If the statement of the angel in Matthew 28:6 is not true, there is no Christian faith, there is no hope of salvation for any of us. The account of Jesus’ resurrection is not just an ‘optional extra’ tagged on to the record of his life and death. If he did not rise from the dead, nothing that he did up to that point can make any difference to our spiritual condition or our standing before God. This is a vital truth. We consider Matthew 28:6 ‘Risen, just as he said’.
1. A plan fulfilled
Note the angel’s words, ‘just as he said’. Jesus frequently foretold his death and resurrection (eg Matthew 20:18-19). This was not merely educated guesswork – these events fulfil a divine plan. In all that takes place in relation to Jesus, it is clear that God is in control and events follow a divine timetable. The Jewish leaders did not want to act against Jesus during Passover (26:5), yet that is in fact what they did. These events fulfil prophecies such as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. The empty tomb demonstrates that God’s sovereign plan has been brought to a glorious fulfilment.
2. A mission completed
Jesus was a man with a mission. He was aware of this from at least the age of 12 (see Luke 2:49). His baptism was a commissioning for this ministry. He spoke often of the necessity for his suffering and death – ‘he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things’ (16:21). To complete the mission he had undertaken required suffering, death and resurrection. The cost to him would be immense. The reason it was necessary – ‘without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness’ (Hebrews 9:22). It was a mission empowered by love (Galatians 2:20). The empty tomb is the culmination and vindication of his work.
3. A sacrifice accepted
The empty tomb also demonstrates that the Father has accepted the Son’s sacrifice on the cross. He is ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John1:29). Lambs were the sin offering of the OT sacrificial system – those lambs pointed forward to Jesus, ‘a lamb without blemish or defect’ (1 Peter 1:19). The nature of the sacrifice is spelled out in 2 Corinthians 5:21 ‘God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us’. He died as Substitute for his people taking the full penalty due to our sins. The empty tomb testifies to the sufficiency of his sacrifice and provides assurance that he really is able to save his people.
4. A victory won
The empty tomb testifies to Jesus’ complete victory – ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30):
Victory over sin: all our sins are dealt with (Ephesians 1:7),
Victory over Satan: the fulfilment of Genesis 3:15, liberating captive sinners.
Victory over death: ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23) and Jesus has taken the penalty of our sin upon himself. In him we have spiritual life (John 5:24 ‘crossed over’) and we will have physical life at the resurrection (Philippians 3:21), sharing in his victory.