16:1-8 When the sabbath was past, the three previously identified women—Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother or James, and Salome, had gone out and bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. After having witnessed the sealing of the tomb, their biggest concern was how to get to the body. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? Yet it would be pointless for them to be coming to anoint the body if they truly did not think they could get past the stone.
Wouldn't this be
just like the author—
to leave the Gospel
open-ended?
As it turned out, they had worried needlessly, for when they looked, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. The significance of this is enhanced by the comment that it was very great. Then they entered into the sepulchre and saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment. Imagine their shock! And they were affrighted. Is this some heavenly figure—an angel?
