Matt. 28:28 “ Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.’
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. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
I love that the women who were closest to Jesus were the first to see Him after he rose! He knew He had better check in with His mother first thing. She knew him the longest of anyone, and her sorrow must have been the greatest as she watched her son tortured and put to death! Basically, the Marys were a HOT MESS Easter morning, exhausted from grieving. The angels response to them is funny,
Luke 24: 4 puts it this way “ As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day. Then they remembered that he had said this.”
They were so traumatized at the events of the weekend that they had forgotten Jesus’s promise to return after death. They had to be told several times in Matthew’s account, “Don’t be afraid,” They were frightened and filled with Joy at the same time! They are so emotional that they had to be told twice (once by the angel, once by Jesus) the instructions on what to do next; Go tell the disciples He is risen and don’t forget to tell them to go to Galilee, so I can meet them there!
I think this Easter, as some of us are a mess dealing with this Health Crisis we need these same reminders so we won’t forget.
Don’t Be Afraid.
Jesus is keeping His promises
Go tell Everyone He is coming back to meet us!
God bless you, thank you for checking out my Bible Journaling posts. To see more of my Bible Illustrations click this link. I will be updating them occasionally on my website on the blog tab popdown menu.
It is a privilege to share my artistic journey with you!
-Deborah King