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Matthew 28: 1-10 NIV
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
It is time. It is time to awaken to a new life. A life where our Lord Jesus is our morning cup of joe. He fills in our emptiness and can bring us energy through the Spirit to conquer each day. He is our Savior.
In all honesty though, how often do we forget these true words? We awaken to the chaos, the busyness, the demands, and the worry of each dreaded day. It grips our hearts and our minds to start selfishly and allow Jesus in later. Sunday will be the day we remember our savior.
Today and everyday is the day to worship, pray, and let Jesus’s light in to shine through all the brokenness. No day is perfect and neither are we. Just allow his miraculous love shower you as you rise up.
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Here we are, Easter Sunday. The day Jesus rose from the dead. His witnesses to this rising up, two Marys, women devoted to Jesus’s teachings. They came out of love for Him to anoint His body and say their goodbyes in a proper burial. This place Jesus was buried was guarded by a large stone which blocked its entrance.
We can imagine how nervous and prepared they were as they approached the guard to ask permission to do this burial ritual. Yet, this was not necessary. The two women walked up and the ground began to shake. The sky turned bright and a angel appeared. The stone moved and a blinding light of white moved forward causing both the women and the guard to freeze in utter astonishment.
How can this be? Was this real or just a dream?
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
The angel turned to the women only speaking to them and not the guard who still was questioning the event. Fear held tight in their hearts and knowing this, the angel began with “Do not be afraid”. Next, came instructions as to how His resurrection would be told.
First was fear and then action. Comfort then instruction. We hear that our new life in Christ may be similar. When God gives us His will in our own hearts, don’t we begin with a fear that we will not be able to muster up enough strength to follow through? In our fear we should see His life. A miraculous invitation to overcome our crippling earthly doubt and go and follow.
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
They followed with urgency being “afraid yet filled with joy”. They told His disciples, and then Jesus greeted them with some more instructions with a comforting message of “Do not be afraid”.
If our mornings begin with angels and Jesus giving our us daily to do list, with a “you can do this” voice, how could we not be encouraged. We will rise and He will provide and support our every move. A joy will come in the morning.
Life begins each day. Rise Up.
faithful walk in progress 