Reading 47
The empty tomb
The reading
Matthew 28:1-10
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
The companions
Psalm 16:9-11
Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety. For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
Hosea 6:1-3
Come, and let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him. Let us acknowledge the LORD. Let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.
The note
Read the order Matthew gives. The guards shake and go down like dead men. The women leave with fear and great joy, both at once. The first effect of the resurrection is not comfort. It is shock.
That follows. Everyone had built a life around one fixed fact: you get your years, and then it ends. The empty tomb removes the fixture. Anything you had settled into because it was final is open again, and that is harder to carry than resignation. Hope asks more of you than giving up does.
Then the instruction, which is short. Don’t be afraid. Go and tell.
On the way he meets them himself. Not a report of him. Him.
And the word he sends is for his brothers, meaning the men who ran and hid while he died. That is the word he picks for them.
This week
Name one thing you have quietly filed as settled. The relationship that is over, the skill you are too old for, the person who will never change. Write it down and mark it open for one week. You are not required to believe it will change. You are required to stop acting as though the question is closed. Then send one message to someone you assume has already written you off.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain). The divine name is rendered “the LORD” in the prophet reading.
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