill, and the worst happened — she died unexpectedly. The father was crushed. He had already lost his wife, and now his only daughter was gone as well.
At the funeral only two people walked behind the coffin — the father and the local pastor. The coffin was specially made — it locked with a special lock. At the grave the father took the key to the coffin from his pocket, opened it, and looked one last time at the pale little face of his little girl. Then he silently closed the lid of the coffin, locked it, and handed the key to the cemetery keeper.
On the way back, the pastor comforted the grief-stricken man with God’s Word. Among other things he quoted to him the words of Jesus from Revelation 1:18:
I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:18)
“What does this mean, about these keys?” the sorrowing father asked through his tears. “Here is what it means,” the man of God replied. “You think the key to your little girl’s coffin is in the hands of the cemetery keeper, but let me tell you something. That is not true. The key to your daughter’s coffin hangs on the keyring of the Son of God. One day, at his coming, he will use it to open the coffin. Then your daughter will rise, and you will see her again!”
At these words the weeping father’s face brightened, and he glimpsed the glory of the resurrection. We must always remember that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the pledge, the guarantee, and the model of our own resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:43 it is said of the human body that it is “sown in dishonor,” but “raised in glory.” Just as our Savior rose with a renewed, glorious, yet at the same time recognizable body, so we too will rise with glorified and recognizable bodies on the last day.
The Terror of the Resurrection
Just as the glory of Christ’s resurrection is a foreshadowing of the glory of our resurrection, so too the terror of Christ’s resurrection is a foreshadowing of the terror of our resurrection.
For us, the disciples of Christ, the resurrection is the brightest of festivals. Easter is full of “inexpressible and glorious joy.” But for those who have not yet come to know Christ, the resurrection is terrible news, because it speaks to them of their sins and of the judgment that awaits them. In verses 2-4 it says:
2 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. (Matthew 28:2-4)
Notice what the emotion was that gripped the Roman guards who had been posted to watch the tomb — fear. Whenever we think of Easter, we must never forget the terror that paralyzed those hardened Roman soldiers. I say we must not forget this terror, because this same terror will seize the souls of unbelievers at the coming of Christ.
These soldiers had witnessed many dreadful sights. Nothing could move them. But the moment they saw the angel of God — not the risen Christ, but only his angel — they froze with fear. And I want to ask you: how will you react to the Second Coming if you have still not received Jesus Christ as your Lord? How will you react to the sound of the trumpet on the last day? What will you feel when you see the glorious appearing of our great God, Jesus Christ? What will you feel when you see God’s avenging angels and the glory of his saints? Fear and trembling will overtake your soul, and you will not be able to utter a single word. Your heart will groan at the sight of the Son of God, whom you despised. And because there will be nowhere to hide from his presence, you will simply melt away like wax. How do I know this? In Revelation 6:15-17 it says:
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
If you have still not believed in the risen Savior, then may God give you grace to lay these words to heart. Be wise and consider what your end will be. Remember that there is a Second Coming, a resurrection from the dead, and a judgment that is yet to come. There is one thing you have never imagined, and it is called “the wrath of God Almighty and of the Lamb”! So hurry, and do not delay! Act while you still have a favorable time. Repent of your rebellion and unbelief! Receive Jesus as your Lord and cross over from the side of God’s enemies to the side of God’s followers.
Our resurrection will not only be glorious, but it will also be terrible, like Christ’s resurrection. For some it will be dreadful, and for others — the most wonderful thing in the world.
Do Not Be Afraid!
If the appearing of God’s angel brought paralysis and terror to Christ’s opponents, to the followers of Jesus it brought comfort and joy. It is remarkable that the best news we will ever hear came from a cemetery. Here is what Matthew 28:4-6 says:
4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 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; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:4-6)
“Do not be afraid!” We must not be afraid, because through our faith in Christ we become heirs of God’s kingdom. The angel announced to the women that Jesus was not in the tomb and invited them to see the place where he had lain. That place, however, was empty. What does the empty tomb mean? What is so interesting and remarkable about it? It proves that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, the Anointed One, and the Lord. It proves that our sins are forgiven and blotted out. It proves that we are justified and can have peace with God.
What will happen, according to the Bible, is that our Lord will appear on the clouds of heaven and return again to this earth (Revelation 1:7). The earth and everything done upon it will be burned up with fire (2 Peter 3:10). The graves will give up their dead. The sea too will give up the dead that are in it. The books will be opened. The judgment will begin. God’s angels will separate the good from the wicked, and the wicked will be thrown into the eternal fire. In Revelation 20:11-15 it says:
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
All of this is quite frightening, but there is nothing in it that should make the believer afraid. Clothed in the righteousness of Christ and washed in his blood, we will be found without stain or blemish before him. We will be found in that “Noah’s ark” that will not be harmed when God’s wrath is poured out on this earth.
Has Your Reservation for Hell Been Canceled?
Two women were sitting on a little hill, resting. One of them was reading her Bible and suddenly exclaimed, “Do you know? It says here that Jesus went to hell!” (Ephesians 4:9-10). Hearing these strange words, her friend was shocked and said, “Oh, no! You’re joking. How could Jesus possibly go to hell?!” The woman with the Bible replied, “No, no — not to stay there. He stopped by hell only for a little while — to cancel our reservations for that place!”
Praise God! This is why we celebrate the resurrection. This is why we call it Easter — because it is the feast of our own salvation from death. But let us examine ourselves — are we in the faith? Because the “reservations” of believers for hell have been canceled, but those of unbelievers have not!