Luke 24:4-7 4And it happened while they were perplexed about this, and behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. 5And as they were becoming afraid and bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6He is not here but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7saying that it is necessary that the Son of Man be delivered into the hands of sinful people and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
When the women saw the empty tomb, it was totally surprising for them. God intervened in the confusion of the women by sending two angels. The word “angel” is not used in this passage but is in Matthew 28:2, 4. How Luke describes the two men leaves little doubt as to their identity. Luke’s description here matches how he describes angels in other places (9:30–31; Acts 1:10; 10:30). Matthew and Mark state that there was one angel present at the tomb, while John describes two. The contradiction is not significant but adds more weight to the historicity of the account as it circulated in the early church.
The women recognized the presence of holy beings, like others had done throughout history. These were not just humans but beings sent from God. They represented God’s presence, and so the only proper response to God is to bow down. Fear is the normal and expected response to a genuine encounter with the Holy God. The disciples will soon respond in the same way with fear (verse 37).
The angelic beings, however, come with a word of comfort and good news captured in the phrase, he has risen. Death could not keep its hold on Jesus because the power of the Creator who gives life can bring life from death. The angels’ logic is simple: the women should not have looked in the tomb for Jesus because tombs are for dead people. Jesus had already left the tomb.
The angels remind the women of what Jesus had prophesied to them even as far back as when they were all together in Galilee. Jesus had told his disciples about his coming suffering and resurrection. It is significant that these women were part of this group of disciples who heard this word (9:22, 44; 18:32-33). The angels give the verdict for those who crucified Jesus. His suffering took place because of sinful people bent on getting rid of him. These people had rejected every opportunity to believe in him. Only people like Joseph of Arimathea had any faith.
There is no greater news than Jesus’ power over death, the great enemy of creation. Every generation and creed has wondered about death. The idea of dying creates fear for many people. Various religions have offered answers to the problem of death. Modern science seeks to beat it somehow. There are various claims of people who have died and come back to life. But these people always die again. There is only one answer to death, and that is the one who overcame it never to die again. The news of these angels is the rock-solid foundation of the Christian faith and the source of hope that enables believers to live in victory.
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