But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 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” — Matthew 28:5-7
“Come and see!” That was a most gracious invitation! Think of the situation: The women had come to the tomb in sorrow and despair, to anoint the dead body of Jesus. When they got to the tomb, fear and perplexity were added to their sorrow. The stone was rolled away from the tomb. They looked into the tomb, and there instead of Jesus’ body they saw an angel standing. The angel was brilliant like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The women were filled with fear at the sight.
How startling the angel’s words must have been, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” Then the angel invited the women, “Come, and see the place where the Lord lay.”
God wanted them to know for sure that Jesus was truly alive. He wanted to dispel all their fear and doubt, so He invited them to ‘come and see’ for themselves. They could see the empty tomb and the grave cloths neatly folded, lying there.
On the way to tell Jesus’ disciples, the women were allowed to see Jesus Himself. He said, “Rejoice!” Now they knew for sure that Jesus was truly alive from the dead, and their hearts pounded with joy.
God wants you to be just as sure that Jesus is alive and to have the same joy. As Paul says, “If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain.” So God invites you to ‘come and see!’
‘COME AND SEE’ JESUS ALIVE
There are still many scoffers who do not believe that Jesus is bodily risen from the dead. It is tragic to see how many of these scoffers are leaders in the large church bodies today. But God invites us to ‘come and see’ for ourselves, so that we do not doubt but believe.
In the sure Word of God we can ‘come and see’ that Jesus is truly alive from the dead. In His Word we can see the angel who rolled away the stone and sat on it. We can see the empty tomb. We can see Jesus appear to each of the disciples over forty days to prove beyond a doubt that He is alive.
Even the doubt and unbelief of the disciples can help to make us more sure of Jesus’ resurrection. They did not just “imagine” that Jesus was alive because they wanted it so badly (as some claim today). That was the last thing on their minds, for they did not think it possible. They all had to see Jesus for themselves before they would believe He was alive. Each time Jesus appeared to them we too see Him.
‘COME AND SEE’ OUR SALVATION
This invitation to ‘come and see’ is also an invitation to see what Jesus’ resurrection means for us. Again we see that in the Word of God. God says, “He was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.” Jesus’ death and resurrection have secured our eternal salvation.
The resurrection is our guarantee that our sins are paid for and heaven is opened to us. The resurrection is our proof that we have been reconciled to God, that we are His children. Jesus’ resurrection is also the guarantee of our resurrection on the last day. As Jesus said, “Because I live, you will live also.”
‘Come and see’ so that you may believe and rejoice. Jesus’ resurrection is at the heart of all God’s blessings. Therefore, seeing Him alive gives us the greatest joy in life.
‘GO AND TELL!’
The angel also gives a command. He said, “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.” Jesus gave them the same command, “Go and tell My brethren . . .” (Mt. 28:10).
Can you imagine those women doing anything else? Can you imagine them going home and not telling anyone? Could they possibly act like nothing special had happened? No way! This was the most exciting and wonderful thing that ever happened. Luke tells us, “They returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.” They were so excited they wanted to tell everyone they knew.
Later that day Jesus gave the same command to the rest of His disciples. He told them “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Lk. 24:27). Then He commanded them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Those disciples made it their life’s work to ‘go and tell’ everyone about Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Jesus has given us the same command. We too have come and seen the most wonderful thing of all history. By God’s grace we have seen Jesus die on the cross for the sins of the world, and we have seen Him rise from the dead to secure our eternal salvation. Now our Lord says to us, “Go and tell.” Can we go back to our homes now and act as though nothing great has happened?
Let us go home and rejoice together with our families in what we have seen. Talk together about what Jesus’ resurrection means for you.
+ Go and share with your friends and neighbors the excitement of what
you have seen--that your Redeemer lives to save you from eternal
death.
+ When others are faced with the sorrow of death, go and tell them
the joy of Jesus' resurrection, and how He has conquered death
for us.
+ When others are troubled by the pressures of life, go and tell
them the joy that our Redeemer lives to "grant me rich supply,"
"He lives to guide me with His eye" (TLH #200).
+ When others are sorrowful, assure them that Jesus lives "to
comfort me when faint, He lives to hear my soul's complaint"
(TLH #200).
There is so much to tell!
This is still the most exciting news ever. God has saved us from hell and given us eternal life–all through Jesus who died and rose again.
May we continue to accept this most gracious invitation, to ‘come and see!’
Continue to come to God’s Word at home and at church and see all the glory of our God and all that He has prepared for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. And may we follow this most glorious and joyful command: ‘Go and tell!’
–Pastor David Reim