This was no ordinary ‘first day of the week’. It was the first day of a new era and a new creation.  God was doing something unique. With all the trappings of the presence of God (earthquake, angel, ‘appearance like lightning’, clothes as white as snow) the scene is set. Mary Magdalene takes the lead, and we are drawn in. The women approach Jesus’ tomb, and they are met by an angel, and later by the Lord himself (vs 2,3,5–7,9). How things have changed in two nights! The tomb is empty. Christ is risen, just as he said (eg Matthew 20:18,19). Hearts thumping, the women hurry away on their mission. The angel’s words to them (vs 5–7) are for us as well (italics added). 

‘Don’t be afraid.’ God is at work. God’s righteousness has defeated human wickedness. Christ has been raised from the dead, that we may be also. ‘Come and see.’ Take a look. It bears investigation. It all points to the one who was dead and is now alive for evermore (Revelation 1:18). ‘Go and tell’ the others to meet Jesus.  

The angel said, ‘Go.’ The Lord said, ‘Go.’ The other disciples had to ‘go’ to Galilee. And they did ‘go’ (vs 7,10,16). The resurrection of Christ changed their world – and ours. We lift our hearts in praise for the Easter victory.  

Lord, I pray for the Holy Spirit’s presence in my reading of your Word, to feed my heart and mind with your love and grace.    

For the women, the Sabbath must have felt like an endless wait. They knew they must anoint Jesus’ precious body, but the question of how to get into the tomb was formidable. When they finally arrived with prepared spices, they were utterly bewildered by what confronted them. Shocked, numbed soldiers in disarray – and an angel seated on the rolled-back stone – conveyed an unexpected reality: no body to anoint. As they entered the tomb and saw for themselves that it was empty, the angel’s words sank in. They were to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen and would meet them in Galilee. 

When Jesus, very much alive, suddenly appeared to them, their old roles seem turned on their head. Instead of being those who fulfilled personal, domestic tasks of embalming a corpse and carrying messages, they became the first witnesses to Christ’s resurrection. Yet it was surely fitting. The faithful women who had been at the cross and tomb now saw and worshipped the risen Christ. They were appointed personally by Jesus, as the first evangelists to proclaim the good news of the most world-changing event in history: that he was indeed risen from the dead. 

Jesus empowered the women to be the people he was calling them to be. As his newly appointed ambassadors, they could let go of fear, rejoice in his victory and proclaim the gospel. So can we. Jesus’ calling is not limited to background, age, time or culture. He can empower all those who believe and trust in him to be witnesses of his resurrection. God anoints us today to share the calling of those first eyewitnesses in proclaiming the good news of Christ’s sacrificial love and resurrection power. 

Let’s thank God for choosing us to tell the message of Jesus’ amazing resurrection. Let’s pray that we may be faithful witnesses to his victory over sin and death.