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Gospel: Matthew 28: 8-15
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
While they were going, some of the guard went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had happened.
The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;
then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
telling them, “You are to say,
‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’
And if this gets to the ears of the governor,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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There are a few interesting details peppered into these verses, leading to the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel.
In the preceding chapters, Matthew refers to Jesus as the “Son of Man,” “Lord,” and the “Son of God.” Matthew wanted his listeners to be assured that, prior to Jesus’ crucifixion and death, he was divine.
This would’ve served as a consolation to those who were hearing the Gospel for the very first time. But, after Christ’s resurrection, Matthew simply refers to him as “Jesus.” No other title is necessary. This man, Jesus, was raised from the dead.
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To reinforce Christ’s victory over death, Matthew describes an angel rolling away the stone and sitting on top of it, showing God’s power over death. But Jesus was no longer there.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary see the empty tomb – fearful yet overjoyed – then Jesus appears to them. But he will not allow them to cling to him; whenever the Risen Christ appears to someone, it is to give them a mission.
“Do not be afraid,” he says. “Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.” The disciples must perform an act of obedience – even an act of faith – by trusting Mary’s account, heading not to the tomb but to Galilee.
There, they, too, will be sent out on mission.
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And just as King Herod tried stomping out the news of Christ’s birth, so the chief priests try muzzling the story of Christ’s resurrection. Those who do not worship Jesus will do anything to get rid of him.
But they never win. The joy of the resurrection was so profound, so thrilling, so life-changing that nothing – not even death – could stop Christ’s disciples from sharing the Good News.
Death had lost its sting. The early Christians saw the grave as a type of second womb; although it claimed their mortal bodies, new life – eternal life – would inevitably come.
May that same spirit of joy and conviction come alive within us today!
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Image credits: (1) Piero della Francesca, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (2) Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene After the Resurrection, Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (3) Southern Run Baptist Church