The Women Who Were Afraid and Also Happy
Matthew 28:1-10
By Brent Lanigan
In this 5 part series, we are discovering stories about Jesus that show how he calmed people’s fears. Last week, we learned how Jesus calmed the fears of the disciples who were hiding in a house. Here in Part 5, is today’s story.
Key Verse: John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. And trust in me.”
After Jesus had died, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary went to look at the tomb. At that time there was a strong earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven. The angel went to the tomb and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Then he sat on the stone. He was shining as bright as lightning. His clothes were white as snow. The soldiers guarding the tomb were very frightened of the angel. They shook with fear and then became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, the one who was killed on the cross. But he is not here. He has risen from death as he said he would. Come and see the place where his body was. And go quickly and tell his followers. Say to them: ‘Jesus has risen from death. He is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there.'” Then the angel said, “Now I have told you”.
The women left the tomb quickly. They were afraid, but they were also very happy. They ran to tell Jesus’ followers what had happened. Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings.” The women came up to Jesus, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go on to Galilee. They will see me there.”
Discussion
Can you imagine what it would be like to be in an earthquake? In today’s story, the women who were Jesus’ friends were also afraid just like Jesus’ disciples were afraid. The women were understandably afraid because there was an earthquake and then an angel appeared before them to tell that Jesus was alive and no longer dead. Once the women saw that Jesus’ tomb was empty, they were very happy but were also still afraid.
Why do you think that was? It was because they were unsure of what would happen next. They were afraid because they had no way of knowing if or when Jesus would appear to them.And then suddenly he did. Jesus met the women on the road and told them not to be afraid because everything was alright now. And Jesus was alive and would be with them.
Like these women, you may be feeling afraid because you are not sure what will happen tomorrow or next week with the coronavirus. But Jesus wants us to know that we do not have to feel afraid because he is with us.
Remember that Jesus is with us right here, right now and wants to calm our fears and let us know that even though we do not know what will happen, we can trust in him. Here is what Jesus says to us in John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. And trust in me”
Prayer
Dear God, thanks that you calm our fears by reminding us to trust in you.