Fear and Joy
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Mathew 28:5-8 ESV
Resurrection Day was the early morning surprise that the women who went to the tomb did not expect. They would have been pleased and surprised to have found someone help them roll away the stone get to the body of Jesus to complete the burial preparation that was done with haste just a few days before.
The Passover regulations kept them from performing any customary duties until the end of the Sabbath. So, as soon as possible, even as the sun was rising on the first day of the week, they encountered the first day of “Sunday” worship.
As I look at these verses, I see the angels proclamation of Jesus resurrection was, “just as he said.” The angels did not point to the words of the prophets of old. They did not share news for the first time. But they reminded the women that what had happened Jesus had foretold.
During Jesus ministry as they passed through Galilee He said, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” (Mark 9:31,32 NIV)
Now the angels told the women to let the disciples know that Jesus would meet them in the place where He had told them of this event that would take place. What God says, will come to pass. What the Lord reveals that we don’t understand, we will understand in due time.
The angels told the women, “Come and see the place where he lay…” It wasn’t “just take my word for it.” Although that would have been sufficient coming from an angelic visitor. There was an opportunity for them to see for themselves, to witness with their own eyes, what their ears and their minds could not comprehend. Perhaps this is an early experience of, “seeing is believing.”
When Jesus began His ministry, Philip found Nathaniel and told him of Jesus, Nathaniel’s response about a prophet from Nazareth was, “Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.” (John 1:46 NIV)
The invitation to the doubting, the invitation to the confused, the invitation to the curious is simply, “come and see!” Jesus and His truth is open to investigation and discovery.
Finally the emotional reaction of the women is of interest. They left with “fear and great joy.” They had seen Jesus raise people from the dead, but for Him to be raised through God’s own power and to experience the second earthquake to strike Jerusalem in three days would be a cause for “fear.” Undoubted their minds were racing with thoughts of, “What is happening? We don’t understand?” But even in the midst of that which was too good to be true, they were filled with great joy.
Experiencing the supernatural can be a fearful experience. It is the normal reaction to angelic appearances. It is the normal reaction to a true God encounter. It is something beyond ourselves. But when that encounter is from heaven, it also brings great joy. There is life! There is an elevation of our lives from this world to the next. From the temporal to the eternal.
That is what we experience in resurrection and that is what provides hope and life for all who encounter an empty tomb and a risen Savior.
He is Risen! All praise and glory to God!