Matthew 28:2-4 — 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.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

In my reading of the Bible this year I have often been struck by verses that my eye has skated over in previous readings. This time it was Matthew 28:2, and as I studied it I found myself being drawn on, verse by verse. I had to stop after three verses, or it could have led to a book!
Perhaps it was the two earthquakes in Nepal this week that brought to my mind the two earthquakes at Jesus’s death and resurrection. Matthew Henry writes wonderfully about them:

When he died, the earth that received him, shook for fear; now that he arose, the earth that resigned him, leaped for joy in his exaltation. This earthquake did as it were loose the bond of death, and shake off the fetters of the grave, and introduce the Desire of all nations, Hag. 2:6, 7. It was the signal of Christ’s victory; notice was hereby given of it, that, when the heavens rejoiced, the earth also might be glad.
The next thing that I noticed is that there is a wonderfully human touch in Matthew’s account of the discovery of the empty tomb. “the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.” Can you picture it? What does the angel look like, siting on that massive stone that he just rolled back. I can’t quite imagine it. The mighty angel of the Lord sitting on the rock, not standing majestically in front of the tomb. Was he humming to himself, or whistling while he waited? I have this crazy feeling that the angel of the Lord isn’t proud. He has no desire to stand on his dignity — he’s just a servant, a servant of the best master the world could ever know.
The messenger isn’t standing on his dignity — but he’s still awesome. His tasks are, perhaps, humble — roll the stone away, guard the empty tomb and pass on the message — but when the master has left the scene the angel is radiant and glorious. The angel is so awesome that the guards are terrified. They could deal with the earthquake, but not with the angel.

It is wonderful to think on these verses. The Lord has entered into His glory. The earth is glad, and His people can rejoice!