The Resurrection of Christ
Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
We often overlook spiritual symbolism in Scripture, but it’s there for a reason. Every word in Scripture is important, every detail reveals something God wants us to know and highlights things we should meditate on. So, let’s look at a few things we may have missed concerning the resurrection of Christ.
After the Sabbath: The Sabbath is what we call Saturday, so the day after the Sabbath is what we call Sunday. The first Sabbath was when God rested from creating all things, so the day after the original Sabbath would be day eight. The number eight (Sunday) represents a new beginning and so does Christ’s resurrection.
At Dawn: As the darkness of night ends, the sun rises and light begins to shine. People awake from sleep and start the day. In Scripture, sleeping represents death and is a reminder that even though we sleep/die we will also wake up/rise from the dead. Christ’s resurrection is connected to the idea of waking up, and reminds us that we will be raised from the dead.
The Tomb: The place of the dead. It’s the battle ground where Christ confronts the enemy and defeats the power of sin and death.
A Violent Earthquake: Earthquakes are symbolic of God’s Presence and power. An earthquake is mentioned when God gave the commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18), and is symbolic of God marching out to do battle (Judges 5:4; Psalm 68:7-8; Joel 2:10-11; Micah 1:4). Earthquakes are also associated with God judging the wicked and reminds us that only in Christ can we truly stand on solid ground. The resurrection is a reminder that Christ has defeated the enemy and won the spiritual battle.
An Angel: A messenger from heaven, sent to communicate the will of God to humankind. To be in the presence of an angel was viewed as being in the Presence of God. The angel is symbolic of God being present, overseeing the situation and giving it His approval. There were angels at the birth of Christ, during the ministry of Christ and there are angels at the resurrection, proving that Jesus Christ is God’s Son.
Rolled Back the Stone: The stone is not removed to let Christ out, for He supernaturally left the tomb before the stone was rolled away. Rather, the stone is removed to let the people see that Christ is risen.
Sat on the Stone. In ancient times, to sit is a sign of victory; the enemy has been defeated, peace has been restored and the king is on His throne. The resurrection reminds us that Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
His Appearance was Like Lightning: Like earthquakes, lightning is also a sign of God’s Presence and power. Lightning is viewed as heavenly fire and reminds us that there are things about God we can never fully comprehend; His ways are higher than our ways. Lightning is also viewed as God’s weapon (Habakkuk 3:11; Psalm 18:14; Psalm 77:18). It is further proof from heaven that God has won a great victory and that His weapons are more powerful than the enemy’s.
His Clothes were White as Snow: Both the color white and snow are signs of being pure and holy (Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18; Daniel 7:9; Mark 9:3; Revelation 1:14). Holiness is important because it allows us to enter the Presence of God. The angel is clothed in holiness because he is representing the one and only Holy God. The resurrection reminds us that Christ has come to cleanse us from all of our sin and to make us holy.
When you put all of this together it tells a story:
God rose from His rest (Sabbath) at first light (dawn) and entered the place of the dead (tomb). He marched out to do battle on behalf of His people (earthquake).
When the battle was over, God sent His messenger (angel) to reveal what He had done (rolled back the stone) and to proclaim His complete victory (sat on the stone). With His mighty weapon in hand (lightning) God struck down the enemy and gave His people gifts of holiness and forgiveness (white as snow).
But the story doesn’t end here. We’re told to not be afraid and to go and tell others what God has done. The resurrection also fills us with joy and calls us to worship the risen Savior. The story of Christ’s resurrection gives us hope, a new purpose, a new life and a brand new start. My prayer for all of us is that we will experience new life in Christ today and that we will share this new life with those in need.
You are the one God loves!
