April 16, 2001 By PAULETTE ARTEAGA The Tomb Is Empty, The Women Share The Good News "And he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth." - Isaiah 53:9 The prophecy has been fulfilled. He was buried in a rich man's tomb. Joseph of Arimathea a prominent council member that also was waiting for the Kingdom of God took courage in asking Pilate for the body of the Savior. The request was granted. Joseph wrapped Jesus in fine linen and laid Him in a tomb, which had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the doorway as the women watched from the opposite side of the tomb. A Personal Touch In trying to put myself in the place of one of these women, there at the viewing of a love one, suffering, dying and then to see buried. It brings me to a great sorrow. In the summer of 1986, my family and I suffered a great lost. You can say it was our first major lost of a loved one. My brother Paul died a sudden death at the youthful age of 47 years. He was the first-born child of our family. Though a gun was pointed at him; he did not lose his life from a bullet, but suffered a massive heart attack laying helplessly in the mercy of the intruder he walked into in his own home. When it was time to close his casket, I bent down to him and placed my forehead against his. That touch has never left me. At the gravesite we watched from across the cemetery as they lowered him into the ground. And as time has passed even after attending other funeral services, none of them compare to that day. Women Visit The Tomb "And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him." - Mark 16:1 Because Jesus died so close to the Sabbath, a day on which the Israelites could do no work. His body was not prepared for proper burial. In other words not "embalmed". And when the Sabbath was over, the women set forth to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with the traditional spices. In ancient time, herbs were cultivated for practical purposes, ranging from essential oils and culinary uses to the healing purposes of medicine (see Genesis 1:29). Of course the later was of importance. It is believed Aloe sap from the leaves is added to other spices to make anointing oil. Used in religious rites, and for purifying bodies of the dead. Perhaps this could be one of the herbs that these women were bringing to Him. Though they may have understood that His death was imminent, no one understood that Jesus would be resurrected, even though He had said He would be. It was a very early Sunday morning that the women came back to the site of the tomb. They said to each other "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away! Note that Mark gives no explanation as to how the stone was moved. However, Matthew attributed its removal to the angel. "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." - Matthew 28:2 The angel addressed the women; His first words were to calm their fear. When Jesus walked on the water and the disciples expressed fear. He told them not to fear. Here the angel used Jesus as the reason for dismissing fear. He then makes it clear that the Resurrection had taken place. The grave was opened not to let Jesus out, but for His followers to see that the tomb was empty! "…Fear not ye: 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; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you." - Matthew 28:5-7 The women who were faithful to our Savior to the end, were the ones privileged to first share the "earth-shattering" news and even the first to see and worship Him. The Lord Himself gave the message of the Resurrection to the women to take to the disciples. "…All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me." - Matthew 28:9-10 Ladies, Your Choice To Influence When the Lord gave the great commission, He did not consider gender. And the same applies to spiritual gifts. God has chosen every believing woman to carry His message to her sphere of influence as she is filled and controlled by the Holy Ghost. However, women have the choice to use their influence best whether we choose to use our influence for evil or good, to extend God's kingdom on the earth or attempt to destroy it. What will you choose? Sis. Paulette Arteaga is a member of the Union City Apostolic Church in Union City, California. More articles in our Passion Week special We're here for you! Send us your thoughts, staff@inspiredchristian.org. Home | Site News | Reviews | Churches | CyberReading | Bible College Copyright, Inspired Christian.org