Is the Tomb that important?

  Matthew 28:1-10

As I look at Matthew’s recounting of the story of Resurrection morning, I am interested in the references to place.  The women—the two Mary’s—came to the tomb where they had laid Jesus. As they approached, there was an earthquake seemingly caused by an angel that also rolled back the stone that covered the mouth of the Tomb.  The angel sat on top of the stone. 
The place of the angel reminds me of a young child that likes to climb rocks.  It is almost a whimsical image as this angel daggles his feet and talks to the women.  The next place is inside the tomb where the body of Jesus had once laid.  But immediately, the angel said to go to Galilee where Jesus will meet his followers. 
The Mary’s do not stay at the tomb any length of time but begin to rush back to tell the disciples that he had been raised from the dead and is on his way to Galilee.  Jesus comes to the women as they are on their way.  Jesus greets them and tells them to relay the message that his followers are to meet him in Galilee.
The empty tomb is very important to our Christian faith, but as Matthew tells the story, the tomb is only a touch stone in the story of Christ.  Matthew has been telling us the story of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The Kingdom of Heaven is pushing us out, we are to go out in the busy roads and lanes to invite others into the banquet of our God.  The Kingdom is inclusive, none are forbidden.  The Kingdom is gracious because there is no prequalification. 
The empty tomb is important, but it is not the destination for our journey of faith.  The whole world and to all people is the journey of the Kingdom that takes us to the place where we enter into the joy of our Savior.
 
 Pastor Greg