Sunday Morning Podcast April 5, 2015. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: MATTHEW 28:1-10
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
God sometimes speaks to humanity through our emotions, for we are emotional creatures, as well as spiritual. Have you ever experienced both great fear, and joy? An example would be, when a woman delivers a baby. Sometimes, there is the fear of the great pain, but great joy at the lively birth. There are times you might not feel able to go through the fear, in a traumatic situation, that would eventually bring great joy. An uncertainty of the future. For instance, the potential apprehension when a child leaves home for the first time. Resolution of the fear, in anticipation, …can bring great joy. Otherwise the fear will instead, bring great pain. All will fight life’s final “war” with pain through death. All experience spiritual death because of sin. Then a final physical death then comes, often after great pain.
If we have entered into a spiritual life, resolution of this life will come with great joy. When joy resolves fear, it is exhilarating! The anticipation is, that after the fear, you will overcome! Normally fear and joy don’t go together. As you can see by the above text scripture, (Matthew 28th chapter), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had fear, but then inherited great joy, through faith in the message delivered by the angels. Before, they had fear and great anxiety of the Savior passing through death. Then, an exhilarating experience upon finding Christ alive again! The angels instructed the women to spread the joyous message that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, even though they had not yet then seen Him. The women had confused emotions of great loss, but then a hope to see Christ again! They likely had doubts that passed through their minds of fear, to assume that He was now truly alive.
Today the world is a dangerous place for Christians that can bring great fear. If we can’t resolve these fears, we are then “paralyzed.” To not believe or have faith in God, is what brings sin and spiritual death. A paralysis of spiritual life. The enemy to our soul. The only resolution is belief of a risen Savior. A resolution that brings possession of life through Christ’s sacrifice. Great joy comes through the faith of reaching out, to “touch” the hand of God with great anticipation! This great joy is what will swallow up death in victory!
There is great joy in finding Jesus. This is the Easter message!