Easter Sunday “To Fear or Not to Fear” Day by Day of Holy Week

Matthew 28:1-10

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Has Risen

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

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5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 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.”

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.”

This is one buff angel.  He swoops down from heaven, rolls away a sealed stone, sits on it and his clothes are gleaming.  The Roman soldiers were so afraid they fell to the ground.

Notice:  There was no reassuring word given to the guards.  This implies that they were not only to be afraid, but “Be very afraid!”

Easter is the day of reversal of fortunes.  Those whose job it was to evoke fear were suddenly the ones to be afraid.  Those who were living their lives in fear were told that they had nothing to fear.

Easter is a warning to all of the bullies, false kings, and religious demagogues.  There is a new king in town who has shown all of you to be pretenders.  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

Those of you who weep, however, can dry your eyes.  Jesus is risen just as he said.  Even though he told us ahead of time, this news was too good to be true until we experienced it.

“And now let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us”  He is risen! You have nothing to fear.

Evil will have its day, but history belongs to our God.  Happy Easter!!! The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 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.”
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.”
This is one buff angel.  He swoops down from heaven, rolls away a sealed stone, sits on it and his clothes are gleaming.  The Roman soldiers were so afraid they fell to the ground.
Notice:  There was no reassuring word given to the guards.  This implies that they were not only to be afraid, but “Be very afraid!”
Easter is the day of reversal of fortunes.  Those whose job it was to evoke fear were suddenly the ones to be afraid.  Those who were living their lives in fear were told that they had nothing to fear.
Easter is a warning to all of the bullies, false kings, and religious demagogues.  There is a new king in town who has shown all of you to be pretenders.  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.
Those of you who weep, however, can dry your eyes.  Jesus is risen just as he said.  Even though he told us ahead of time, this news was too good to be true until we experienced it.
“And now let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us”  He is risen! You have nothing to fear.
Evil will have its day, but history belongs to our God.  Happy Easter!!!