Mark 16:4-6 (NIV)
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
If it were not for the first Easter Sunday, our faith would be completely in vain. Paul confirmed that point in 1 Corinthians 15:14. While we know that the story of the first Easter is all about Christ and His triumphant resurrection, the Holy Spirit quickening His body to fulfill the prophecies, and the plan of God the Father being brought to fruition, there were other people who played important roles in the first Easter.
As we prepare for the celebration of the upcoming Easter celebration, let’s also take some time to consider three other heroes who played important roles in the first Easter. These unsung heroes were put in position by God to fulfill certain roles that He had for them on that day. Thousands of years later, the things that they did are still impacting the Church.
Joseph
John 19:40-42 (NIV)
Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Joined by the same Nicodemus who had secretly become a follower of Christ long before the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask for the body of Christ. We don’t know a lot about Joseph, but obviously he had some level of importance in society. According to some of the other Gospel accounts, when Joseph asked for Jesus’ body, Pilate had it delivered to him. The fact that someone who was important enough to get what he wanted from Pilate wanted Jesus’ body is an often forgotten part of this story.
In Romans 8:28, the Bible declares that God can use all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. Obviously, no one was more committed to God’s purpose than Christ, and God even used His death for the good of all humanity.
Christ had to fulfill every Old Testament Messianic prophecy, including those that discussed his death and burial. In Isaiah 53:9, the prophet declared that Christ would be buried in a tomb that belonged to a rich person. When Joseph of Arimathea took Christ’s body and put it in a tomb that he owned, he fulfilled one of the prophecies that were given nearly 1,000 years before Christ was born.
While Joseph is often overlooked, he played a vital role in the first Easter.
Mary Magdalene
John 20:15:16 (NIV)
He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it that you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Mary Magdalene was one of Christ’s most devoted followers. The fact that she is mentioned by name 12 times in the canonical Gospels means that she is mentioned more than some of the 12 disciples. This means that she is also mentioned by name more than any other woman in the Gospel accounts. It is widely accepted that she was a wealthy individual, and we learn in Luke 8 and Mark 16 that Jesus cast seven demons out of her before her conversion.
Mary Magdalene’s role in the first Easter Sunday is multilayered. During the crucifixion, we know that she was right there with John and Mary the mother of Christ. In the days that followed His death, not much is known about what went on, but based on the accounts of the first Easter, she remained close to Mary and the disciples.
On the morning of the first Easter, Mary Magdalene, Mary, and some of the other women were going to the tomb to anoint the body of Christ. They were the first people to find the empty tomb, and out of all the women there, including His own mother, Christ chose to speak to Mary Magdalene first.
She assumed He was the gardener and began to question Him about where the body of Christ was. This was because Christ’s glorified body didn’t look like His natural body. However, when He spoke her name, she knew who He was. She was the one that Jesus commissioned to go back and tell the disciples that He was alive. Mary Magdalene played a vital role in the first Easter, as she was chosen to carry the message of His resurrection.
The Angels at the Tomb
Matthew 28:2-4 (NIV)
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
There is a lot of debate that surrounds the angels who were at the tomb of Jesus on the first Easter. Some Gospel accounts say that there were two angels present at the tomb of Christ while others only mention one. This is not a case of Scripture contradicting itself. Instead, it is widely accepted by Biblical historians and scholars that there were two angels who came to the tomb of Christ, but only one of them actually spoke to the women who arrived there on the first Easter.
Pilate and other government officials were afraid that Jesus’ disciples would steal His body and then claim that He had risen from the dead like He said He would. Obviously, we know that they didn’t have to do that, but prompted by those fears, Pilate not only had a stone rolled in front of the door to the tomb, he also sealed it. The sealing of the tomb meant that a concrete-like substance was put along the outside of the stone, cementing it into place. Finally, Pilate had the insignia on his ring printed into the putty while it was wet, making it illegal for anyone to break the seal.
Obviously, the angel that rolled the stone away from the tomb was not worried about legal ramifications. However, it’s important to remember that the angel didn’t roll the stone away from the tomb so Jesus could get out. We find out in the chapters following the story of His resurrection that Christ, in His glorified state, had the power to walk through walls. Instead, the stone was rolled away so Mary and the women, and eventually Peter and John, could get into the tomb to see that He had risen.
While we know that Christ would have appeared to His followers after His resurrection if the stone hadn’t been rolled away, the angel who moved the rock is still a hero. His appearance and power allowed the disciples and the women to see first hand that Christ had fulfilled His promise and that He had conquered the tomb.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the people who were involved in the first Easter and the stories that we can learn from their presence. Most of all, thank You for the fulfillment of Your promises on the first Easter. In Christ’s name, Amen.