2015-10-11Faith Talk Run and Tell the Good News Where it is GOOD NEWS
In keeping the law to not work on the Sabbath, Jesus’ followers came early on the day after the Sabbath
to finish preparing His body for permanent burial. While Matthew does not record this as their
intention, Mark does. Interestingly, there is no mention of anyone but God, making preparations for
their entry into the tomb. While Matthew only says they came to see the tomb, Mark writes they
wondered how they would get in to the tomb. God provided. God sent an angel to take the stone out of
the way for Mary and the other Mary so they could enter Jesus’ now empty tomb.
Read Matthew 28:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for
an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,[1] and
sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
Read Mark 16:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of
James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on
the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among
themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?"
Notice: Matthew records a great earthquake occurred that morning when the angel rolled the stone
away. Mark says it was very large. It seems almost as if the earthquake might have resulted from the
angel’s rolling the stone away from the entrance to the tomb.
Picture the scene; imagine the angel as he was described by Matthew. Listen to the silence after the
earthquake there in the garden in the very early morning hours. Feel the anticipation as the ladies
approached the open tomb. Share their fear as they saw the angel of the Lord there.
Consider: I wonder if the stone was round and flat like a big disc or if it was round like a ball, or if it was
totally irregular. In any case, I wonder if the earthquake was simply the result of the stone hitting the
ground hard as the angel flung it out of the way. I wonder if Jesus came out through the opening to the
tomb, or, if He simply came through the rock like He did the walls of the upper room later that day.
Discuss: What would go through your mind as you approached the opening to the tomb? Did the
women remember Jesus said He was going to rise from the dead? What did they expect to find that
morning?
Read Matthew 28:4-8 (NKJV) 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But
the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was
crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go
quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into
Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with
fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word
Notice: The guards shook and then wound up unconscious. Theyy were scared to death. The angel
spoke to the women there, he comforted them, he let them know he understood why they were there,
2015-10-11Faith Talk Run and Tell the Good News Where it is GOOD NEWS
and he invited them in to the tomb to see where Jesus WAS. The angel also gave them a message to
take back to Jesus’ disciples.
Consider: Why did the disciples not accompany the women that morning? Were the disciples afraid of
the guards that were posted there, were they afraid of what they might find, or were they so devastated
by their loss they could not function?
Discuss: The women came to the tomb to do a job. They overcame their fear and had their fear replaced
by great joy, or at least, their great joy totally overshadowed the fear that remained. How would you
have reacted to the confirmation of the news Jesus has risen like He said He would. Even though it is
very old news is it any less GOOD NEWS? Do we, like the two Mary’s have something to go quickly and
run and tell to someone? Who will we tell that Jesus has risen today?
Challenge: Pick someone you care for and tell them the news, tell them the forever GOOD NEWS Jesus
has risen, Jesus lives and because Jesus conquered death and paid for our sins, and He lives, you can
have your sins forgiven and you can live too.
Love,
Tom