Matthew 28:5-7 5But in answering, the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he was laying. 7And after going quickly, tell his disciples that he has been raised from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you.”
The angel responded to the two Mary’s in the typical way: Do not be afraid. Fear is the first human response when encountering the holiness of God through angels. They also could have been afraid because of what they were witnessing. They were different than the Roman soldiers, who were also afraid and shaking in their boots. Their fear was supported by faith and hope. The angel’s word they heard gave them courage and confidence. The angel’s statement confirmed Jesus’ death by crucifixion. But his body was not present. What is interesting about this is that the stone had been sealed before this, meaning that the stone did not need to be rolled away for Jesus to rise and leave the tomb. Resurrection happened before the stone was rolled away. The implication is that the angel rolled the stone away not to let Jesus out but to let the women in to witness that his body was no longer there.
The angel repeats the significant aorist passive verb he has been raised (ēgerthē). Jesus was physically dead and could not rise by his own power. It was the power of God the Father than raised him from death. There was no human trick involved. This was a miracle by divine power and a direct fulfillment of promises made in the Old Testament Scriptures and by Jesus himself in his teachings. The women were the first to witness the truth and fulfillment of this promise. They could see that the now-opened tomb was empty.
The angel gave them clear directions that would send them off to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. There should be no delay in witnessing to the power of God on display through the key moment of time. The first to know about the resurrection were those most concerned about the whole situation. The disciples had experienced the greatest heights, and now they were at the greatest depths. They were likely full of confusion, fear, doubt, and shame.
They were to go on to Galilee and find him there. Galilee was a big area. The journey itself was a test of their faith. They had to go in faith and expectation, not knowing where they might find him. The journey would add further evidence of the power of resurrection, for no one severely beaten and crucified on a cross could simply walk to Galilee. Jesus experienced a bodily transformation that allowed him to leave the sealed tomb and journey to Galilee. The disciples’ journey to Galilee was a time of spiritual renewal since every step was a step of trust in the word of the women and the promises Jesus made.
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