Daily Scripture: Matthew 28:1 After Shabbat, as the next day was dawning, Miryam of Magdala and the other Miryam went to see the grave. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of Adonai came down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. 4 The guards were so terrified at him that they trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Yeshua, who was executed on the stake. 6 He is not here, because he has been raised — just as he said! Come and look at the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell the talmidim, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and now he is going to the Galil ahead of you. You will see him there.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So they left the tomb quickly, frightened yet filled with joy; and they ran to give the news to his talmidim. 9 Suddenly Yeshua met them and said, “Shalom!” They came up and took hold of his feet as they fell down in front of him. 10 Then Yeshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to go to the Galil, and they will see me there.”
Reflection Questions:Having set down Jesus' prediction that he would rise after three days (cf. Matthew 16:21), we might expect Matthew to say, “So on the third day the disciples gathered, eager to greet the risen Lord.” Not even close! He said, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.” These very real women he wrote about felt “great fear and excitement,” a reaction much like most of us would have to an unexpected encounter with the supernatural.
- Matthew’s account of the women’s reaction—“with great fear and excitement”—carried a ring of truth. Try to put yourself in their shoes: what is there in the mystery and power of God that stirs a certain kind of fear in your heart? Have you ever had the sense that following God might cause huge changes in your life? What is there about sensing that God is at work through your life that fills you with the greatest joy?
- All four gospels said women, led by Mary Magdalene, were the first witnesses to Jesus' resurrection. Scholar N. T. Wright wrote, “If someone in the first century had wanted to invent a convincing story about people seeing Jesus, they wouldn’t have dreamed of giving the star part to a woman. Let alone Mary Magdalene.” What does Jesus’ trust in Mary to share the good news of Easter tell you about how Jesus saw the value of both women and men in his new creation?
Lord Jesus, you called your first followers, and now me as I follow in their footsteps, to a great adventure. Help me be honest about both the great fear and the excitement your call creates. Help me conquer the fear, and follow you. Amen.Insights from Mike Wilhoit
Mike Wilhoit serves at The Church of the Resurrection as Local Missions Director.
Apostle to the Apostles
Feeling so small
She feared the worst
Her Healer came
Spoke to her first
Things unravel
Bereft of choice
We find new life
In a strange voice
It’s hope-filled pain
Don’t cling, let go
And share our tale
With those we know!
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Apostle to the Apostles
Feeling so small
She feared the worst
Her Healer came
Spoke to her first
Things unravel
Bereft of choice
We find new life
In a strange voice
It’s hope-filled pain
Don’t cling, let go
And share our tale
With those we know!
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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