The angel at the tomb told the women, “He is not here.” They had gone to visit a dead man’s tomb but were surprised. Matthew 28: 5b“I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.[1] Jesus had given the disciples multiple predictions of both His death and resurrection.
Jesus’ Predictions:
Matthew 16: 21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. [2]
Matthew 17: 22 After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. 23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief. [3]
Matthew 20: 17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” [4]
The Disciples Didn’t Understand:
Mark 9: 9 As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.” [5]
Luke 9: While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” 45 But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. [6]
Jesus Sent the Spirit to Help Us
After Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit, who helps us understand Scripture. 1 Corinthians 2: 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.[7] The Holy Spirit can help us understand how significant the empty tomb is. Because Jesus lives, we can be assured that we, too, will live. The Spirit opens the Word to give us insight into how to live and helps us trust Jesus. To find out more about how the angel could say, “He is not here”, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-resurrection
[1-7] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.