62
Daughters of God
Joseph owned a new tomb, hewn in a rock. This he was reserving for
himself; but it was near Calvary, and he now prepared it for Jesus. The
body, together with the spices brought by Nicodemus, was carefully
wrapped in a linen sheet, and the Redeemer was borne to the tomb.
There the three disciples [John, Joseph, and Nicodemus] straightened
the mangled limbs, and folded the bruised hands upon the pulseless
breast. The Galilean women came to see that all had been done that
could be done for the lifeless form of their beloved Teacher. Then they
saw the heavy stone rolled against the entrance of the tomb, and the
Saviour was left at rest. The women were last at the cross and last at
the tomb of Christ. While the evening shades were gathering, Mary
Magdalene and the other Marys lingered about the resting place of
their Lord, shedding tears of sorrow over the fate of Him whom they
loved. “And they returned, ... and rested the sabbath day according
to the commandment.”
Luke 23:56
.—
The Desire of Ages, 773, 774
(1898)
.
“In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first
day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the
sepulcher.”
Matthew 28:1
. As they approached, they saw that the great
stone was rolled away and that a light was shining about the tomb. The
body of Jesus was not there, but soon they saw an angel.—
Sermons
and Talks 2:281 (1906)
.
[69]
The women had not all come to the tomb from the same direction.
Mary Magdalene was the first to reach the place; and upon seeing
that the stone was removed, she hurried away to tell the disciples.
Meanwhile the other women came up. A light was shining about the
tomb, but the body of Jesus was not there. As they lingered about
the place, suddenly they saw that they were not alone. A young man
clothed in shining garments was sitting by the tomb. It was the angel
who had rolled away the stone. He had taken the guise of humanity
that he might not alarm these friends of Jesus. Yet about him the light
of the heavenly glory was still shining, and the women were afraid.
They turned to flee, but the angel’s words stayed their steps. “Fear
not ye,” he said; “for I know that ye seek Jesus, which 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.” Again they look into the tomb, and again they hear the
wonderful news. Another angel in human form is there, and he says,