Fear and Joy (The Beginning of World History Part 2)
A.The strange event at Jesus' tomb
1) The angel who opened the tomb (1-4)
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
2) The angel's message (5-7)
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."
B. The reality of the resurrection
1) Two women, both named Mary, ran to the disciples in fear and joy (8)
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
2) What the risen Jesus said to the women (9-10)
Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Summary
In this life, we live with both fear and joy. The one who knows everything about us, and holds our life and death in his hands, loves us to the point of sacrificing himself for us. The God we serve has complete authority over us and nurtures and disciplines us, and he rescued us by giving up his life. This is why we can live with a mixture of joy and fear regardless of our life circumstances.
For Discussion
1) Why were the two women going to the tomb?
2) What does it mean to fear and to have joy at the same time?