Hope That Moves Us Forward
The angel said to the women,“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:5–6
Flabbergasted—“overwhelmed with shock, surprise, or wonder.” Can any other word so accurately describe the emotional state of Jesus’s followers as they witnessed his crucifixion on Friday, grieved his death on Saturday, then attempted to process his resurrection on Sunday?
Overwhelming grief and a sense of duty probably motivated the women to go to the tomb early Sunday morning. They carried the spices and perfumes they’d prepared for Jesus’s body (Luke 23:55–56; 24:1). They wanted to honor the teacher who had transformed their lives (see Luke 8:1–3). But when they arrived at the tomb, his body was gone (24:2). Frightened, they wondered what could have happened. Who took the body?
Immediately an angel appeared to calm them. “Do not be afraid,” he said (Matthew 28:5). Then he challenged them: “Go quickly and tell his disciples” (v. 7). What did the women do? They “hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell [Jesus’s] disciples” that he had risen from the dead (v. 8). The women’s fear hadn’t disappeared, but their joy motivated them to act. And when they obeyed, their faith was rewarded: “Suddenly, Jesus met them” (28:9).
Those four words fill me with hope. When I am afraid, God asks me to do what I know to do—take the next visible step of faith. For the women, it was delivering an astounding message to the disciples. For us, it may be immersing ourselves in Scripture or worship. It may be encouraging someone or engaging in acts of service. If we take that step, we can be sure that Jesus will meet us along the way, affirm our obedience, and fill us with peace and hope.
Are you flabbergasted by inexplicable circumstances or fighting fear today? Jesus told the women, “Do not be afraid” (28:10). He says the same thing to you and me. Take the next step of obedience, then watch for his affirmation that you are right where he wants you to be.
Dig Deeper
Read Luke 23:55–24:9. Even in their grief, what were the women doing? What was their reward for that labor of love? What can we learn from their example?
Read Mark 8:31; 9:2, 31; 10:33–34, 45; 14:28. Why do you think Jesus’s followers missed the meaning of his words? Why do you sometimes miss the messages he gives you?
What counsel did Peter give about responding to tough times in 1Peter 4:7–11? In what ways can you put his advice into practice this week?
Denise K. Loock
This devotion is part of our series, “Do Not Be Afraid.”