150
The Truth About Angels
The Women Come to the Sepulcher
The women who had stood by the cross of Christ waited and
watched for the hours of the Sabbath to pass. On the first day of the
week, very early, they made their way to the tomb, taking with them
precious spices to anoint the Saviour’s body....
Ignorant of what was even then taking place, they drew near the
garden, saying as they went, “Who shall roll us away the stone from
the door of the sepulcher?” They knew that they could not remove the
stone, yet they kept on their way. And lo, the heavens were suddenly
alight with glory that came not from the rising sun. The earth trembled.
They saw that the great stone was rolled away. The grave was empty.
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.—
The Desire of Ages, 788,
789
.
[214]
The women were greatly terrified, and bowed their faces to the
earth; for the sight of the heavenly being was more than they could
endure. The angel was compelled to hide his glory still more before
he could converse with them.—
The Youth’s Instructor, July 21, 1898
.
“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, “Why seek
ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember
how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son
of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified,
and the third day rise again.”