Matthew wrote the following: ‘After the sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.’ (Matthew 28: 1-4) The Holy Spirit gives us here a small account as to what happened to the guards and their reaction to the revelation of a mighty angel, an event unknown and unseen in the world hither to. Many in their days, as in ours do not believe in the existence of God, of angels. Spiritual things very real, which are normal for such celestial beings; although unseen, are all around us. We shall know and see them when comes the rapture, it could be very soon, then all the clever humanists, and deists, will react like the guards have, when they saw the angel shining bright as a light, and all that accompanied his coming; the earth quaked, the sealed tomb was opened and the angel sat on it!

The angel said to the women (in a language they knew, Hebrew or Aramaic, for angels can speak any language and dialect known in the world) ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified, he is not here, He has risen just as He said. Come and see that place where He lay… So, the women harried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples! Suddenly, Jesus met them: Greetings, He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet, and worshipped Him.’ (Matthew 28: 5-8) Jesus did say often that He would rise on the third day, but If the apostles did not take it in, how could they? This was Christ’s second appearance! On the morning of the first day of the week, Sunday!

Mark relates the event as follows: ‘So Joseph (of Arimathea) bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in the tomb cut out of the rock. Then he rolled the stone, against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses saw where they laid Him! (Mark 15: 46-47) It is important to know how they followed the whole process of dealing with the body of the Lord, which nobody else mentions. It took Joseph to take it on himself to attend to the body of the Lord, together with Nicodemus, with a devoted attention, laid it in a tomb, that he had cut out in the rock for himself, it was near Golgotha! Mark continue and writes: ‘When the Sabbath was over Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (one of the twelve apostles – son of Alphaeus) and Salome, bought spices do that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other: Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb (Not knowing that the Jews had it sealed and the guards were set to watch it.)

I write these events with deep reverence, and do so, to tell the most poignant event in the history of the world, and I do so to share it with those that may not have a Bible! The death of the Lord struck the disciples of the Lord with awe, and left them numb, so Jesus, after he rose from the dead, wanted to get the disciples together again, for they were broken up, and this He did successfully with much love. In the world, anyone guilty of far lesser sin, than that of the disciples of the Lord, who forsook Him, especially Peter, who actually, on oath, betrayed Him, would stand no chance of a pardon. God be praised that we are not dealing with men! All true Christian, born-again of the Holy Spirit, must face the fact that they also may sin; sometimes even commit grievous sins! For, sinless perfection, that so many people believe in, and try to achieve at all cost, especially the self-righteous category of some Christians, the holiest than thou band, goody-goodies! is not taught in the Holy Scriptures! But experience humbles us all, for we all have sinned since we know the Lord, and had to confess it with a broken heart.