Matthew 27:57–66, - Matthew 28:1-10,

57: When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
58: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59: And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60: And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61: And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62: Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63: Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64: Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65: Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66: So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

1: 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 sepulchre.
2: 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.
3: His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5: And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7: 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.
8: And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9: And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10: Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Verse 4 of Mathew 28 says: “And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.”

And verse five goes on to say, “And the angel answered and said unto the woman, fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus, which is crucified.”

So from these two passages one should infer correctly that the Greek word translated “keepers” here in verse 4 evidently referred to the women also, that is Mary and the others. The Greek word translated keepers is Oi terountes, “the (ones) observing.”

Friends there are some people that need us to resurrect as Christians, before they themselves should be saved and delivered. Remember in verse 61 of Matthew 27, the Bible says many Mary Magdelene and the other Mary were sitting over against the sepulcher.

As it were they were watching, awaiting a miracle, perhaps eagerly desiring and expecting that Jesus would resurrect as he had promised, but when he actually did, they became as dead men. Only his resurrection brought them life again.

Death in the Bible is for removed from physical death only. We would talk about that in another essay. And life is also for removed from this physical life in the Bible. In fact the basic promise of the whole of the Bible is Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. That is, the major promise of God to Christians in the Bible is eternal life. We are told to lay hold on eternal life in 1 Timothy 6, as Paul talking to Timothy is also talking to us.

So when Jesus died and resurrect he gave life to those who were dead in their lives. That was why when he met his disciples in were 9, he said ‘All hail.” This word is the Greek Word Chairete, “Be you rejoicing.” You do not have to die again, I have died and resurrected for you, Jesus seems to be telling them here.

As I said, there are some people that there own resurrection depends on our own resurrection also, just like in the case of Jesus, Mary and others depended on him being resurrected. Mary was like a counterpart of Jesus, what one would describe as an opposite, a Neged in the Hebrew. Remember she sat opposite the grave. Had Jesus not resurrected, they would have remained dead.

In Mathew 17:1-9, we have the story of the transfiguration of Jesus.

1: And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2: And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3: And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4: Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5: While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6: And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7: And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8: And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9: And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

In the Luke account, actually his face changed and became different in chapter 9:29.

How many faces does Jesus have? May we only be able to find grace in God through Jesus, that the face of Jesus that shines on us is the one that gives us life. When Jesus was reading from Isaiah 61 in the Synagogue, he stopped at the prophecy declaring the acceptable year of the LORD, and he did not read the other prophecy of the vengeance of God. May we always find mercy and grace, as the Apostle Paul would always pray for his converts, so that we remain in life with him, that is, Jesus Christ our Lord.

I want to see the concept of the world as a neutral place. God so loved the world the Bible says. He sent his only begotten Son to die for the world. God plants His children in the world. Satan also plants his own. Perhaps, this is why there are wicked people in the world apart from good people, something I said I did not fully understand well in one of my essays, together with the concept of the world. For the world to be saved, we have to shine as light and we have to be the salt of the earth. Ultimately, everybody’s resurrection goes back to Christ, but some people are waiting for you to be the light of the world and to resurrect with Christ.