Matthew 28:6-10
Mat 28:6 (KJB)
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord
lay.
The angel then told the women that Jesus was not there because He had risen. The
angel then tells the women that they are to go and see the place where the body
of the Lord Jesus was laid. Remember, these women were the ones who saw the
exact location of the tomb and the exact way the Lord was laid in the tomb. So
now they are seeing that Jesus was no longer in the place where His body was
originally placed. These words the angel spoke are the words which have given
the greatest hope to all Christians down through the ages. When Jesus was
crucified and placed in the tomb it seemed that all was lost but when He was
raised, hope was raised with Him. (Titus 2:13 KJV) Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
We now look for the great second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The
resurrection of Jesus had been one of the greatest strengths the believers down
through history have held on to. It helped them go through the valley of
martyrdom knowing that this life is not the end but is only a portal to eternal
life for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Mat 28:7 (KJB)
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.
Then the women were told that they were to go to the disciples and tell them
that Jesus was risen from the dead. The first report of the resurrection was to
the disciples and not to the religious leaders. They were to find the disciples
which had been scattered in fulfillment of prophecy and then they were to make
their way to Galilee where, previously, the Lord told them that is where He
would first meet them after His resurrection. Some of them should have already
been making their way to Galilee so when Jesus was facing the cross, the
disciples would have been on the road and safe from being arrested. Since much
of the ministry of Jesus was done in Galilee, there would be the place of their
reunion.
Mat 28:8 (KJB)
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did
run to bring his disciples word.
The departed quickly from the tomb with a combination of fear and with great
joy. (Psa 2:11 KJV) Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
They did not just walk or walk fast, but they had run from the tomb for they
knew that the disciples would have wanted to know as soon as possible. According
to Mark, the women had fled from the sepulchre in both amazement and trembling.
(Mark 16:8 KJV) And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they
trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were
afraid. The experience would have been a time of mixed emotions for anybody but
it seemed that the great joy had overshadowed the fear.
Mat 28:9 (KJB)
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.
Then while the women were on their way to tell the disciples, Jesus meets them
and gives them a normal greeting, “all hail.” Instead of them returning it, they
had fallen at His feet and began to worship Him. This is not something women in
the Middle East would do but they were so overjoyed that Jesus was alive that
they could not help themselves when their joy began to manifest itself in
actions. The way that they clung to Him they might have thought that He would
disappear from them again and they were holding on to Him and would not let Him
go. By Jesus meeting them on the way, He was confirming by sight what the angel
had told them. Now instead of them telling the disciples that the angel told
them that Jesus was raised, now they had visual confirmation of His
resurrection.
Mat 28:10 (KJB)
Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into
Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Then Jesus uses the same words the angel told them that He will meet His
disciples in Galilee which would have been much safer than to meet Him in
Jerusalem because the city would soon be buzzing with the news of His
resurrection. Jesus had also told them before His crucifixion that He would meet
them in Galilee after His resurrection. (Mat 26:32 KJV) But after I am risen
again, I will go before you into Galilee. Obviously when Jesus made this
statement, they were not listening because immediately Peter went into His
speech about not forsaking Jesus. When the women met Jesus He also calmed their
fears and this meeting gave them a boldness to proclaim what they saw.