Do not be afraid

Thank you for walking with me these last 7 days.  You have been my joy!

“After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.  Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb.  He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow.  The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.  But the angel told the women. ‘Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here!  For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.  Then go quickly and tell His disciples, HE has been raised from the dead.  In fact, He is gong ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’  So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news.  Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good Morning!”  They came up, took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid.  Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee and they will see Me there.”  Matthew 28:1-10

Today, we walk into the arms of Jesus.  He is alive!  He is risen!  Hallelujah!

They were ready.  They were ready to see Jesus – dead and lifeless in a tomb.  They had already planned what they would say to the guards to let them in.  They would beg if need be.  Their Beloved Jesus needed to be washed and wrapped with the proper spices to honor His body.  It was right.  It was fitting.  It was their last act of love for all that He had done for them.

Yet, Jesus, was not done loving them.  Not nearly done.

As the ground shook beneath their feet they must have trembled and stumbled.  Once they gained their footing and their eyes could look upon the path.  They were blinded by the brilliance of bright white.  An angel, for what else could it be, had removed the stone from the tomb.  The guards lay like dead before them.

There was no preparing or persuasion needed.  God had gone before them and made a way.  It was like having the most extravagant gift you can possibly imagine laid before you.

“But the angel told the women, ‘Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.'”  Matthew 28:5

Their eyes were the first to behold the empty tomb.  I would have had to touch where Jesus had been.  I would had to have touched the grave clothes He left behind.  Then, I would have wanted to touch Him.  If it was, as the angel said, then nothing would keep me from Him.

Then they ran, not walked, not contemplated, but ran with fear and great joy to tell the disciples as they had been instructed to do.

Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good Morning!” Matthew 28:9a

Good Morning? Indeed!

The voice of Jesus.  The sweetest sound in heaven and on earth.  Music not just for the ears but for the soul.

His face would have out shined the sun.  The laughter and contagious joy in His voice would have awakened hope and dismissed grief in a twinkling of His eye.

I dare say that I would lay at Jesus’ feet.  I would bow before Him and every emotion that I had been granted in life would have welled up in me at that moment all to flood the feet of Jesus with adoration.  I would have had to have touched Him, the earthly form of God.  Spirit who took on flesh and defeated death and eradicated sin for me and for you.

On this side of the cross, I can walk into Jesus’ arms.  My faith leads me to Him and HE will never let me go.  It is the most extravagant gift of all… an empty tomb.  A resurrected Messiah and the hope of an eternity spent with God.  Never again will I be separated from the love of Jesus Christ.

“Don’t be afraid.  Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”  Matthew 28:10

Don’t be afraid.  What powerful words!

Were they afraid?  Absolutely.  They had been afraid since the day Jesus had been arrested.  It was too horrible to think about much less imagine and yet it had actually happened and they had seen it with their own eyes.  A nightmare from which they could not wake.  Afraid? Yes.  But His voice and the gentle command in His voice erased it all.  He spoke peace with words they could embrace.

Can you imagine being the person that got to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive?  I fear my heart would burst with pride and joy.  They glowed.  I know they did.  It was the most magnificent secret on the planet and they got to share it!

I still feel that way.  Whether I am walking with you, as we have for the past few days, or with a complete stranger that may not know Jesus.  The fact that I get to share LIFE, eternal, ever-lasting LIFE with Jesus and that He trusts me enough to share that with others astounds me.  It brings me to my knees and lays me at His feet.  There is no greater joy for me.  Thank you for allowing me to share my joy. 

Thank you, too, for walking with me for 7 days.  I will miss you!

Let’s do this again soon.  Your company is good for my soul.

Jesus is Risen!  Hallelujah!

Laura Lea