Tuesday after Easter

Scripture: St. Matthew 28:1-15 (NKJV)

28:1 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, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 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.

9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Devotion

The events of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion primed Pilate to hear and believe the truth of the resurrection, so the Jewish leaders couldn’t risk any confirmation getting back to him. They bribed the soldiers not to recount their becoming like dead men at the appearance of the angel. Instead of miraculous intervention, they would confess to dereliction of duty, and the leaders would fix things with the governor so they wouldn’t lose their jobs over such a ridiculous lapse as to be overpowered or outwitted by Jesus’ ragtag bunch of disciples.

Of course the soldiers took the money and told the lie: telling the truth not only would cost them this profit, but would validate an unacceptable religion. As with the scribes, Pharisees, chief priests, and elders of the people, their lives would change in a way for which they were unprepared. Otherwise, they would have been watching the tomb hoping for Jesus to exit and would have received a greeting from the angel similar to that which the women received: “Do not be afraid.”

That wonderful greeting! And then: “He is risen, as He said.” Believe His Word, as He has proven it all to be true! The women believed it enough that they ran to tell the disciples, though they marvel and remain in fear. On the way, Jesus Himself greeted them and established an order illustrated again with the disciples on the way to Emmaus, and throughout these forty days: the Word is proclaimed, and then Jesus appears to prove it again, that the disciples might be prepared for when He would no longer appear, trusting His Word to abide forever.

Hymn: Blesséd are they that have not seen and yet whose faith hath constant been, In life eternal they shall reign: Alleluia! Amen. (TLH #208:8)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.