Hope is Here / 01. Easter Sunday // Starting Again - Joel Virgo // Matthew 28:1-15
01. Easter Sunday // Starting Again - Joel Virgo // Matthew 28:1-15
In the final passage of our Hope Is Here Series, we look at how Jesus’ resurrection makes a difference to us in our lives today.
The guards at Jesus’ tomb had an extraordinary encounter with an angel who descended from heaven. This was so frightening and distressing to these guards that they trembled and became like dead men. However, after this had taken place, they were persuaded to go around the city telling everyone that the disciples stole the body. Despite this being such a significant and memorable event, they were prepared to accept and embrace a story that they knew was not true. In describing this, the bible presents to us our own ability to deceive ourselves to make our lives more convenient.
Mary Magdalene and Mary also witnessed the angel, however they experienced a different kind of fear to the guards, feeling fear but also joy. Our experience of relationship with God will always involve some kind of fear, but it can be a kind of fear that repels you or it can be a fear that draws you closer to Him. When Jesus meets the women He tells them to not be afraid. This is the message of Easter, that we do not need to be afraid because Jesus has won the victory and defeated sin and death.
Jesus then told the women to go and tell His ‘brothers’, referring to His disciples. Jesus, knowing all of the ways that they had failed Him, still referred to them as brothers. Similarly, Jesus knows all of our shortcomings better than we do yet He still calls us family. He is not ashamed of us but welcomes us to come to Him on the basis of what He has done for us. Jesus tells them to tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee, which is significant because this is the place where they first met Him. He gives a fresh start. In his death He made everything new.
1. Don’t ignore what you know to be true because it is inconvenient. Listen to what God is saying and allow His presence to change things.
2. Don’t hide from God but get to know Him and experience both fear and joy.
3. Trust that you don’t have to do anything to prove yourself, Jesus is not ashamed of you, no matter what you have done, He calls you brother.
The guards at Jesus’ tomb had an extraordinary encounter with an angel who descended from heaven. This was so frightening and distressing to these guards that they trembled and became like dead men. However, after this had taken place, they were persuaded to go around the city telling everyone that the disciples stole the body. Despite this being such a significant and memorable event, they were prepared to accept and embrace a story that they knew was not true. In describing this, the bible presents to us our own ability to deceive ourselves to make our lives more convenient.
Mary Magdalene and Mary also witnessed the angel, however they experienced a different kind of fear to the guards, feeling fear but also joy. Our experience of relationship with God will always involve some kind of fear, but it can be a kind of fear that repels you or it can be a fear that draws you closer to Him. When Jesus meets the women He tells them to not be afraid. This is the message of Easter, that we do not need to be afraid because Jesus has won the victory and defeated sin and death.
Jesus then told the women to go and tell His ‘brothers’, referring to His disciples. Jesus, knowing all of the ways that they had failed Him, still referred to them as brothers. Similarly, Jesus knows all of our shortcomings better than we do yet He still calls us family. He is not ashamed of us but welcomes us to come to Him on the basis of what He has done for us. Jesus tells them to tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee, which is significant because this is the place where they first met Him. He gives a fresh start. In his death He made everything new.
1. Don’t ignore what you know to be true because it is inconvenient. Listen to what God is saying and allow His presence to change things.
2. Don’t hide from God but get to know Him and experience both fear and joy.
3. Trust that you don’t have to do anything to prove yourself, Jesus is not ashamed of you, no matter what you have done, He calls you brother.
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