Frightened but Joyful

Scripture: Matthew 28:8-10 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” (Matthew 28:8–10 NLT)

After the encounter with the angel, the two Marys were frightened but filled with great joy! And they were on their way to do exactly what the angel told them to do: “find the disciples and give them the good news that Jesus is alive!”  Before they got far, Jesus met them and greeted them! They were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude and adoration for the living Lord Jesus and they fell to the ground, grasped his feet and worshiped him! Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my brothers (my disciples) to go to Galilee and they will see me there.” (He called them “my brothers”)!

The disciples were afraid, and they were hiding for fear of their lives. They had scattered when Jesus was arrested, a couple of them had watched the proceedings as Jesus was falsely tried, and then they were pretty much out of the picture. These women, and a couple of others, were also afraid, but they had stayed as near Jesus as they could get during his crucifixion and his burial. Now the two Marys were at the tomb to try to see what they could do to help.

Courage is not being unafraid or without fear when things are really scary! Courage is what you do when you are afraid! Courage isn’t always being full of confidence and never having any doubts. Courage is what you do when you lack confidence and you’re filled with doubts! Jesus was alive and the disciples didn’t know it. The women were the first to learn that the tomb was empty, that Jesus was alive, and to see and touch and worship their living Lord and Savior.

Another really cool thing about this little story: Jesus referred to his disciples, who had deserted him and were still afraid to show their faces, as his “Brothers”! He wasn’t holding it against them, he hadn’t written them off, and he was looking ahead to his next meeting with them!

Prayer:

Father, I want to do the right thing even when I’m afraid. Help me to have courage like these women did and keep pressing on even when I don’t know how things are going to work out. And thank you for loving me anyhow, even when I don’t!