Mt 28:8-15
Do Not Be Afraid
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.”
The Guards’ Report
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Can we imagine the joy in the hearts of the women the Risen Jesus greeted? Jesus gives them two orders: Do not be afraid and tell his brothers (the Apostles) to go to Galilee where they will see him. Jerusalem evidently was still in too much turmoil, and Galilee would afford the peace needed for the start of the next phase: life without the physical presence of Jesus. Already lies were being fabricated to "cover" the missing body of Jesus, so it was best to leave Jerusalem.. But, as we know, when they were gathered in the upper room, Jesus appeared to them to assure the that he had truly risen: a truth that could not be denied nor buried. May we joyfully and fearlessly give our lives over to the Risen Jesus and bear testimony to his resurrection by living our faith sincerely at all times and in all places.
Bro. Rene
Dear Jesus, help me to be a faithful witness to the truth of your Resurrection. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment