Chapter 14—The Women at the Tomb
The spices with which the body of Jesus was to be anointed had
been prepared on the day preceding the Sabbath. Early in the morning
of the first day of the week, the Marys, with certain other women, went
to the sepulcher to proceed with the work of embalming the body of
the Saviour. As they neared the garden, they were surprised to see
the heavens beautifully lighted up, and the earth trembling beneath
their feet. They hastened to the sepulcher, and were astonished to
find that the stone was rolled away from the door, and that the Roman
guard were not there. They noticed a light shining about the tomb,
and, looking in, saw that it was empty.
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Mary then hastened with all speed to the disciples, and informed
them that Jesus was not in the sepulcher where they had laid him.
While she was upon this errand, the other women, who waited for her
at the sepulcher, made a more thorough examination of the interior,
to satisfy themselves that their Lord was indeed gone. Suddenly they
beheld a beautiful young man, clothed in shining garments, sitting by
the sepulcher. It was the angel who had rolled away the stone, and
who now assumed a character that would not terrify the women who
had been the friends of Christ, and assisted him in his public ministry.
But notwithstanding the veiling of the brightness of the angel, the
women were greatly amazed and terrified at the glory of the Lord
which encircled him. They turned to flee from the sepulcher, but the
heavenly messenger addressed them with soothing and comforting
words: “Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where
the Lord lay. 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.”
As the women responded to the invitation of the angel, and looked
again into the sepulcher, they saw another angel of shining brightness,
who addressed them with the inquiry: “Why seek ye the living among
the dead? He is not here, but is risen; remember how he spake unto
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