Topical Bible: Angel (A Spirit): Appearances of At the Tomb of Jesus

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The appearances of angels at the tomb of Jesus are significant events recorded in the New Testament, highlighting the divine nature of the resurrection and the fulfillment of prophetic scripture. These appearances are documented in the Gospels, each providing unique details that contribute to the overall narrative of the resurrection.

Matthew 28:1-7 describes the appearance of an angel at the tomb. After the Sabbath, as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb, a great earthquake occurred. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow. The guards trembled in fear and became like dead men. The angel addressed the women, saying, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.'" This account emphasizes the angel's role in announcing the resurrection and providing instructions to the women.

Mark 16:1-7 offers a similar account, where Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome visit the tomb. They find the stone rolled away and, upon entering the tomb, see a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The angel reassures them, "Do not 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.'" This passage highlights the angel's message of reassurance and the specific mention of Peter, indicating the restoration and inclusion of the disciples.

Luke 24:1-7 describes the women finding the stone rolled away and, upon entering the tomb, not finding the body of Jesus. While they were perplexed, two men in dazzling apparel stood beside them. The angels questioned, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again.'" This account emphasizes the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy and the reminder of His words to the disciples.

John 20:11-13 provides a more personal encounter. Mary Magdalene, weeping outside the tomb, looks inside and sees two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They ask her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She replies, "They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put Him." This intimate moment underscores the personal grief and confusion experienced by Mary, as well as the angels' role in comforting and guiding her.

In these accounts, the presence of angels at the tomb serves as a divine confirmation of the resurrection, a pivotal event in Christian theology. The angels' messages consistently emphasize the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies, the triumph over death, and the hope of new life. These appearances are a testament to the supernatural intervention in the resurrection narrative, providing assurance and direction to the first witnesses of the risen Christ.

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Matthew 28:2-5
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 on it.
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Mark 16:5-7
And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
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Luke 24:23
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
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John 20:12
And sees two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
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Library

First and Second Appearances of the Risen Christ. The Resurrection ...
... First and Second Appearances of the Risen Christ. ... that he was not a disembodied spirit.]
15 Jesus ... Jesus reiterates the instruction already given by the angel. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxv first and second appearances.htm

The Resurrection.
... with the angel outside and the angel inside, had ... inter-penetrated and possessed by
the spirit of the ... although probabilities are for it, appearances are against ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/miracles of our lord/xi the resurrection.htm

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ.
... to exclaim, "But though we, or an angel from heaven ... herself to be influenced by the
spirit of the ... not a spiritual resurrection, nor were his appearances to the ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of jesus christ.htm

The Incredulous Disciples
... The two appearances to Mary Magdalene and to the travellers to ... The angel's words
are a succession of short sentences, which ... He calms their tumult of spirit. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the incredulous disciples.htm

The Shadow of Death
... earlier sayings all express Jesus' continued spirit of ministry ... open and empty, and
saw an angel who bade ... Luke further reports the appearances of Jesus to two ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/viii the shadow of death.htm

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... Third, If a spirit only could have made satisfaction, and so ... same house also, and
for this consider, Jesus came from ... Again, the angel told her, that he was the ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

Of Christ's Subsequent Manifestations of Himself to the Disciples ...
... taken place, comprehending all the Lord's appearances to the ... to that promise of the
Holy Spirit which we do ... we recollect the words of the angel who, according ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxv of christs subsequent manifestations.htm

On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead; He Ascended into ...
... Here the appearance of the Angel filled them with fear ... They had spoken of spectral
appearances, and now they ... they were gazing' (theoren) on a spirit.' This the ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii on the third.htm

The Conversion of Paul.
... as he stood like a holy angel before the ... line of distinction between the personal
appearances of Christ and ... The work which resembles most in spirit the Epistle ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 31 the conversion of.htm

Christ --Perfect through Sufferings
... An angel, we believe, could not have suffered on the ... fickle as it is in its various
appearances"Protean as it ... Send a spirit throughout all nations to hunt up ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christperfect through sufferings.htm