Mark 16:1 - 8

He Is Risen!

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Some sabbaths are defined as the Holy days or feast days, but this one is the normal weekly sabbath, the seventh and last day of each week.

Near dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, who Jesus had cast out seven demons, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of James and John the apostles went to the tomb of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Jesus' mother had witnessed where he was laid to rest.(Mark 15:47)

The two Marys had witnessed the stone being placed in front of the tomb, and knew it was too heavy for them to move by themselves.

But when they arrived they found the stone already moved. Matthew 28:2 states the angel moved the stone from the entry to the tomb.

The description of a tomb is given in Smith's Bible Dictionary. "A natural cave enlarged and adapted by excavation, or an artificial Imitation of one, was the standard type of sepulchre," A sepulchre or tomb was a large room, one spot was prepared for the body to lay and decay, while there was other areas prepared for the storage of the boxes (Ossuaries, or bone boxes, were fairly common during the time of Jesus. Families would typically bury people in a linen shroud, and once the flesh had rotted away, the bones would be collected and placed in a limestone or chalk box. ) for containing the bones after decay had happened.. Normally an entire family through several generations would all use the same tomb.

The angel calmed the women by soothingly telling them not to be alarmed and showing he knew of there reason for their visit to the tomb, he also showed them the place where Jesus had been laid, explaining He had risen.

They were instructed to pass the good news on to the disciples and that they will be able to see him in Galilee.

Did they flee in fear or because of excitement of the news of his resurrection? They trembled and were amazed because of the fulfillment of his prophecy of being in the ground for three days. Were they afraid they would not be believed by the disciples, or were they afraid of the Jews? The whole scene was unreal and awe inspiring that they were overcome and speechless for the time being. John tells us Mary Magdalene went and told Peter and John, Luke tells us several of the women including Jesus mother, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and others told the eleven disciples.