Rock and Roll History
It was 1962 when Mick Jagger and the boys started it up back in London and formed the Rolling Stones. They would make rock and roll history. But a couple of thousand years before that, an angel rolled a rock that changed all of history.
In a Jerusalem cemetery, a heavenly messenger was the opening act on the opening day of the Gospel’s non-stop world tour.
This angel sat on the original rolling stone. No, I’m not talking about Keith Richards. Keith may look old, but he’s not THAT old!
This angel sat on the original rolling stone. No, I’m not talking about Keith Richards. Keith may look old, but he’s not THAT old!
Just in case you’re unfamiliar with the story, allow me to give you a little background.
A radical Rabbi/Carpenter named Jesus rolled out of the Galilean boondocks and rocked the worlds of both Roman authorities and Jewish religious leaders.
Despite hating each other, these groups teamed up to take down this troublemaker.
A radical Rabbi/Carpenter named Jesus rolled out of the Galilean boondocks and rocked the worlds of both Roman authorities and Jewish religious leaders.
Despite hating each other, these groups teamed up to take down this troublemaker.
Using a mole inside His organization, they were able to arrest Jesus one late night in an scene like something out of “Zero Dark Thirty.” A quick series of illegal trials led to His torture and execution on Friday.
They thought once this alleged Messiah was dead and buried, His followers would scatter and no longer be a thorn in their side.
A Pair of Marys
But there was just one little problem with their plan. It began early on Sunday morning.
We pick up the story as told by a former tax collector named Levi who now goes by Matthew (Mt 28:1-10). With the sun just about to hit the horizon, we see a couple of women headed toward Jesus’ tomb.
They thought once this alleged Messiah was dead and buried, His followers would scatter and no longer be a thorn in their side.
A Pair of Marys
But there was just one little problem with their plan. It began early on Sunday morning.
We pick up the story as told by a former tax collector named Levi who now goes by Matthew (Mt 28:1-10). With the sun just about to hit the horizon, we see a couple of women headed toward Jesus’ tomb.
It’s “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” (v1). If you’re wondering, her last name isn’t Magdalene. That’s actually where she’s from.
Magdala is a little fishing village on the shores of a big lake called the Sea of Galilee. That’s just 22 miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth and only six miles from His ministry headquarters in Capernaum.
These two Galilean peasants met a couple of years back. Dr. Luke describes how Christ performed a miraculous exorcism on Mary and drove out seven demonic spirits that tormented her (Lk 8:5). She was just one of several ladies who had been part of Jesus’ posse.
Magdala is a little fishing village on the shores of a big lake called the Sea of Galilee. That’s just 22 miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth and only six miles from His ministry headquarters in Capernaum.
These two Galilean peasants met a couple of years back. Dr. Luke describes how Christ performed a miraculous exorcism on Mary and drove out seven demonic spirits that tormented her (Lk 8:5). She was just one of several ladies who had been part of Jesus’ posse.
Did you realize His traveling party included more than the dozen dudes we call disciples? Mary Magdalene and her female friends probably kept the belching, spitting, and scratching to a minimum for these blue collar boys.
We’re not exactly sure about the identity of “the other Mary” (v1). Including her friend from Magdala, there are a grand total of SIX women named Mary in the NT. It was a common name then. It’s a common name today.
We’re not exactly sure about the identity of “the other Mary” (v1). Including her friend from Magdala, there are a grand total of SIX women named Mary in the NT. It was a common name then. It’s a common name today.
Chances are this is “Mary the mother of James and Joseph” who Matt mentions as one of the ladies who witnessing Christ’s crucifixion (Mt 27:56). She may very well be the mom of “James the son of Alphaeus” (Mt 10:2; Mk 14:40), one of Jesus’ disciples.
Taking Roll on Resurrection Day
Now before you think these are the only two people present that morning, you may want to check out what Jesus’ other biographers have to say. According to Mark, the two Marys are joined by Salome (Mk 16:1).
Taking Roll on Resurrection Day
Now before you think these are the only two people present that morning, you may want to check out what Jesus’ other biographers have to say. According to Mark, the two Marys are joined by Salome (Mk 16:1).
Luke mentions “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them” (Lk 24:10).
And John describes specifically only Mary from Magdala making the early morning visit, but don’t miss how she says “we” when describing who’s there (Jn 20:1-2).
Before you get all hot and bothered about the differences in the four stories, just slow your roll. Just because the various authors don’t seem to agree on who was there, it doesn’t mean they contradict each other.
Before you get all hot and bothered about the differences in the four stories, just slow your roll. Just because the various authors don’t seem to agree on who was there, it doesn’t mean they contradict each other.
As J. Warner Wallace points out, “All the authors speak of a group and some authors identify specific members of this group base on their personal perspective, purposes, and audience.”
This is less about how many people were outside the tomb and more about how many were inside it. And if you’re scoring along at home, the number inside is a big, fat zero.
He’s Not Here!
The two Marys in Matthew’s account arrive at the grave to see something they never expected. “An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it” (v2).
The heavenly messenger broke the quiet silence of the cemetery when he shoved the boulder from in front of Jesus’ tomb. It caused a “great earthquake” (v2).
The rumbling was wild enough to freak out the Roman soldiers Pilate assigned as a guard detail (v4).
He’s Not Here!
The two Marys in Matthew’s account arrive at the grave to see something they never expected. “An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it” (v2).
The heavenly messenger broke the quiet silence of the cemetery when he shoved the boulder from in front of Jesus’ tomb. It caused a “great earthquake” (v2).
The rumbling was wild enough to freak out the Roman soldiers Pilate assigned as a guard detail (v4).
Dressed in the brightest white, the angel has some breaking news for 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” (v5-6). If you’re looking for Jesus, you’re in the wrong place.
One of the places suspected to be Christ’s burial place in Jerusalem is the Garden Tomb. If you stop by there today, you’ll see a sign with the same message. “He is not here. For He is risen.”
In other words, He’s STILL not here! He is STILL risen!!
One of the places suspected to be Christ’s burial place in Jerusalem is the Garden Tomb. If you stop by there today, you’ll see a sign with the same message. “He is not here. For He is risen.”
In other words, He’s STILL not here! He is STILL risen!!
Come and See, Go and Tell
Instead telling the ladies to beat feet, the angel has some interesting instructions for them. “Come and see the play where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead” (v6-7).
Come on into the tomb. See with your own eyes that nobody’s in there. Then get going so you can tell the rest of Jesus’ followers all about it.
Come and see. Go and tell. And that’s exactly what they did. They came and saw. They went and told.
“So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples” (v8).
Fear. What the women saw (or should I say what they DIDN’T see!) totally wigged them out.
Instead telling the ladies to beat feet, the angel has some interesting instructions for them. “Come and see the play where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead” (v6-7).
Come on into the tomb. See with your own eyes that nobody’s in there. Then get going so you can tell the rest of Jesus’ followers all about it.
Come and see. Go and tell. And that’s exactly what they did. They came and saw. They went and told.
“So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples” (v8).
Fear. What the women saw (or should I say what they DIDN’T see!) totally wigged them out.
Great joy. But their excitement totally overwhelmed any worries they had about the big news from the graveyard.
Are you afraid and panicked about telling others about Jesus? That’s okay. So were the two Marys. Let your delight and joy overwhelm that fear.
Worshiping Jesus
If all of that isn’t wild enough, Matt adds one other spectacular scene to this early morning visit. While the ladies were running out of the graveyard, guess who they ran into. “And behold, Jesus met them” (v9). Yes, THAT Jesus! The RISEN Jesus!! Fresh-out-of-the-empty-tomb Jesus!
Are you afraid and panicked about telling others about Jesus? That’s okay. So were the two Marys. Let your delight and joy overwhelm that fear.
Worshiping Jesus
If all of that isn’t wild enough, Matt adds one other spectacular scene to this early morning visit. While the ladies were running out of the graveyard, guess who they ran into. “And behold, Jesus met them” (v9). Yes, THAT Jesus! The RISEN Jesus!! Fresh-out-of-the-empty-tomb Jesus!
It probably comes as no surprise that the women immediately grabbed hold of Him. They “took hold of His feet and worshiped Him” (v9).
Don’t miss the fact that they worshiped the resurrected Rabbi. As Jews, they knew only God deserves their worship. It’s the very first thing He lists in His original Top Ten (Ex 20:3).
If they had any doubt before, the ladies have none now. Jesus is God.
It’s at this point that Christ reinforces the instructions of the angel sitting on the stone. “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me” (Mt 28:10).
Go and tell. Make sure you spread the word. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive!
Don’t miss the fact that they worshiped the resurrected Rabbi. As Jews, they knew only God deserves their worship. It’s the very first thing He lists in His original Top Ten (Ex 20:3).
If they had any doubt before, the ladies have none now. Jesus is God.
It’s at this point that Christ reinforces the instructions of the angel sitting on the stone. “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me” (Mt 28:10).
Go and tell. Make sure you spread the word. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive!
Come and See for Yourself
We’re still doing that today. Come and see. Go and tell.
Come and see for yourself who Jesus is and what He has done. Investigate His claims for yourself.
Don’t take my word for it. If you honestly look for the truth of Christ, you’ll find it.
Come and see for yourself who Jesus is and what He has done. Investigate His claims for yourself.
Don’t take my word for it. If you honestly look for the truth of Christ, you’ll find it.
After that, go and tell. Will you be just a little afraid? Probably. But let the incredible joy of what He’s done for you overwhelm your fear. Spread the word.
Come and see. Go and tell.
Come and see. Go and tell.
So what are you waiting for? Tell everyone the story of the original rolling stone.
©2016
Jay Jennings
©2016
Jay Jennings
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