The Resurrection: A Bible Study

When you meditate on the first glorious mystery of the Rosary, the Resurrection, what comes to your mind?  There are several accounts in Scripture to study for ideas. 

Matthew’s gospel tells us that there was an earthquake and that an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, opened the tomb, spoke to Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary,” and told them what had happened.  The soldier-guards “were shaken and became like dead men.”  Jesus appeared to the women and gave them instructions to tell the disciples what had happened.  Meanwhile, the guards went to the Jewish authorities who directed them to lie and say that the disciples stole the body while they were sleeping.  (Matt 28:1-15).

Mark’s gospel tells a similar story, but does not mention the lie that the Jewish authorities had concocted.  Mark also states that the disciples did not believe the story the women told nor the story that two other disciples told regarding an encounter that they had on the road with the risen Jesus.  (Mark 16:1-13).

Luke’s account states that after the women spoke to the disciples, Peter went to the tomb and saw that it was empty.  Luke also provides a great deal of detail of the encounter mentioned in Mark above between the two disciples and the risen Jesus, the story of the encounter on the road to Emmaus.  In addition, Luke tells of the first encounter between the risen Jesus and the apostles, convincing them that he was not a ghost by asking them to come forward and touch him and by eating with them.  (Luke 24:1-43).

Perhaps the most stirring account is given in John’s gospel.  Mary Magdalene went alone to visit the tomb and then returned to the apostles to tell them of the empty tomb.  Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb and, bewildered, returned home.  Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb, encountered the angels (dressed in white), and initially mistook Jesus for a gardener.  Jesus gave her instructions and she subsequently returned to the disciples to tell them everything.  Jesus later stood in the midst of the disciples (despite locked doors), instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and spoke to Thomas, who had doubted.  There were other encounters with the apostles, including one in which surprising number of fish were caught after Jesus had instructed them as to where to drop their nets.  There was also a dialogue with Peter in which Jesus told Peter repeatedly to “feed” (or “tend to”) my sheep, seemingly a direct command for Peter (and his successors, the popes) to be the leader of his Church.  (John 20:1-23).

Matthew is the only one to mention an earthquake and the descent of an angel.  It seems to me that the event warranted a host of angels from heaven (as in the Christmas story) giving glory to God and a spotlight shining on the tomb while trumpets blared.  But, alas, perhaps an earthquake and one angel dressed in white was deemed sufficient by God the Father.  But what was it that caused the guards to become like dead men?
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There is much to meditate on here for just one mystery of the Rosary, so much that it makes my heart pound!  May God bless you during this most holy and glorious season.  Amen!