Monday, May 12, 2014
Matthew 28:2-4 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
AN OPEN DOOR
Sometimes artistic depictions of Jesus' resurrection are less than true to the Biblical account. I've seen one or two that show Jesus striding out of the tomb with a flash of glory, Roman guards falling down all around. This makes for a dramatic scene, but the reality was a little different.
Scripture actually tells us that an earthquake shook the ground early on that first Easter morning as an angel descended from heaven. This angel then rolled that great stone door away from the mouth of the tomb and sat on it. It was this that caused the guards to fall to the ground in shock.
But let's get one thing straight. The angel didn't open the door to let Jesus out. Our risen Savior didn't need help getting out of the tomb. Risen in glory, Jesus was now using His full powers as the God-Man. The reason the angel opened the door was to show the world that the tomb was empty. Jesus was risen.
This open door can serve a symbolic purpose for us as well. This open door can help us remember the significance of the resurrection. When that tomb door was opened, the world was enabled to see that another door had been opened--the door to heaven. At the cross the payment for sins was made. At the tomb, that payment was validated to the world.
Tuck this thought in your mind: the tomb door was opened to remind me that the door to heaven is now opened -- to me, and to all sinners.
All praise be to Jesus our risen Savior!
