05/04/2026
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Matthew 28:6 NIV
This narrative begins with Mary Magdalene and another Mary going to the tomb where Jesus was buried. We learn from another gospel account that they went to anoint His dead body. These two women were faithful followers of Jesus Christ and were present at His crucifixion, death, and burial. Instead of encountering a sealed tomb, they encountered an angel who gave them some amazing news. Jesus was not in the tomb, but He had risen just as He said. The angel then invited the women to see where His body had been laid.
Jesus had prophesied His death, but He also predicted His resurrection such as in Matthew 16:21; 17:9; 20:19. Despite this, the only people that referenced the resurrection were the religious leaders who felt that the disciples would have stolen Jesus's body to give the impression He had been resurrected. None of Jesus's faithful disciples, not even the women who were staunch supporters, expected Jesus to have risen.
Regardless of their expectations, Jesus had risen from the dead. He had conquered sin, hell, and the grave. His sacrifice for sin was accepted making it possible for us to be saved. The women were to share the good news of the resurrection with the disciples. Likewise, we must go and tell others that Jesus is alive!
Edison Bynoe
