There are moments in our lives that transform us forever. It may be a happy experience, such as falling in love, or a frightening moment, such as a car crash, or it may be a moment of revelation, such as we hear of in Matthew’s account of the first Easter morning. That moment not only transformed the two Marys' lives, but as they took the news home that the tomb was empty, it was to transform the world.

As we read this story, Matthew makes us aware of the emotions of the two Marys, they were frightened: ‘Do not be frightened’ v5, the angels say.

Matthew also makes us aware of their state of mind, they were coming to look for the body of Jesus filled with the awefulness of what they had witnessed at the cross:

‘I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.’v5.

But something else is going on, for they leave the empty tomb not with a message of hopelessness but of faith. That transformative moment came when the angels tell them that Jesus is risen. The tomb was not empty because the body had been stolen, as they first supposed, but because Jesus had risen:

‘He is risen, Just as he said.’ V6

Those words transformed their fear to joy, their doubt to faith, and most importantly, their will to proclaim the message that Jesus had risen. Now they were no longer fearful fugitives but fearless witnesses to the risen Christ, and the rest, as they say, is history!

History

But that’s the trouble, it’s history, so far away and so long ago. How can we be sure today? How can we access the events that changed the world?

The Empty Tomb

Let’s revisit the empty tomb in our minds and experience what they felt: ‘Come and see the place where he lay.’ V6, the angel said. In fact you can still visit the site of the empty tomb in Jerusalem. It is still there, it is still empty.

This fact was acknowledged by both friend and foe, but their conclusions were different. Matthew invites us to come to the empty tomb and look in, just as those two brave women did.

What did the two Marys feel? Previously, it had been fear, but now that fear had changed to joy.

What did the two Marys think? Previously, they had known him to be dead; now, they believed him to be alive.

How did they respond? Previously, they had been fugitives, hiding away in the darkness, now they break out of hiding to go to tell the disciples the ‘Good News’.

Matthew records all these details because he is writing for us, and wants us to enter into the experience of the first disciples.

The Message of the Angels

“ He is not here, he is risen, just as he said.” V6

It is the same message spoken to the same wondering world, and in our worship today, we will relive the moment when the women fell at the feet of Jesus and worshipped him.

‘Suddenly Jesus met them, “ Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.’ V9. Over one and a half billion people will be worshipping Jesus this Easter Day around the world.

Though that event took place nearly two thousand years ago, we are no further from the facts than the first disciples; the facts have remained unchanged.

What do we feel? Each of us is subject to powerful emotions, and fear is one of the most powerful. Matthew tells us that the women were frightened for their lives; only at great risk did they visit the tomb that morning. It may be that fear dominates our lives as we confront the fact of the empty tomb. What will others say? What should I do if Jesus is truly alive? Fear of others sometimes determines the way we live, but that fear was transformed to joy for these two women as they heard the Angel’s message.

What do we think?

Their minds told them that the body had been stolen. That was the obvious conclusion to draw, the one that we would have come to. It was the message of the Angels that changed the minds of the Marys from doubt to faith, the same message we hear today, repeated down the centuries. Only minds that are open to the possibility that this message is true can come to a living faith.

How do we respond?

The women came to the tomb that day longing in their hearts to believe that Jesus’ life had not been in vain. These were exceptional women, neither held back by fear nor by what their minds told them must be true. They were led instead by their hearts, and they decided to come and look at the tomb.

We too come to the tomb and listen to the same message. When we come, will we be willing to face our fears? When we come, will we come with open minds ready to hear the message of the Angels? When we come with a faithful heart, we too can meet with the risen Lord Jesus.

For it is not ultimately our emotions that drive us, nor even our minds that determine what we believe, but our hearts that will tell us the message of the Angels is true, and our wills that determine how we live in the light of the Easter message.

“He is not here, he has risen, just as he said.”