The Women Disciples Come To The Tomb And Find It Empty Apart From An Angel. They Learn That Jesus Has Risen (28:1-6).
Late on the same day as the Chief Priests sealed the tomb, two of the women disciples go to survey the tomb and assess the situation. We learn from the other Gospels that it was in order to see whether there might be any opportunity of anointing the body of Jesus. Their main problem is how they will remove the large stone guarding the entrance. They are unaware of what others have done, the one in anointing the body of Jesus, the other in setting a guard and sealing the tomb.
But when they arrive at the tomb they discover that the great stone has been removed from the mouth of the tomb, and that a glistening figure is sat on it. This glorious figure then reveals to them that Jesus has risen.
Analysis.
* Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre (Matthew 28:1).
* And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat on it (Matthew 28:2).
* His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the watchers quaked, and became as dead men (Matthew 28:3-4).
* And the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for He is risen, even as He said.”(Matthew 28:5-6 a).
* “Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6 b).
Note that in ‘a' they come to see the tomb, and in the parallel the angel invites them to see the place where the Lord lay. In ‘b' an angel descended and opened up the tomb for them, and in the parallel the angel tells them not to be afraid because he knows that they are seeking Jesus who had been crucified, but that He is risen. Centrally in ‘c' we have the glorious description of the angel.