1551. The Women Commissioned

The Women Commissioned

"And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you" (Mat_28:7).

As soon as the angel had given announcement of the resurrection, he immediately gave commission to the women.

That commission is worthy of consideration. It contains three things:

1. "Go quickly * * tell." This is just what we all should do. How can we keep quiet if we believe in a risen Christ? When the glory of the Lord floods our souls, and we have seen Him, and known Him as the Living One, we cannot hold our peace. Good news must be told, and not kept.

The resurrection carries with it too wonderful a truth, to hide it in our hearts–we must share it with others.

The resurrection has a depth of meaning, a new light to every man on earth. We must tell them that Jesus Christ who was crucified, is risen again.

In following the preaching of the Apostles, and of the early church fathers, it is wonderful to see the emphasis that they placed upon the resurrection.

It was the resurrection that Peter stressed at Pentecost.

It was the risen Christ that Stephen set forth before his persecutors.

It was Christ, crucified, and the third day raised, that Paul proclaimed throughout the whole world.

Let us too, "go quickly * * and tell."

2. "He goeth before you into Galilee."

What wonderful words, fraught with meaning and gracious encouragement! The angel seemed to say: "The Lord Jesus Christ is marking out the way; He is the princely leader: He has gone the way of death before you; He has shown you that death is robbed of all its sting, and the grave of all of its victory."

Christ went before to Galilee; yea, He passed on from Galilee to glory, and He has left command that we should follow after and meet Him there.

The grave cannot prevail against the Church, our Lord has passed through it, and from it, and we shall soon follow in His steps.

3. "There shall ye see Him."

The disciples were told that they would see their Lord; and they did see Him–they saw His hands and His feet; they looked into His dear face; they talked with Him; ate with Him; loved Him.

Is not the promise just as sure to us, has not the angel said that we shall see Him?

"Face to face with Christ my Saviour,

Face to face–what will it be?

When in rapture I behold Him,

Jesus Christ who died for me."

"I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

And redeemed by His side I shall stand,

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand."

Oh joy! We shall be with Him where He is, and we shall see His face. All of this is possible because of the resurrection.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR