Matthew 28:1

Matthew 28:1 says, In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  Toward dawn on the day after the Sabbath Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus came to the tomb.  Even though Jesus had continually told His disciples that he would rise again, they were not there.  We may hear about the resurrection of Jesus, but until we come by faith to see if it is true or not, we will never find salvation.  Even though the two Marys came for the wrong reason, they still came to where they thought Jesus would be.  Verse two declares, And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  While they were there, a great earthquake occurred, but this was not what open the tomb.  An angel of the Lord rolled back the stone sealing it and sat on the stone.  The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out, but to let the women see in.  Jesus was no longer constrained by physical limitations, and today, when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit Who is likewise not constrained by physical limitations.  Verse three adds, His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  I believe that we can simply say that the angel was an awesome sight.  Verse four says, And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  The guards who had been assigned to guard the tomb basically fell down in fear.  Verse five declares, And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  The angel told the two women to not be afraid, that he knew they were there seeking Jesus.  When we come seeking Jesus today, we do not need to be afraid.  Jesus did not come to punish us but to offer us forgiveness and salvation.  Verse six adds, He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  The angel proclaimed the good news to the women- He is not here, for He has risen.  This is the message that we share with the world today.  Jesus died for our sins, but He rose again to bring everlasting life to those who put their faith in Him.  Verse seven declares, And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.  The angel told the women to go quickly and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen and would meet them in Galilee.  They then had to decide whether to believe the angel or not, just as every person must choose whether or not to believe in the resurrected Jesus today.  Verse eight states, And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.  The two women left the tomb with joy and went quickly to tell the disciples what had happened.  We should be just as anxious to go and tell others about Jesus when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse nine declares, And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.  On the way to tell the disciples the good news, the women met the resurrected Jesus and fell at His feet and worshipped Him.  They did not question if it was Jesus or not, but recognized Him and worshipped Him.  This is what each individual must do in order to be saved.  We must first recognize Jesus as the resurrected Lord and then worship Him.  Verse ten states, Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.  Jesus told the women to not be afraid but to go and do what the angel had told them to do.  We may not have an angel come to us and tell us what to do today, but we have the Bible, God's written word, that tells us that we are to go and tell everyone about Jesus.