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“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. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you.’” (Matthew 28:5-7)

What a moment this must have been for those women and so dramatic in nature. Their hearts and minds must have been all over the place. What would have been your emotions? Theirs were twofold:

First, they were afraid. We may have become familiar with fear in recent months – fear to leave the home, fear to be in the company of others, fear to enter shops or even churches. The fear in these women was not only for themselves but for the whereabouts of Jesus’ body they had so servant heartedly come to anoint.

Their second emotion is joy. Not only did their Master and Friend rise from the dead, but He proved Himself to be the long awaited Messiah and Saviour in doing so. Fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and His own predictions concerning the Son of Man. Rightfully the realisation of this salvation plan brought joy to the women in Matthew 28 but equally should give joy to every one of us because we, as Paul put it in Ephesians 2, were once dead in our transgressions and sins but by the grace of God have been and can be made alive with Christ! Hallelujah!

Let’s allow the joy of His resurrection to overflow in us and lead us to the worship He deserves for defeating sin and death in exchange for life in all its fullness. One day we will all be reunited with our Creator, He will judge the living and the dead, and in that moment how will our emotions compare with those of the women in Matthew 28? Will we be afraid? Afraid for our own salvation? Not having really known Jesus or having lived in accordance with His will? Or will we know joy? Because our time has arrived to not only gaze upon the Saviour and clasp His feet, but live with Him in the promised eternal life of His Kingdom.