And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
The angel spoke to the women who came to the tomb at dawn after the Sabbath expecting to care for the body of Jesus who had been crucified, telling them not to be afraid because he knew whom they sought. He was a mighty angel from heaven whose shining glory and lightning-like countenance terrified them so that he veiled his brightness and spoke gently to calm them. His reassurance prepared them to hear that Jesus was no longer in the tomb because He had risen as He said, and to go quickly to tell His disciples He would meet them in Galilee. The rolling away of the sealed stone before the helpless Roman guard proves the resurrection was God's work and proclaims Him come forth as the sinless Conqueror of death and the grave, ending Satan's triumph and winning life for humanity. Because He lives as a risen Saviour at the head of His church, troubled souls can hang their helpless weight on God, overcome sin through His help, and count no sacrifice too great to save others.
Time and Scene at Tomb
In the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to anoint and embalm the body. They came expecting to tend His body, not expecting Him to be alive. They had been friends of Christ and had helped Him in His public ministry.
A great earthquake came as a mighty angel descended from heaven commissioned from heaven clothed with the panoply of heaven, parting the darkness before him. He rolled back the stone sealed with the Roman seal from the door as easily as a pebble and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow, and light shone about the tomb. Other angels who had guarded Christ's resting place came with him to the grave.
As the women approached they found the great stone rolled away and the body of Jesus gone. The Roman keepers stationed around the tomb shook for fear at the sight and became as dead men. The disciplined watch was gone, leaving the tomb open and empty.
Angel's Appearance and Reassurance
The one who speaks is a mighty angel commissioned to come down from heaven clothed with the panoply of heaven, parting the darkness before him, and other angels who had been guarding Christ's resting place come to the grave with him. He is the angel who rolled away the stone, and he appears as a beautiful young man in shining garments sitting by the sepulcher, in human form yet with heavenly glory still shining around him. The glory of the Lord encircling him amazes and terrifies the women so that they turn to flee, for his appearance is like lightning even as his voice is heard.
Because that brightness frightens them, the angels veil and conceal their brightness further before speaking, lest they terrify them. His words are then soothing and comforting, spoken in a gentle, comforting voice meant to reassure them and calm their fear. That reassurance prepares them to hear that He is risen and to be invited to see where He lay.
He answers the women who had been friends of Christ and had helped Him in His public ministry, who followed Jesus and came to the sepulcher to embalm Him and to anoint and tend His body, expecting Him dead and not expecting Him to be alive. To them specifically he gives the command not to fear, because he knows they have come seeking Jesus who was crucified. He recognizes them as seekers of the crucified Jesus, telling them he knows they seek Him.
Resurrection Announcement and Commission
The "fear not" prepares hearts that came only to anoint a dead body and never expected Him alive to hear that the crucified Jesus is not there because He is risen as He said, a risen Saviour no longer in Joseph's tomb. The women are recognized as seekers of Jesus who was crucified, and their terror at the encircling glory is met by further veiling of brightness and a gentle, comforting voice that calms fear before announcing resurrection as victory for humanity and the source of the gift of life in Him. That announcement gives clear evidence He is risen as He said.
They are invited to look for themselves and see the place where the Lord lay and where He had lain, now empty. They are then sent quickly to tell His disciples He is risen from the dead and will go before them into Galilee where they will see Him. The risen Jesus Himself appeared to the weeping women and made them His messengers.
The angel's word belongs to the moment when Jesus the Son of God came forth from the tomb when bidden to come forth. A beloved angel rolled back the stone, bade Him come forth as One whom the Father calls, and in sight of the Roman guard Jesus walked forth from the tomb in triumph as conqueror of death and the grave. While the angel host worshiped and praised Him, the Son of God coming forth proclaimed over the rent sepulcher, I am the resurrection and the life, as a triumph song of victory, and after His ascent to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples.
Proof and Triumphant Victory
The words to the women belong to the proof that Christ was risen, spoken after the great earthquake and the descent from heaven and the rolling back of the stone and the terror of the keepers who shook and became as dead men, with reassurance given in the knowledge that they sought the crucified Jesus. That proof is made more firmly established by the precautions taken to guard the tomb, for the sealed stone and the disciplined Roman watch could not prevent His resurrection. The opening of the tomb was God's work, beyond the power of the guard.
The word stands against the bribed story of the rulers that the disciples stole the body by night, declaring instead that He is not there because He is risen as He said, with invitation to see the place where the Lord lay and with sending to tell His disciples quickly that He is risen from the dead and goes before them into Galilee where they will see Him. That clear evidence was denied by the Jews not for lack of proof nor from ignorance of the truth but from desire to keep the people from knowing the truth lest they stand forth as murderers. False teachers are afraid to trust the people with knowledge and seek to hide facts that would show the error of their position.
The resurrection ended Satan's triumph, because no power could keep Jesus in the grave. He did not remain long silent in the grave, but a beloved angel came and rolled back the stone and Jesus walked forth from the tomb in triumph. A mighty angel descended from heaven in sight of the Roman guards stationed around the tomb and rolled away the stone from the door as easily as if it had been a pebble, calling, Son of God, come forth, Thy Father calls Thee, and Jesus then came forth from the grave. He rose in divine power and glory with angels present, and came forth as a mighty Conqueror. His resurrection restored the human race to favor with God, which heaven's angels celebrated, making His resurrection a victory for humanity and the source of the gift of life in Him. After His ascent to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples.
His rising as a triumphant conqueror over death shows that no sin had tainted His character, for if it had He would have remained in the tomb and the world would have perished under its guilt. The angel's testimony, identifying Jesus as the one who was crucified, confirms His resurrection and divine identity. Jesus who had been crucified had risen from the dead, fulfilling two-thirds of the prophecy concerning the Messiah.
Salvation and Christian Life
The angel's word to the women belongs to the part assigned to angels in the plan of salvation accepted by the Father. They had offered their own lives, but were told the life of an angel could not pay the debt, and that His life alone could be accepted as a ransom by which He should by His death save many. They were still to have a part to act, to be with Him and at different times to strengthen Him, though He would take man's fallen nature with strength not even equal to theirs. They were to be witnesses of His humiliation and great sufferings, stirred with deepest emotion through love for Him to wish to rescue and deliver Him from His murderers, yet they must not interfere to prevent anything they beheld. To speak to the women and to act a part in His resurrection belongs to that devised plan.
His self-giving death and resurrection in divine power and glory, with angels present, restored the human race to favor with God, and heaven's angels celebrated this victory. He is a living, risen Christ who stands at the head of His church, no longer in Joseph's tomb with the great stone rolled before the door. After His ascent to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples, for He did not remain long silent in the grave but walked forth from the tomb in triumph. The word to the women belongs to the distinct history of His appointed meeting with His disciples after His resurrection and just before His ascension. It shows the real value He places on sincere belief in His personality, though unseen, viewed by the eye of faith.
With the rest of the chapter it holds out the Christian experience to be gained from the promised ministration of the Holy Spirit, the earnest of the life through Christ that every soul needs now. That provision leaves no excuse for departing from the faith to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. It shows that divine communion comes before acts of power, for His resorting to the solitude of the mountains to spend the night in prayer to His Father prepared Him for the great trial of the judgment hall and the cross. The same communion with the Saviour prepared the disciples for their mission and for the power and glory of Pentecost.
It presents Jesus who was crucified, the Lord of glory who made infinite sacrifices to open a way whereby sinners might be saved, in the brighter chapter that follows the account of His suffering and death. No one suffers more than Christ suffered or pays a higher price for faith than Christ paid, so no one should feel paying too high a price for salvation. This salvation means a life that measures with the life of God, and only those willing to make special sacrifices to save souls that are ready to perish can be counted worthy to enter the city of God. Because He lives, troubled people should always look up and hang their helpless souls upon God, who can bear their weight and carry all their burdens. His victory means Satan did not triumph over Him, and He can help believers overcome sin at every step so they do not have to overcome without His help.
The women came seeking Jesus after His crucifixion when He had been laid in the tomb, but He rose and appeared to His sorrowing disciples, and their hopes revived when they found their Saviour alive again. That discovery illustrates how Christ comforted those disappointed in 1844 and directed them to follow Him into His heavenly sanctuary work. The angel's reassurance to the seekers of the crucified Jesus is part of the announcement that He has risen and will go before His disciples into Galilee.
The angel spoke to the women who came to the tomb at dawn after the Sabbath expecting to care for the body of Jesus who had been crucified, telling them not to be afraid because he knew whom they sought. He was a mighty angel from heaven whose shining glory and lightning-like countenance terrified them so that he veiled his brightness and spoke gently to calm them. His reassurance prepared them to hear that Jesus was no longer in the tomb because He had risen as He said, and to go quickly to tell His disciples He would meet them in Galilee. The rolling away of the sealed stone before the helpless Roman guard proves the resurrection was God's work and proclaims Him come forth as the sinless Conqueror of death and the grave, ending Satan's triumph and winning life for humanity. Because He lives as a risen Saviour at the head of His church, troubled souls can hang their helpless weight on God, overcome sin through His help, and count no sacrifice too great to save others.
Time and Scene at Tomb
In the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to anoint and embalm the body. They came expecting to tend His body, not expecting Him to be alive. They had been friends of Christ and had helped Him in His public ministry.
A great earthquake came as a mighty angel descended from heaven commissioned from heaven clothed with the panoply of heaven, parting the darkness before him. He rolled back the stone sealed with the Roman seal from the door as easily as a pebble and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow, and light shone about the tomb. Other angels who had guarded Christ's resting place came with him to the grave.
As the women approached they found the great stone rolled away and the body of Jesus gone. The Roman keepers stationed around the tomb shook for fear at the sight and became as dead men. The disciplined watch was gone, leaving the tomb open and empty.
Angel's Appearance and Reassurance
The one who speaks is a mighty angel commissioned to come down from heaven clothed with the panoply of heaven, parting the darkness before him, and other angels who had been guarding Christ's resting place come to the grave with him. He is the angel who rolled away the stone, and he appears as a beautiful young man in shining garments sitting by the sepulcher, in human form yet with heavenly glory still shining around him. The glory of the Lord encircling him amazes and terrifies the women so that they turn to flee, for his appearance is like lightning even as his voice is heard.
Because that brightness frightens them, the angels veil and conceal their brightness further before speaking, lest they terrify them. His words are then soothing and comforting, spoken in a gentle, comforting voice meant to reassure them and calm their fear. That reassurance prepares them to hear that He is risen and to be invited to see where He lay.
He answers the women who had been friends of Christ and had helped Him in His public ministry, who followed Jesus and came to the sepulcher to embalm Him and to anoint and tend His body, expecting Him dead and not expecting Him to be alive. To them specifically he gives the command not to fear, because he knows they have come seeking Jesus who was crucified. He recognizes them as seekers of the crucified Jesus, telling them he knows they seek Him.
Resurrection Announcement and Commission
The "fear not" prepares hearts that came only to anoint a dead body and never expected Him alive to hear that the crucified Jesus is not there because He is risen as He said, a risen Saviour no longer in Joseph's tomb. The women are recognized as seekers of Jesus who was crucified, and their terror at the encircling glory is met by further veiling of brightness and a gentle, comforting voice that calms fear before announcing resurrection as victory for humanity and the source of the gift of life in Him. That announcement gives clear evidence He is risen as He said.
They are invited to look for themselves and see the place where the Lord lay and where He had lain, now empty. They are then sent quickly to tell His disciples He is risen from the dead and will go before them into Galilee where they will see Him. The risen Jesus Himself appeared to the weeping women and made them His messengers.
The angel's word belongs to the moment when Jesus the Son of God came forth from the tomb when bidden to come forth. A beloved angel rolled back the stone, bade Him come forth as One whom the Father calls, and in sight of the Roman guard Jesus walked forth from the tomb in triumph as conqueror of death and the grave. While the angel host worshiped and praised Him, the Son of God coming forth proclaimed over the rent sepulcher, I am the resurrection and the life, as a triumph song of victory, and after His ascent to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples.
Proof and Triumphant Victory
The words to the women belong to the proof that Christ was risen, spoken after the great earthquake and the descent from heaven and the rolling back of the stone and the terror of the keepers who shook and became as dead men, with reassurance given in the knowledge that they sought the crucified Jesus. That proof is made more firmly established by the precautions taken to guard the tomb, for the sealed stone and the disciplined Roman watch could not prevent His resurrection. The opening of the tomb was God's work, beyond the power of the guard.
The word stands against the bribed story of the rulers that the disciples stole the body by night, declaring instead that He is not there because He is risen as He said, with invitation to see the place where the Lord lay and with sending to tell His disciples quickly that He is risen from the dead and goes before them into Galilee where they will see Him. That clear evidence was denied by the Jews not for lack of proof nor from ignorance of the truth but from desire to keep the people from knowing the truth lest they stand forth as murderers. False teachers are afraid to trust the people with knowledge and seek to hide facts that would show the error of their position.
The resurrection ended Satan's triumph, because no power could keep Jesus in the grave. He did not remain long silent in the grave, but a beloved angel came and rolled back the stone and Jesus walked forth from the tomb in triumph. A mighty angel descended from heaven in sight of the Roman guards stationed around the tomb and rolled away the stone from the door as easily as if it had been a pebble, calling, Son of God, come forth, Thy Father calls Thee, and Jesus then came forth from the grave. He rose in divine power and glory with angels present, and came forth as a mighty Conqueror. His resurrection restored the human race to favor with God, which heaven's angels celebrated, making His resurrection a victory for humanity and the source of the gift of life in Him. After His ascent to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples.
His rising as a triumphant conqueror over death shows that no sin had tainted His character, for if it had He would have remained in the tomb and the world would have perished under its guilt. The angel's testimony, identifying Jesus as the one who was crucified, confirms His resurrection and divine identity. Jesus who had been crucified had risen from the dead, fulfilling two-thirds of the prophecy concerning the Messiah.
Salvation and Christian Life
The angel's word to the women belongs to the part assigned to angels in the plan of salvation accepted by the Father. They had offered their own lives, but were told the life of an angel could not pay the debt, and that His life alone could be accepted as a ransom by which He should by His death save many. They were still to have a part to act, to be with Him and at different times to strengthen Him, though He would take man's fallen nature with strength not even equal to theirs. They were to be witnesses of His humiliation and great sufferings, stirred with deepest emotion through love for Him to wish to rescue and deliver Him from His murderers, yet they must not interfere to prevent anything they beheld. To speak to the women and to act a part in His resurrection belongs to that devised plan.
His self-giving death and resurrection in divine power and glory, with angels present, restored the human race to favor with God, and heaven's angels celebrated this victory. He is a living, risen Christ who stands at the head of His church, no longer in Joseph's tomb with the great stone rolled before the door. After His ascent to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples, for He did not remain long silent in the grave but walked forth from the tomb in triumph. The word to the women belongs to the distinct history of His appointed meeting with His disciples after His resurrection and just before His ascension. It shows the real value He places on sincere belief in His personality, though unseen, viewed by the eye of faith.
With the rest of the chapter it holds out the Christian experience to be gained from the promised ministration of the Holy Spirit, the earnest of the life through Christ that every soul needs now. That provision leaves no excuse for departing from the faith to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. It shows that divine communion comes before acts of power, for His resorting to the solitude of the mountains to spend the night in prayer to His Father prepared Him for the great trial of the judgment hall and the cross. The same communion with the Saviour prepared the disciples for their mission and for the power and glory of Pentecost.
It presents Jesus who was crucified, the Lord of glory who made infinite sacrifices to open a way whereby sinners might be saved, in the brighter chapter that follows the account of His suffering and death. No one suffers more than Christ suffered or pays a higher price for faith than Christ paid, so no one should feel paying too high a price for salvation. This salvation means a life that measures with the life of God, and only those willing to make special sacrifices to save souls that are ready to perish can be counted worthy to enter the city of God. Because He lives, troubled people should always look up and hang their helpless souls upon God, who can bear their weight and carry all their burdens. His victory means Satan did not triumph over Him, and He can help believers overcome sin at every step so they do not have to overcome without His help.
The women came seeking Jesus after His crucifixion when He had been laid in the tomb, but He rose and appeared to His sorrowing disciples, and their hopes revived when they found their Saviour alive again. That discovery illustrates how Christ comforted those disappointed in 1844 and directed them to follow Him into His heavenly sanctuary work. The angel's reassurance to the seekers of the crucified Jesus is part of the announcement that He has risen and will go before His disciples into Galilee.