Read Matt 28:1–20
Mat 28:5-10 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. (6) He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. (7) Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” (8) So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (9) And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. (10) Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

At least twice in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus had told his disciples that he was going to rise on the third day. Apparently the Jewish leaders thought his disciples might try to make this appear to come true so they placed guards at the tomb to prevent this. The disciples and the women didn’t quite get it as much as the Jewish leaders did. So the women came to the tomb on the third day to finish preparing his body for burial. But Good News! Jesus wasn’t there.

Instead the women were greeting by an angel and an empty opened tomb. The angel’s greeting is indeed good news for us today. Don’t be afraid. We no longer have to fear the devil. He has been defeated by Jesus’ death on the cross. His power to accuse us night and day before the throne of God has been taken away. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was accepted by the Father and his blood has taken away the charges that were laid against us by Satan.

The angel’s message is Good News! Jesus is risen from the dead even as he had foretold. Because Jesus is risen our sins have been atoned for. His blood through baptism into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit washes away our sin. God will no longer hold us accountable for them any more through faith in the blood of Jesus. Because sin can no longer accuse us Death itself is defeated. The penalty for sin is death. Jesus is risen from the dead. Death has lost its power over us and no longer can cause us fear. We know if our bodies die, we still possess eternal life and on the last day, just as Jesus is risen from the dead, we too will be raised to eternal life.

And now Jesus has sent the Church into the world to spread this good news. The Church sets apart men even as her Bridegroom has at the end of the chapter to preach the good news of the free gift of salvation. They teach us everything that Christ has taught us while he dwelt visibly among us. They baptize us into the name of God being the agents of adoption by the Father, making us children of the Living God. They wash us clean of sin, guilt and shame through the power of the water and the Word, the Name of God. They make us one with Jesus in his life, death and resurrection.

Lord Jesus Christ, ever send to us men with your Word and Name upon their lips, that we may receive the adoption as sons and receive the gift of eternal life and the resurrection of the righteous on the day of your return. Amen.