The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. – Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV).
Let us Reflect:
This is the core of the Gospel. Not only did Jesus die for sin, but He rose to defeat death itself. This isn’t just resuscitation—it’s resurrection. It’s victory. It’s hope beyond the grave. There’s something holy about that early morning moment at the tomb. The women came grieving, expecting to mourn at a gravesite—and instead, they encountered a miracle.
Verse 5 – “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.'”
Discussion: Before anything else, the angel says, “Do not be afraid.” God always meets us in our fear, our heartbreak, and our confusion with peace. He doesn’t scold them for weeping—He honors their pursuit. “I know that you are looking for Jesus…” He sees their faith even in their pain.
And then—three words that changed the world:
“He has risen.” That’s still true today.
Death didn’t win. The story didn’t end in the tomb. Jesus kept His promise, just like He said He would.
“I know that you are looking for Jesus” – The angel knows their hearts. They’re seeking Jesus out of love and devotion. This shows that God honors those who earnestly seek Him—even in their grief, even when all seems lost. He meets them in their search.
“Who was crucified” – The angel is fully acknowledging the pain, the death, and the reality of what happened. There’s no glossing over the suffering. Jesus did die—but that’s not the end of the story. That phrase sets the stage for the miraculous news that’s about to come.
Verse 6 – “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
Discussion: It’s a literal truth, but also symbolic. Jesus is no longer in the place of death. The tomb is empty. The grave could not hold Him. And that changes everything.
“Just as he said” – Jesus told them this would happen. This line reminds us that God is faithful to His word. Even when it seems impossible, even when all seems lost—He keeps His promises. Sometimes we forget what He’s spoken, but He doesn’t.
“Come and see the place where he lay” – The angel invites them to see for themselves. Christianity isn’t blind faith—it’s rooted in real events. There’s an invitation to experience, to examine, to witness firsthand what God has done.
Whatever tomb you’re standing in front of—grief, fear, failure, confusion—Jesus is not there. He’s alive. He’s gone ahead of you. What felt like an ending is now a beginning.
And God invites you, like He did the women, to “come and see.”
See the proof. See the goodness. See that He is who He says He is.
LET US PRAY!
Jesus, thank You for defeating death. Thank You for keeping Your promises—even when I forget them. Help me live like You’re alive, because You are. I trust You to bring resurrection to the places in my life that feel hopeless. Amen.
