Matthew's account of the resurrection is interesting! First, in Matthew 27, we are privy to the conversation of the Pharisees with Pilate, as they REMEMBER the words of Jesus about rising from the dead in 3 days. They remember and respond to his words by posting guards at the tomb, so that the disciples can't create a grave robbing hoax and say that he is risen. What's ironic, is THEY remember and the disciples and the women heading to the tomb, don't. Matthew doesn't record it, but Mark says that the women were going with spices to anoint the body. If they had remembered and believed Jesus, would they be going to anoint a dead body?
The other irony is that right outside the tomb are soldiers guarding it and when the earthquake occurs and the angel of the Lord comes down and rolls away the stone, the tough macho soldiers, shake (like the earthquake) and fall down like dead men. So, inside the tomb where death is supposed to exist, it doesn't, and outside the tomb, the guys fall down, as dead. It sort of fits the male image that there is no conversation between the angel and the soldiers. But, there is a conversation between the dazzling white angel and the women. So, God uses this event like a news flash - earthquake and telling the women. That's enough to spread the news. [you've heard of the television and the telephone to share news, but the most effective one is used here - tell-a-woman]
So, the women run with the news. They run with news obtained by HEARING the words - he is risen and by SEEING and empty tomb. So, they run by faith. They run, the account says, with fear and great joy. What a great mixture of emotions. Probably best related to if you've ever had a near miss in a traffic accident - only after you swerve or miss being clobbered does your heart pound out of your chest and you wipe the sweat from your brow in great joy that you weren't killed. Fear and great joy. Anyway, they run quickly to spread the news and then bump into Jesus!
When they encountered Jesus, they worshiped Him! And, he repeated the words of the angel! Do not be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and meet me there. So, friends, can we go tell the news? Can we go in faith like these women, simply by hearing the news and seeing the evidence of lives changed by Jesus Christ?
