Women at the Empty Tomb Seen from InsideBible World
28:3Matthew 28:3
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
His face shone with a dazzling brightness and his garments were pure shining white, marking him as a heavenly messenger announcing that Christ had risen. At the dawn toward the first day of the week he descended amid earthquake and light, rolled back the sealed stone as easily as a pebble, and sat upon it to reveal the empty tomb. Brave soldiers who had never feared human power shook and fell to the earth as dead men, overpowered by a glory they could not endure. He was a mighty angel, the Captain of the Lord's host who had proclaimed Christ's birth at Bethlehem, sent by the Father to release the Son of God from the debt of sin. At his call Jesus came forth triumphant over death, shining in His Godhead and leading captives from their graves, while evil angels fled and the guarding hosts worshiped Him.
Angel's Radiant Appearance
His face was bright as lightning and his clothing white as snow, a divine brilliance marking him as a heavenly messenger at the announcement that Christ had risen. That shining face and snow-white clothing filled the Roman guards with fear so that they shook and became as dead men, unable to endure its light. His glorious appearance was part of the proof of the resurrection itself. He was a mighty messenger from God, come down from heaven to the sealed tomb to roll away the stone. He came from heaven clothed in heaven's power, with the bright beams of God's glory lighting his way.
God's glory went before him and lit his path as he descended, parting the darkness from his track. His glory lit the darkness and filled the sky as he approached the sepulcher, lighting the heavens and the whole place around the tomb. Dazzling streams of light reflected from him and surrounded him with beautiful burning light that outshone the sun. The earth trembled at his approach, and heaven seemed to come down to earth.
He came clothed in heaven's armor, in the panoply of heaven, and angels so clothed came to roll away the stone from the Saviour's tomb. His brightness scattered darkness from his track. His shining garments, shining like lightning, show one way angels reveal themselves while taking part in human affairs. At other times that same active ministry takes another form, when they come as men in the garb of wayfarers, accept the hospitalities of homes, act as guides to benighted travelers, thwart the spoiler's purpose, and turn aside the stroke of the destroyer.
What Happened at the Tomb
The verse belongs to the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the sepulcher. There was a great earthquake and bright light, the heavens were lighted and light shone around the tomb, and the women found the stone rolled away, the Roman guard gone, and the tomb empty.
The angel descended from heaven and rolled back the sealed stone from the door as easily as a pebble, and sat upon it. Heaven seemed to come down to earth in that act, with the earth trembling at his approach. He did this in the sight of the Roman guards stationed around the tomb.
At the Father's command the angel called to the Son of God to come forth, saying His Father called Him. Jesus then came forth from the grave with victory over death as a triumphant conqueror, shining forth in His Godhead, leading a multitude of captives forth from their graves with Him. He proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life over Joseph's rent sepulcher, while the angel host worshiped Him and the other angels who guarded His resting place bowed in adoration. Afterward He arose and appeared to His sorrowing disciples and revived their hopes.
His brightness scattered the darkness, lit the scene with awe, and overwhelmed the guards with light. That same brightness drove away the evil angels who claimed His body and sent the hosts of darkness fleeing in terror.
The precautions taken to prevent the body from being removed only made the triumph over death and the opening of the prison of death more complete and its truth more firmly established.
Guards Struck Helpless
His face shone bright like lightning and his clothing was white as snow, and God's glory went before him lighting his way as he descended from heaven to the tomb. His glorious, awe-inspiring, dazzling appearance filled the Roman guards with fear because they beheld a glory they could not endure, so for fear of him the keepers shook, quaked and trembled and became like dead men. The heavenly glory that rolled away the stone from the sealed door was so overwhelming that the guards could not endure its light, and they fell to the earth as though dead, powerless and helpless with no strength to stand. His glory overpowered brave soldiers who had never feared human power, making them shake and fall as dead men like captives taken without sword or spear.
The guards were permitted to endure the sight so they could witness the scene, see Jesus come forth from the tomb, understand what happened, and carry testimony of it. When that shining light came upon them they fell to the earth as dead men with no power to stand, yet they were allowed to see him rise as a conqueror and to understand it all while falling prostrate to the ground. The mighty angel commissioned by the Father to roll away the stone came with earthquake and heaven's glory, enshrouded in streams of the glory of God that lighted the whole place in a tremendous demonstration of God's power in cooperation with Jesus Christ so that all willing to believe evidence would believe. What they saw and testified to was not only Christ's resurrection but the multitude raised with him, proving that divine might overcomes earthly power and arms believers to resist the devil.
They carried a distinct and positive testimony to everyone they met and to the priests that it was the Son of God who had been crucified, because they had heard the angel proclaim him as the Son of God, the Majesty of heaven and the King of glory. The sight threw the Roman soldiers prostrate and left them greatly frightened, walking as drunken men when they rose, while the priests themselves became as dead men. The priests were moved to suppress that testimony with money and a lying report that his disciples stole him while they slept. The verse stands as part of the clear evidence for the resurrection that was denied not for lack of evidence and not because of ignorance of the truth, but because the soldiers were hired to bear false witness in order to keep the people from knowing the truth lest those responsible would stand forth as murderers, showing how false teachers are ever afraid to trust the people with knowledge and ever seek to hide the facts that would show the error of their position.
Angel's Identity and Mission
He was no mortal warrior but a mighty angel, the Captain of the Lord's host come down from heaven to the Saviour's tomb. He was one of the heavenly host guarding the sepulcher of Him who was slain for the sins of the world. He was the mighty angel who had taken the place from which Satan fell and who had proclaimed Christ's birth on the plains of Bethlehem.
He was commissioned from the heavenly courts by the Father to roll away the sealed stone from before Joseph's new tomb where Christ lay. His commission was to relieve the Son of God from the debt for which He had become responsible, for Christ died under the imputation of sin but was raised for justification with every charge cancelled after He had made a full atonement. His arrival was accompanied by an earthquake and heaven's glory.
The angels guarding the tomb had been unseen witnesses of all that took place in the mock trial in the judgment hall, where every action was noted and every taunt recorded. The prince of darkness with his apostate army would have kept the tomb that held the Son of God shut forever if it had been possible, but the power of kings and rulers and all kingly and earthly power was impotent to act its will upon Him against them. In the scene the angel proclaimed the crucified Jesus as the Son of God, the Majesty of heaven and King of glory.
Resurrection Victory and Proof
The shining face like lightning and clothing white as snow mark the heavenly messenger whose presence is itself part of the proof that Jesus rose, for his overwhelming glory laid the guards powerless and opened the empty tomb to view as testimony to divine power at work. Angels had a part in the resurrection, and Christ rose from the tomb surrounded by angels in wondrous power and glory. The guards who could not endure the light witnessed Jesus rise as conqueror, leaving clear evidence of His resurrection.
His coming shows that after tasting death for every man, Jesus did not long remain silent in the grave under the power of the enemy. No power could keep Him there, despite Satan's triumph when He was laid in Joseph's new tomb, and at the Father's call bidding the Son to come forth He walked out in triumph. He came forth as a triumphant conqueror, leading a multitude of captives from their graves with Him, and after ascending to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples, so that the light and lessons He had given made those ignorant fishermen bold and excellent teachers to the astonishment of those who had crucified Him.
This stands in the distinct history of Christ's resurrection and His appointed meeting with His disciples in Galilee just before His ascension. It happened at the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, with a great earthquake when the angel descended, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it in dazzling brightness and pure white clothing, so that the keepers shook and became as dead men. That history holds out the ministration of the promised Holy Spirit and Christ's unseen personality and presence always even unto the end of the world, giving the Christian experience and earnest of the spirit of life through Christ that every soul needs now. That life touches hearts and refreshes and strengthens believers, leaving no excuse for departing from the faith to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and calling for sincere belief in Christ's personality, though unseen, viewed by the eye of faith.
The display of God's power in cooperation with Jesus Christ was tremendous, enshrouding the sealed sepulcher in streams of glory that lighted the whole place, so that all willing to believe evidence would believe. The angel rolled back the great stone, and at the voice bidding Christ to rise He triumphed over the broken tomb and proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life. The watching Roman guard saw and understood it all yet had no power and fell prostrate to the ground, proving that divine might overcomes earthly power and arms believers to resist the devil.
Living in Its Light
The lightning brightness of face and snow-white clothing show the glory and power of the angels appointed to guard every follower of Christ, and the terror that shook the keepers till they became as dead men proves that these heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. Celestial beings take an active part in human affairs in shining appearance and swift flight as God's messengers, and the bright, majestic appearance at the Saviour's tomb that made the keepers shake with fear and become as dead men is one form of that ministry. At other times they come as men in the garb of wayfarers, accept the hospitalities of human homes, act as guides to benighted travelers, thwart the spoiler's purpose, and turn aside the stroke of the destroyer.
The glory of even one such messenger overwhelms sinful men and would make royal pomp seem pale, striking the Roman guards to the ground when the dazzling light fell upon them. Clothed with the panoply of heaven, the mighty angel commissioned from the heavenly courts to roll away the sealed stone from Joseph's new tomb parted the darkness from his track, and when that light fell on the guards stationed around the tomb they fell to earth as dead men because they beheld a glory they could not endure. This proves fallen humanity could not have endured even angelic glory, and had Christ come with even that measure of glory He would have extinguished humanity. Therefore He laid aside the royal crown and royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity so that humanity might touch humanity, to dispute Satan's power and claim as prince of the world, to rescue the human race from oppressive power, to break every yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to heal the wounds sin had made as the only begotten of the Father. By partaking of His nature men may receive the impress of Jehovah and stand as witnesses before men and angels and before the whole army of the powers of darkness to the power of a crucified Saviour.
Because the brightness of even one angel laid the guard like dead men, no one in the present human state could stand a single moment before the brightness of Christ's coming. Therefore before the second advent the saints must be delivered from every outward foe, be filled with the Holy Ghost, and share largely in the glory of God poured out at the voice of God from the Holy City, as glory was poured on Moses at Sinai, to prepare them to gaze on Jesus and to stand before the Son of God when He comes with all the holy angels with Him.
The scene stands in the brighter chapter that follows Christ's suffering and death, where the Lord of glory made infinite sacrifices to open the way whereby people might be saved unto a life that measures with the life of God. Because so high a price was paid, no one pays too high a price for faith, but must willingly make special sacrifices to save souls ready to perish in order to be counted worthy to enter the city of God. This distinct history of the resurrection and the appointed meeting with the disciples in Galilee just before the ascension holds out the ministration of the promised Holy Spirit and Christ's unseen personality and presence always even unto the end of the world, giving the Christian experience and earnest of the spirit of life through Christ that every soul needs now, touching hearts and refreshing and strengthening believers. It leaves no excuse for departing from the faith to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and calls for sincere belief in Christ viewed by the eye of faith. The resurrection glory came after prayer, for Jesus prepared for every great trial and important work by going to the solitude of the mountains and spending the night in prayer to His Father, and a night of prayer came before that glory.
His face shone with a dazzling brightness and his garments were pure shining white, marking him as a heavenly messenger announcing that Christ had risen. At the dawn toward the first day of the week he descended amid earthquake and light, rolled back the sealed stone as easily as a pebble, and sat upon it to reveal the empty tomb. Brave soldiers who had never feared human power shook and fell to the earth as dead men, overpowered by a glory they could not endure. He was a mighty angel, the Captain of the Lord's host who had proclaimed Christ's birth at Bethlehem, sent by the Father to release the Son of God from the debt of sin. At his call Jesus came forth triumphant over death, shining in His Godhead and leading captives from their graves, while evil angels fled and the guarding hosts worshiped Him.
Angel's Radiant Appearance
His face was bright as lightning and his clothing white as snow, a divine brilliance marking him as a heavenly messenger at the announcement that Christ had risen. That shining face and snow-white clothing filled the Roman guards with fear so that they shook and became as dead men, unable to endure its light. His glorious appearance was part of the proof of the resurrection itself. He was a mighty messenger from God, come down from heaven to the sealed tomb to roll away the stone. He came from heaven clothed in heaven's power, with the bright beams of God's glory lighting his way.
God's glory went before him and lit his path as he descended, parting the darkness from his track. His glory lit the darkness and filled the sky as he approached the sepulcher, lighting the heavens and the whole place around the tomb. Dazzling streams of light reflected from him and surrounded him with beautiful burning light that outshone the sun. The earth trembled at his approach, and heaven seemed to come down to earth.
He came clothed in heaven's armor, in the panoply of heaven, and angels so clothed came to roll away the stone from the Saviour's tomb. His brightness scattered darkness from his track. His shining garments, shining like lightning, show one way angels reveal themselves while taking part in human affairs. At other times that same active ministry takes another form, when they come as men in the garb of wayfarers, accept the hospitalities of homes, act as guides to benighted travelers, thwart the spoiler's purpose, and turn aside the stroke of the destroyer.
What Happened at the Tomb
The verse belongs to the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the sepulcher. There was a great earthquake and bright light, the heavens were lighted and light shone around the tomb, and the women found the stone rolled away, the Roman guard gone, and the tomb empty.
The angel descended from heaven and rolled back the sealed stone from the door as easily as a pebble, and sat upon it. Heaven seemed to come down to earth in that act, with the earth trembling at his approach. He did this in the sight of the Roman guards stationed around the tomb.
At the Father's command the angel called to the Son of God to come forth, saying His Father called Him. Jesus then came forth from the grave with victory over death as a triumphant conqueror, shining forth in His Godhead, leading a multitude of captives forth from their graves with Him. He proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life over Joseph's rent sepulcher, while the angel host worshiped Him and the other angels who guarded His resting place bowed in adoration. Afterward He arose and appeared to His sorrowing disciples and revived their hopes.
His brightness scattered the darkness, lit the scene with awe, and overwhelmed the guards with light. That same brightness drove away the evil angels who claimed His body and sent the hosts of darkness fleeing in terror.
The precautions taken to prevent the body from being removed only made the triumph over death and the opening of the prison of death more complete and its truth more firmly established.
Guards Struck Helpless
His face shone bright like lightning and his clothing was white as snow, and God's glory went before him lighting his way as he descended from heaven to the tomb. His glorious, awe-inspiring, dazzling appearance filled the Roman guards with fear because they beheld a glory they could not endure, so for fear of him the keepers shook, quaked and trembled and became like dead men. The heavenly glory that rolled away the stone from the sealed door was so overwhelming that the guards could not endure its light, and they fell to the earth as though dead, powerless and helpless with no strength to stand. His glory overpowered brave soldiers who had never feared human power, making them shake and fall as dead men like captives taken without sword or spear.
The guards were permitted to endure the sight so they could witness the scene, see Jesus come forth from the tomb, understand what happened, and carry testimony of it. When that shining light came upon them they fell to the earth as dead men with no power to stand, yet they were allowed to see him rise as a conqueror and to understand it all while falling prostrate to the ground. The mighty angel commissioned by the Father to roll away the stone came with earthquake and heaven's glory, enshrouded in streams of the glory of God that lighted the whole place in a tremendous demonstration of God's power in cooperation with Jesus Christ so that all willing to believe evidence would believe. What they saw and testified to was not only Christ's resurrection but the multitude raised with him, proving that divine might overcomes earthly power and arms believers to resist the devil.
They carried a distinct and positive testimony to everyone they met and to the priests that it was the Son of God who had been crucified, because they had heard the angel proclaim him as the Son of God, the Majesty of heaven and the King of glory. The sight threw the Roman soldiers prostrate and left them greatly frightened, walking as drunken men when they rose, while the priests themselves became as dead men. The priests were moved to suppress that testimony with money and a lying report that his disciples stole him while they slept. The verse stands as part of the clear evidence for the resurrection that was denied not for lack of evidence and not because of ignorance of the truth, but because the soldiers were hired to bear false witness in order to keep the people from knowing the truth lest those responsible would stand forth as murderers, showing how false teachers are ever afraid to trust the people with knowledge and ever seek to hide the facts that would show the error of their position.
Angel's Identity and Mission
He was no mortal warrior but a mighty angel, the Captain of the Lord's host come down from heaven to the Saviour's tomb. He was one of the heavenly host guarding the sepulcher of Him who was slain for the sins of the world. He was the mighty angel who had taken the place from which Satan fell and who had proclaimed Christ's birth on the plains of Bethlehem.
He was commissioned from the heavenly courts by the Father to roll away the sealed stone from before Joseph's new tomb where Christ lay. His commission was to relieve the Son of God from the debt for which He had become responsible, for Christ died under the imputation of sin but was raised for justification with every charge cancelled after He had made a full atonement. His arrival was accompanied by an earthquake and heaven's glory.
The angels guarding the tomb had been unseen witnesses of all that took place in the mock trial in the judgment hall, where every action was noted and every taunt recorded. The prince of darkness with his apostate army would have kept the tomb that held the Son of God shut forever if it had been possible, but the power of kings and rulers and all kingly and earthly power was impotent to act its will upon Him against them. In the scene the angel proclaimed the crucified Jesus as the Son of God, the Majesty of heaven and King of glory.
Resurrection Victory and Proof
The shining face like lightning and clothing white as snow mark the heavenly messenger whose presence is itself part of the proof that Jesus rose, for his overwhelming glory laid the guards powerless and opened the empty tomb to view as testimony to divine power at work. Angels had a part in the resurrection, and Christ rose from the tomb surrounded by angels in wondrous power and glory. The guards who could not endure the light witnessed Jesus rise as conqueror, leaving clear evidence of His resurrection.
His coming shows that after tasting death for every man, Jesus did not long remain silent in the grave under the power of the enemy. No power could keep Him there, despite Satan's triumph when He was laid in Joseph's new tomb, and at the Father's call bidding the Son to come forth He walked out in triumph. He came forth as a triumphant conqueror, leading a multitude of captives from their graves with Him, and after ascending to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples, so that the light and lessons He had given made those ignorant fishermen bold and excellent teachers to the astonishment of those who had crucified Him.
This stands in the distinct history of Christ's resurrection and His appointed meeting with His disciples in Galilee just before His ascension. It happened at the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, with a great earthquake when the angel descended, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it in dazzling brightness and pure white clothing, so that the keepers shook and became as dead men. That history holds out the ministration of the promised Holy Spirit and Christ's unseen personality and presence always even unto the end of the world, giving the Christian experience and earnest of the spirit of life through Christ that every soul needs now. That life touches hearts and refreshes and strengthens believers, leaving no excuse for departing from the faith to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and calling for sincere belief in Christ's personality, though unseen, viewed by the eye of faith.
The display of God's power in cooperation with Jesus Christ was tremendous, enshrouding the sealed sepulcher in streams of glory that lighted the whole place, so that all willing to believe evidence would believe. The angel rolled back the great stone, and at the voice bidding Christ to rise He triumphed over the broken tomb and proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life. The watching Roman guard saw and understood it all yet had no power and fell prostrate to the ground, proving that divine might overcomes earthly power and arms believers to resist the devil.
Living in Its Light
The lightning brightness of face and snow-white clothing show the glory and power of the angels appointed to guard every follower of Christ, and the terror that shook the keepers till they became as dead men proves that these heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. Celestial beings take an active part in human affairs in shining appearance and swift flight as God's messengers, and the bright, majestic appearance at the Saviour's tomb that made the keepers shake with fear and become as dead men is one form of that ministry. At other times they come as men in the garb of wayfarers, accept the hospitalities of human homes, act as guides to benighted travelers, thwart the spoiler's purpose, and turn aside the stroke of the destroyer.
The glory of even one such messenger overwhelms sinful men and would make royal pomp seem pale, striking the Roman guards to the ground when the dazzling light fell upon them. Clothed with the panoply of heaven, the mighty angel commissioned from the heavenly courts to roll away the sealed stone from Joseph's new tomb parted the darkness from his track, and when that light fell on the guards stationed around the tomb they fell to earth as dead men because they beheld a glory they could not endure. This proves fallen humanity could not have endured even angelic glory, and had Christ come with even that measure of glory He would have extinguished humanity. Therefore He laid aside the royal crown and royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity so that humanity might touch humanity, to dispute Satan's power and claim as prince of the world, to rescue the human race from oppressive power, to break every yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to heal the wounds sin had made as the only begotten of the Father. By partaking of His nature men may receive the impress of Jehovah and stand as witnesses before men and angels and before the whole army of the powers of darkness to the power of a crucified Saviour.
Because the brightness of even one angel laid the guard like dead men, no one in the present human state could stand a single moment before the brightness of Christ's coming. Therefore before the second advent the saints must be delivered from every outward foe, be filled with the Holy Ghost, and share largely in the glory of God poured out at the voice of God from the Holy City, as glory was poured on Moses at Sinai, to prepare them to gaze on Jesus and to stand before the Son of God when He comes with all the holy angels with Him.
The scene stands in the brighter chapter that follows Christ's suffering and death, where the Lord of glory made infinite sacrifices to open the way whereby people might be saved unto a life that measures with the life of God. Because so high a price was paid, no one pays too high a price for faith, but must willingly make special sacrifices to save souls ready to perish in order to be counted worthy to enter the city of God. This distinct history of the resurrection and the appointed meeting with the disciples in Galilee just before the ascension holds out the ministration of the promised Holy Spirit and Christ's unseen personality and presence always even unto the end of the world, giving the Christian experience and earnest of the spirit of life through Christ that every soul needs now, touching hearts and refreshing and strengthening believers. It leaves no excuse for departing from the faith to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and calls for sincere belief in Christ viewed by the eye of faith. The resurrection glory came after prayer, for Jesus prepared for every great trial and important work by going to the solitude of the mountains and spending the night in prayer to His Father, and a night of prayer came before that glory.