Do Not Be Afraid

“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and cam and rolled away the stone and sat on it. And his appearance was like lightening and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you”.
And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.”

Matthew 28: 1- 8

I was reading this passage of scripture today, to prepare my heart for Easter time and to meditate on all that Jesus did for us. The holiday of Easter is the beautiful time of year when we can really turn our focus off of ourselves and totally put it upon the Lord and remember His death and suffering and His glorious resurrection.

But in reading this part of the story my heart was stirred as certain parts just seemed to jump out at me. Parts I’d read a hundred times before but this year they really struck me. As I read it I it occurred to me it was “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” who came to look at the grave. Even the angel remarked, he knew they were looking for Jesus. In the event of all that had happened, with the angry mobs and the crucifiction, a time when great fear and hardship was making it’s way through the followers of Jesus, when uncertainity and doubt were amongst them as they hid, it was these two, seemingly, insignificant women who were brave enough and went to look for Jesus.

And because they were looking for Him, they were the first to be told by the angel, that He was indeed risen, just as He had said. They were the first to recieve the glorious new that yes, indeed, He was risen, just as He’d said. And they were the first two to be given the privilege of telling the gospel to somebody else, to the disciples. The angel even gave them instructions where to meet Jesus later. And even though the account says they left the tomb afraid (I totally relate. I’d be afraid if an angel just appeared and spoke to me), they also left with great joy and ran to make the report to the disciples of Jesus.

Oh how I long to be as these two women! When a hard, scary time comes upon me will I be like the disciples and hide out somewhere or will I look for Jesus, will I go seek Him, as the women did? And will I be so quick to be obedient, even though I still fear, as these two women were, when they were given instruction and told what to do?

I pray Lord, for Your grace and mercy to be more like these two wonderful examples of women from Your word. I pray that each woman going through a hard, scary, uncertain time would be granted your grace, Lord, to go beyond her fear and circumstance and continue to seek You. May You meet with her and say to her “Do not be afraid.”.

I wish you all a very Happy, Blessed Easter as we celebrate our Lord’s resurrection!