After Jesus was crucified and placed within a tomb, Matthew the apostle wrote, “the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, You have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse one of his book, Matthew shared what happened, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week” where we read:
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
The verse reads, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, ...” Matthew began words, “in the end” which means “moreover after late in the day or at evening” “of the sabbath” or “belonging to the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”, “as it began to dawn” which means “at the time the light of the day began” “toward the first day of the week” or “at the beginning of Sunday which is the first day of the week”. Matthew referred to the “dawn” or “early morning” of Sunday which followed the “Sabbath”.
The verse goes on to say, “... came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.” Matthew continued with the words, “came Mary Magdalene” or “approached and appeared Mary Magdalene whose name means “their rebellion and a tower “and refers to “a woman for whom Jesus had cast out seven devils” “and the other Mary” which means “and Mary who was the mother of James and Joses” “to see the sepulcher” or “to observe the tomb and grave of Jesus”. Matthew shared how “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses” came to Jesus' grave.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we notice not only the timing of this event, but also the two women who were part of it. “Mary Magdalene” and “Mary” were observed the crucifixion of Jesus from a distance, and they knew where He was buried. (See Luke 24 for more of this story) They were going to “memorialize” Jesus whom they presumed would still be in the grave. Those who read these words know what it is like to visit the graveside of those they love, and when we imagine ourselves in these ladies' position, we may have been as they were. This was all part of God's plan for the “salvation” of man, and those who continue to examine the evidence concerning Jesus' resurrection will know Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Son of God and Savior of the world. Everyone now has the opportunity to yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Matthew shares how, “there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment