JESUS HAS RISEN!, Ron Ward
HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN
Passage: Matthew 28:1~15  
Key verse: 6
Jesus Has Risen(A)
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene(B) and the other Mary(C) went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake,(D) for an angel(E) of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone(F) and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.(G) 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,(H) for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.(I) Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.(J) There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them.(K) “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers(L) to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The Guards’ Report
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards(M) went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away(N) while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor,(O) we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Cross references
- Matthew 28:1 : 28:1-8pp — Mk 16:1-8; Lk 24:1-10; Jn 20:1-8
- Matthew 28:1 : Lk 8:2
- Matthew 28:1 : Mt 27:56
- Matthew 28:2 : Mt 27:51
- Matthew 28:2 : Jn 20:12; S Ac 5:19
- Matthew 28:2 : Mt 27:60
- Matthew 28:3 : Da 7:9; 10:6; Mk 9:3; S Jn 20:12
- Matthew 28:5 : ver 10; S Mt 14:27
- Matthew 28:6 : S Mt 16:21
- Matthew 28:7 : ver 10, 16; Mt 26:32
- Matthew 28:9 : Jn 20:14-18
- Matthew 28:10 : Mt 12:50; 25:40; Mk 3:34; Jn 20:17; Ro 8:29; Heb 2:11-13, 17
- Matthew 28:11 : Mt 27:65, 66
- Matthew 28:13 : Mt 27:64
- Matthew 28:14 : S Mt 27:2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
The women must have been afraid, for the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified” (5). Seeing the angels were more than enough to inspire fear in anyone! Why should they not be afraid? “He is not here, he has risen, just as he said.” There is much in this life and in this world that can make us afraid. In those times, we should remember the angel’s words, “He has risen.” There is no reason to be afraid because Jesus has conquered death.
The angels told the women they would find Jesus in Galilee. With that news, the women hurried to the disciples, still afraid, but full of joy. On the way, the Risen Jesus met them! He gave them instructions to go to the disciples and tell them to go to Galilee and see the Risen Jesus. The Jewish authorities made up a story about Jesus’ body being stolen. But Jesus had risen indeed!
Prayer: Father, thank you for the risen Jesus!
One Word: He has risen!