Monday, April 9, 2012
Matthew 28:1-3 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
THE VIEW OF THE TOMB: FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE ROMAN SOLDIERS
It must have been a terrifying sight for the Roman Soldiers. They were soldiers stationed in an occupied country and their detail was to watch a tomb -- when the silence of the early morning was suddenly interrupted by an earthquake. Then, the early morning light was outshone by the appearance of a soldier of the heavenly host whose face was like flashing lightning and his clothing white as snow. They were powerless to stop him as, breaking the seal, he rolled the stone away from the tomb that they were guarding and sat on it.
If it was a terrifying sight to see a single angel, how will it be when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory with all the holy angels? How will it be for those Roman soldiers (if they did not later believe) when they awake on the Last Day to see Christ Jesus in all His resplendent glory? We tremble at the thought.
Truthfully, Jesus' coming with the holy angels should be a terrifying thought for every sinner, except that when the Christ came the first time He came humbly to save. He came to bear our sins and our judgment Himself.
It will be an awesome sight to be sure, but one we look forward to by faith. We do not fear the Judgment for Christ is risen. The living Christ is our receipt, the proof that God has accepted His ransom as payment in full for our sins.
He is Risen! Hallelujah!
