They Saw Instead

Matthew 28:1-9 KJV

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.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came early to see a sepulcher. They had no ambitions of seeing anything other. They were coming to remember what once was but what was no more. A sepulcher us a place of memories, not prospects. It looks to the past and not the future.  It is a place of loss and not of hope. They saw instead

An empty tomb

The stone was rolled away and the body of Jesus was gone. The keepers were fainted and some of the watch had fled.

An angel speaking to them

The angel confirmed in fact that Jesus as not there because He had risen from the grave. He was not there just as He had told them. They had destroyed His Temple but He had raised it again on the third day.

A risen Saviour

Jesus did not leave them with mere suspicions or even angelic testimony. Jesus showed Himself alive to them. They heard His voice. They saw His person. They held His feet.

This was more than fantasy. Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world,” was alive as He said.

Come see the place then,

Go tell others