Christ’s Commission to His Disciples and to Us

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) The eleven disciples who remained with Jesus after His resurrection (Judas had already committed suicide because of his grief over betraying Christ) had gone to a mountain in Galilee to await his appearance to them. He was ready to ascend into Heaven, back to His Father. We are told in verse 17 that they “worshiped Him, but some doubted.” Even though he had been seen, we are told, some forty times since His resurrection, some “still doubted” that he had arisen triumphantly from death and the grave. And now Jesus had an important announcement to make to the disciples and a very important commission to give to them. First, He stated firmly: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Because of His authority, He had the power to be with them in what He was about to ask them to do. He had the authority to empower them for the task. He was going triumphantly back to Heaven, His reason for coming to earth fully accomplished. And even though He did not come to set up a political earthly kingdom as so many had anticipated He would do, and hoped He would do, He was ready for them to take part in building that kingdom of believers. They (and we) were (are) to do this by going into all the world and making disciples in every nation. Believers are to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism is an act of obedience. It also demonstrates to the world that the believer is “dead to sins” and “resurrected to new life in Jesus Christ.” Next, they (we) have the command to “teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” In other words, we are to disciple the saved, teach them the Bible, teach them to walk in God’s ways, as Jesus had taught His disciples when He was among them on earth. And this marvelous promise came from the mouth of Jesus before He ascended into heaven in their sight: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Go to Acts 1:6-11 to read a fuller account than in Matthew’s gospel of the Great Commission and what happened just before and just after Jesus ascended (was taken upward in a cloud as they watched). Would you not like to have been standing on that mountain in Galilee that day to hear Christ’s commission and to see the remarkable spectacle of His ascension? How very thrilling that event was! Now, back to earth and the job the disciples had to do. We hear no more about “some doubting” after hearing Jesus that day and seeing Him ascend into heaven. They were so awe-struck that two angels were sent from God to tell the disciples Jesus would return even as they had seen Him go into heaven. This is the one promise of Jesus that has not yet been fulfilled. Be ready; this will happen when all peoples everywhere hear the Good News that Jesus is Lord and Savior! My pastor of years ago used to urge us to expect Jesus each day: To arise and say, “Lord, are You returning to earth today?” He told us that if we live in anticipation, we will also live in holiness and obedience. I believed him when I was a child and become a Christian (at age 9), and I believe even today that we should live with this expectancy of Jesus’ return very present in our minds. In the meantime, as disciples, we are to go, tell, baptize, teach. And I add, live in expectancy of His return to earth. The next day after I became a Christian at age nine, I led my cousin to the Lord. Later that revival week, I led another cousin to the Lord. Did I know “how” to witness? Not really; I had no previous lessons in the “steps to salvation”. But I knew how to tell Dennis and Mary Lou that Jesus loves me and He loves each of them. At age six, when Missionary Pearl Todd from China came to our church to speak, I was not then a Christian; but I loved Jesus in my heart and wanted to do His will as I understood it. I felt at age six that God was calling me to China to be a missionary like Miss Todd, to tell people there that Jesus loves them. My job, instead, was to stay home and “hold the ropes,” to be a preacher’s wife, and to seek to faithfully witness to the lost where ever God led my husband and me in our ministerial and teaching work. What a life He has provided me: seeking to do the Great Commission. Lord, help us be faithful. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 05.28.2017

Signs of the End Times

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’” -Matthew 24:3-14 (ESV).

      Matthew chapters 24 and 25 are termed by scholars the “Olivet Discourse,” or teachings of Jesus to His disciples as they were on the Mt. of Olives. This mountain is the middle peak of a two and one-half mile long mountain ridge that towers over the eastern side of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives rises over two hundred feet about the Temple mount located across the Kidron Valley. At this place Jesus gave His disciples some very cogent and deep teachings about the end times and the tribulation period that will precede the Lord’s second coming (return) to earth.

      In the focal passage from Matthew 24:3-14, Jesus gave several significant events that will occur at the beginning of this period. Religious deception will be very evident (vv. 4-5, 11). Wars and rumors of war will be experienced (v. 6). Famine will be widespread. Earthquakes will be prevalent. Persecution of Christians will occur resulting in their martyrdom. One positive is that “the gospel of the kingdom” will be preached throughout the whole world before the end comes. People of all nations will have an opportunity to hear and know about Jesus the Lord before the end comes. And who will help to hasten this fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy concerning the end times? This will be done by Christians who are faithful in telling those they know about salvation through belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. When Christians tell others, we help to hasten the day of the Lord’s coming. This task began very shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven. We recall the command Jesus gave His disciples: “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV).

      Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have already been commissioned to be faithful in telling others of the good news of the Savior and of His return to earth. All of us may not go as ambassadors. But we all can be faithful in praying for those who go to preach and teach and we can give to support our mission causes around the world.

      Many, like the first disciples, ask “What are the signs of Your coming and of the close of the age?” We must admit that many of these signs have already occurred or are now occurring. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus told His disciples: “You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:34). Be ready. Be alert. But Christians should go beyond looking and wondering about the second coming of Christ. They should be about the task of spreading the Word and fulfilling the Great Commission to go and tell all people. This is the will of God concerning us as we anticipate the Day of Jesus’ return to earth. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 11.27.2016

Holy Week:–Sunday, the First Day of the Week-Resurrection!

“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. See, I have told you. So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!” and they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” –Matthew 28:1-10 (ESV).

Not yet good light; the dawn was just breaking and shadows of darkness played about the garden tomb. Sorrow and fear walked with the two women, Mary Magdalene ‘and the other Mary,’ female disciples of Jesus, last at the tomb on Friday, first at the tomb on Sunday. They were afraid. I would have been too, going early before good day, and then being shaken by a reverberating earthquake! How strange to be greeted by such shaking and clattering of the earth. And fear overtook them again, for seated there upon the great gravestone was an extraterrestrial being whose garments glowed in the half-light like lightning. Even the strong, burly Roman guards lay on the ground, out cold, like dead men!

But when the angel spoke, for by now the women realized the person meant them only good and not harm, they listened, for his message reechoed what Jesus Himself had told them before He died: “Fear not!...He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay.” And with that I can imagine that the angel stepped aside, inviting Mary Magdalene and Mary to step up to the tomb and look in.

Matthew does not give these details, but accounts of the resurrection in other gospels tell us that the grave clothes lay there on the rock ledge where the body had been—as though the corpse of Jesus, now alive, had just escaped from them and left the clothes lying in the tomb. And folded, the napkin, or handkerchief, that had covered Jesus’ face was placed neatly to the side. Even this had significance. Scholars tell us that if a napkin were folded instead of being “wadded” up, it indicated that the person would be back again. This did not mean for Jesus to come back into the tomb and to death, but to the earth again! With all the excitement of the angel’s message, the women would not have had time to give more than a cursory glance into the tomb. But later, they would remember an important aspect of the neatly-folded napkin: It lay folded in readiness, a sign that the Master would be back again; He had not gone far away.

Listen, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the angel has directions for you, an important errand for you to run: “”Go quickly and tell His disciples He has risen from the dead! Tell them to go to Galilee; there He will meet them!” What joy, what delight! The Marys did not need their urns of burial ointment and spices they had so lovingly brought to embalm the body. No dead body was there to receive the embalming.

They left the garden grave, excited and exulting that they had such a message to give to the disciples! And as they rushed through the garden, behold, Jesus Himself met them and said, “Greetings!” There was no mistaking that voice! No one ever spake like Jesus speaks. They fell to His feet, worshiping Him! But He, like the angel, had a message for them to bear, “Go! Tell My disciples that I am alive. I will meet them in Galilee! Do not be afraid!”

Each of the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection is slightly different. We are not to wonder at the different approaches four different writers took to recount this most marvelous of occasions—Jesus rising from the dead! It is the central truth of the gospel story, the Word, the Lord, alive and victorious, as He had said. For my edification and amazement, I am reading each account today, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me all facets and views of the great truths of the resurrection accounts in Matthew 28:1-10: in Mark 16:1-11; in Luke 24:1-12; and in John 20:1-18. I pray that you, dear reader, will take the time to do the same. Because Christ is victorious over death, we, too, know assuredly that death is not the end, that the soul is quickened to new life. “O grave, where is thy victory? O death, where is they sting?” (I Corinthians 15:55, KJV).

Matthew records Mary Magdalene and the other Mary meeting the angel and being greeted by the living Lord. Mark records three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bringing spices and hearing the news from ‘a young man dressed in a white robe.” Mark later records His appearance to Mary Magdalene. In Luke’s account, they (meaning the women mentioned being last at the tomb on Friday) came with prepared spices to find the stone rolled away and a man in dazzling apparel giving them the news of the risen Christ. Luke identifies these women as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and “the other women” (Luke 24:10). But when the women told the disciples, they didn’t believe. Peter himself went and saw the grave clothes as the women had said. He had to see for himself. Then he marveled at what had happened. In John’s account, Mary Magdalene went first, saw the tomb empty, and ran to tell Peter and ‘the other disciple’ (John). They rushed to the tomb, saw the grave clothes, the napkin folded neatly, and John “saw and believed” (v. 8). Peter and John returned to their homes, but Mary remained in the garden, and Christ appeared to her, calling her by name and asking her to go and tell His disciples that He was alive.

Many poems, songs and hymns, essays and books have been written about the resurrection. Myriad are the accounts of Jesus conquering death, not only that of the gospel writers, but many throughout the ages since. On Easter around the world Christians celebrate anew the glory of the cross where Jesus died and the majesty of the empty tomb where Jesus shed the bonds of death and rose victorious. Millions of voices on Easter proclaim the words of the gospel hymn written by Alfred H. Ackley (1887-1960):

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He lives! He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way;

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart!” --Ethelene Dyer Jones 04.05.2015

An International Invitation

“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” –Psalm 117 (ESV)

I find it encouraging that the shortest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 117, with just two verses, is an invitation for all peoples everywhere to recognize God’s steadfast love and faithfulness and to praise Him.

The hope recurs in the Psalms as well as in the remaining 65 books of the Bible that the Gentiles will come to belief in the one true God. Paul the Apostle quoted Psalm 117:1 in Romans 15:11, and then launched into his reasons why he became a “minister to the Gentiles”—a missionary. At the heart of Christian missions is God’s love for and inclusion of all peoples in His plan of redemption. Paul again quoted from the Old Testament in Romans 15:21: “Those who have never been told of Him will see, and those who have never heard will understand” (quoting Isaiah 52:15).

Christian missions has as the aim spreading the gospel—the good news of salvation—to all people in the world. When Jesus was ready to ascend into heaven after his mission of redemption was complete, He gathered with His disciples and other believers on a hillside outside Jerusalem. Before He ascended to His Father in heaven, He had a final word for believers. In His powerful departing message, He repeated what was their major task: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV).

Throughout my church and denomination during the month of December, we have a special missions emphasis. As we remember the Advent, Christ’s birth, and the reason He came to the world as a baby, we also remember that He gave us the Great Commission (as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20). Because God loved us enough to send us His son, then we too have an obligation to go throughout the world spreading the good news of salvation. This is the heart of missions. We pray for missionaries’ specific needs and give our offerings to help them go to places in spiritual darkness. We hear stories of spiritual progress in far places and are encouraged to pray more and give more.

We remember Miss Lottie Moon, who went to China in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and made great inroads in telling people about the love of Christ. Our special missions offering is named to honor her faithfulness in service. Imagine if you were living in a land where the message of Christ had not been told. Would you not welcome those who came, as Paul did in early New Testament times, to tell you of salvation and faith in Christ that leads to a spiritual life on earth and a hope of eternity in heaven? That is what missions is all about. We give that the message of salvation can be proclaimed to those who have not heard. Won’t you pray for missionaries and give to support them? –Ethelene Dyer Jones 11.30.2014.

Holy Week Day by Day ~Sunday, First Day of the New Week~Resurrection!

“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.  ‘Come, see the place where He lay.’  Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him.  See, I have told you.  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.  And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!” and they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’” –Matthew 28:1-10 (ESV).

It was not yet good light; the dawn was just breaking and shadows of darkness played about the garden tomb.  Sorrow and fear walked with the two women, Mary Magdalene ‘and the other Mary,’ female disciples of Jesus, last at the tomb on Friday, first at the tomb on Sunday.  They were afraid.  I would have been too, going early before good day, and then being shaken by a reverberating earthquake!  How strange to be greeted by such shaking and clattering of the earth.  And fear overtook them again, for seated there upon the great gravestone was an extraterrestrial being whose garments glowed in the half-light like lightning.  Even the strong, burly Roman guards lay on the ground, out cold, like dead men!

But when the angel spoke, for by now the women realized the person meant them only good and not harm, they listened, for his message reechoed what Jesus Himself had told them before He died:  “Fear not!...He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.  ‘Come, see the place where He lay.’”  And with that I can imagine that the angel stepped aside, inviting Mary Magdalene and Mary to step up to the tomb and look in.

Matthew does not give these details, but accounts of the resurrection in other gospels tell us that the grave clothes lay there on the rock ledge where the body had been—as though the corpse of Jesus, now alive, had just escaped from them and left the clothes lying in the tomb.  And folded, the napkin, or handkerchief, that had covered Jesus’ face was placed neatly to the side.  With all the excitement of the angel’s message, the women would not have had time to give more than a cursory glance into the tomb.  But later, they would remember an important aspect of the neatly-folded napkin:  It lay folded in readiness, a sign that the Master would be back again; He had not gone far away.

Listen,  Mary Magdalene and Mary, the angel has directions for you, an important errand for you to run: “”Go quickly and tell His disciples He has risen from the dead! Tell them to go to Galilee; there He will meet them!” What joy, what delight!  The Marys did not need their urns of burial ointment and spices they had so lovingly brought to embalm the body.  No dead body was there to receive the embalming.

They left the garden grave, excited and exulting that they had such a message to give to the disciples!  And as they rushed through the garden, behold, Jesus Himself met them and said, “Greetings!”  There was no mistaking that voice!  No one ever spoke like Jesus speaks.  They fell to His feet, worshiping Him! But He, like the angel, had a message for them to bear, “Go!  Tell My disciples that I am alive.  I will meet them in Galilee!  Do not be afraid!”

Each of the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection is slightly different.  We are not to wonder at the different approaches four different writers took to recount this most marvelous of occasions—Jesus rising from the dead!  It is a major truth of the gospel story, the Word, the Lord, alive and victorious, as He had said. For my edification and amazement, I am reading each account today, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me all facets and views of the great truths of the resurrection as recorded in Matthew 28:1-10:  in Mark 16:1-11; in Luke 24:1-12; and in John 20:1-18. I pray that you, dear reader, will take the time to do the same.  Because Christ is victorious over death, we, too, know assuredly that death is not the end.  The soul will be quickened to new life.  “O grave, where is thy victory?  O death, where is they sting?” (I Corinthians 15:55, KJV).

Matthew has Mary Magdalene and the other Mary meeting the angel and being greeted by the living Lord.  Mark records three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bringing spices and hearing the news from ‘a young man dressed in a white robe.” Mark later records His appearance to Mary Magdalene.  In Luke’s account, they (meaning the women mentioned being last at the tomb on Friday) came with prepared spices to find the stone rolled away and a man in dazzling apparel giving them the news of the risen Christ.  Luke identifies these women as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and “the other women” (Luke 24:10).  But when the women told the disciples, they didn’t believe.  Peter himself went and saw the grave clothes as the women had said.  He had to see for himself. Then he marveled at what had happened.  In John’s account, Mary Magdalene went first, saw the tomb empty, and ran to tell Peter and ‘the other disciple’ (John).  They rushed to the tomb, saw the grave clothes, the napkin folded neatly, and John “saw and believed” (v. 8).  Peter and John returned to their homes, but Mary remained in the garden, and Christ appeared to her, calling her by name and asking her to go and tell His disciples that He was alive.  

So many poems, songs and hymns, essays and books have been written about the resurrection.  Myriad are the accounts of Jesus conquering death, not only that of the gospel writers, but many throughout the ages since. On Easter around the world Christians celebrate anew the glory of the cross where Jesus died and the majesty of the empty tomb where Jesus shed the bonds of death and rose victoriously.  Millions of voices on Easter proclaim the words of the gospel hymn written by Alfred H. Ackley (1887-1960):

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He lives!  He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way;

He lives!  He lives!  Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives:

He lives within my heart!”

                                                                                    -Ethelene Dyer Jones  04.20.2014

Recognizing God’s Claim on My Life

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.” –Matthew 28;19-20 (KJV).

I remember the time and place and my decision made there as a milestone and a very important affirmation in my spiritual life decisions.  The first had occurred when I was a child of nine and accepted Christ as my Savior in a summer revival at Choestoe Baptist Church, where I had been spiritually nurtured and taught to that point.  Another highlight came at Camp Pinnacle at Clayton, Georgia in the summer of 1948 (August) at a camp for what we then called Young Woman’s Auxiliary members, a missions group sponsored by Woman’s Missionary Union.  I was there because I had been chosen by my peers and faculty advisor to be president of the College YWA at Truett McConnell College for the year 1948-1949.  We were at Camp Pinnacle to get inspiration and direction for our leadership roles in the coming year.  Added to the training were periods of inspiration when we were challenged to make a real difference and consider God’s claim on the direction of our life.

Miss Sarah Stephens, Youth Director for Georgia Woman’s Missionary Union at that time was our major leader for the encampment.  It was our last night.  We were gathered by the lake at Camp Pinnacle.  Miss Stephens, an excellent and challenging speaker, had made clear the needs of the world—far away and close at hand—and had given each of us a candle attached to a piece of wood.  If we would sincerely seek God’s claim on our life and follow His leadership, even if it meant going as a foreign missionary, we were invited to put our candle afloat on the Camp Pinnacle Lake and watch as they all floated out on the current, giving light in the darkness that surrounded us.  With great seriousness and a prayer in my heart, I dedicated my life to God’s purpose for it.  I was sincerely seeking to stay attuned and follow His leadership.  At that time, I could imagine getting prepared to go to some far-away land and take the good news of Jesus Christ to those who had not heard it before.

In the years immediately following, I did not lose sight of the candles on the water and the challenge through Miss Stephens from God that He had a claim on my life.  The great commission, as Matthew 28:19-20 is known, became a very vital part of my belief and followship pattern.  Step by step, from that point in the summer of 1948, God opened opportunities and challenges for more education, for directions my service should go.  As it turned out, the greater part of my working life was spent as a teacher and as the wife of a minister and director of missions in the mountain area—not far from the very geographic area where I grew up.  The vision of far-away lands and the needs there did not ever go out of my vision and my mind, but I was to be one of those who, as a noted missionary observed, “held the ropes” as others “descended into the mines.”  I was to challenge, teach, lead and counsel those of the mountain area to be aware that missions does not have a particular geography—but outreach and helping persons find God’s will and way can be at home or abroad.  Each area is important.  Wherever one is led are people who need to hear God’s Word and be challenged.

A lighted candle, mine, joined by several other lighted candles put afloat by those who were listening to a challenge to serve became a high point in my spiritual decision-making.  In the years since, I have been reminded again and again of the promise I made to God in the summer of 1948.  That decision remained with me and made a significant difference in my life and service to Him.  –Ethelene Dyer Jones  08.11.2013.

Resurrection Day!

“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where He lay.  Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him.  See, I have told you.  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.  And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!” and they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” –Matthew 28:1-10 (ESV).

It was not yet good light; the dawn was just breaking and shadows of darkness played about the garden tomb.  Sorrow and fear walked with the two women, Mary Magdalene ‘and the other Mary,’ female disciples of Jesus, last at the tomb on Friday, first at the tomb on Sunday.  They were afraid.  I would have been too, going early before good day, and then being shaken by a reverberating earthquake!  How strange to be greeted by such shaking and clattering of the earth.  And fear overtook them again, for seated there upon the great gravestone was an extraterrestrial being whose garments glowed in the half-light like lightning.  Even the strong, burly Roman guards lay on the ground, out cold, like dead men!

But when the angel spoke, for by now the women realized the person meant them only good and not harm, they listened, for his message reechoed what Jesus Himself had told them before He died:  “Fear not!...He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where He lay.”  And with that I can imagine that the angel stepped aside, inviting Mary Magdalene and Mary to step up to the tomb and look in.  Accounts of the resurrection in other gospels tell us that the grave clothes lay there on the rock ledge where the body had been—as though the corpse of Jesus, now alive, had just escaped from them and left the clothes lying in the tomb.  And folded, the napkin, or handkerchief, that had covered Jesus’ face was placed neatly to the side.  With all the excitement of the angel’s message, the women would not have had time to give more than a precursory glance into the tomb.  But later, they would remember an important aspect of the neatly-folded napkin:  It lay folded in readiness, a sign that the Master would be back again; He had not gone far away.  For Mary Magdalene and Mary, the angel had directions, an important errand for them to run: “”Go quickly and tell His disciples He has risen from the dead! Tell them to go to Galilee; there He will meet them!” What joy, what delight!  The Marys did not need their urns of burial ointment and spices they had so lovingly brought to embalm the body.  No dead body was there to receive the embalming.

They left the garden grave, excited and exulting that they had such a message to give to the disciples!  And as they rushed through the garden, behold, Jesus Himself met them and said, “Greetings!”  There was no mistaking that voice!  No one ever spake like Jesus speaks.  They fell to His feet, worshiping Him! But He, like the angel, had a message for them to bear, “Go!  Tell My disciples that I am alive.  I will meet them in Galilee!  Do not be afraid!”