“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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” (Matthew 18:1-5).
The scene above would certainly be a challenge for George Lucas and his Industrial Light and Magic Studio. Picture this first angel with an ethereal brightness that could only be described “like lightning” (was it the Shekinah glory?). It was a sight so startling that the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb fell in dread and “became as dead men.” This angel also single-handedly, with super-human strength, rolled the stone away from the entrance to Jesus’ tomb. Scholars estimate the stone may have weighed as much as twelve tons. Theologians point out that the angel did not roll the stone away to let Jesus out. Rather, the stone was removed to reveal that the tomb was empty. The resurrection had already occurred.
Amazingly, this angel and other angels in the rest of the story are careful to play a supporting role. Notice that even in this great moment, the first angel is never named. This particular angel deflects attention from himself and, instead, points to the resurrection of Jesus. How easy it would have been for the angel to perch atop the massive stone and become the major tourist attraction of the Passover season. Crowds from Jerusalem would have flocked to see the angel. Instead, the angel focused attention on the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus. In all the Gospel accounts of the Easter story, the angels appeared only when necessary and then disappeared from sight.
Other angels appear as the story progresses that first Easter morning. These angels did not have the blazing glory of the first angel, but they were immediately recognizable as angels. John 20:12 reports that Mary Magdalene saw “two angels in white” inside the tomb. Mark 16:5 describes an angel as “a young man dressed in a long white robe.” Luke 24:4 describes “two men…dressed in dazzling robes.” The angels were not dressed in ordinary clothes, but they were “shining men” immediately recognizable as angels.
In Mark 16:6-7, the angel spoke to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome: "Don't be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'”
Luke tells how Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and others were puzzled when they found the tomb empty. Suddenly, two angels dressed in dazzling robes appeared and said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-7)
Certainly, the “Easter angels” performed their supporting roles well. They rolled the stone away from the tomb’s entrance, invited the faithful to witness the empty tomb, explained the significance of the resurrection, and gave instructions from Jesus about what his followers were to do next. Then, the angels disappeared after accomplishing their supporting roles. They had pointed to the mighty God in the resurrection, so their work was done. How like the angels! Read More: Lent Angels
Timeline for the Appearance of Angels on Easter Morning
We find the events of Easter and the involvement of angels in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Event
Bible Passage
for the tomb
has rolled the stone away
to tell the disciples
sees two angels
to the tomb and look in
sees angels and Jesus
returns with others
the angels
message that Jesus is risen
as they leave
