Today’s title may seem strange. How can we be afraid and joyful all at the
same time? We can remember how it was at
Jesus birth. All those people were afraid
while the angels were proclaiming, “I bring you good tidings of great
joy.” While the message was joyous, the
situation that brought that message to Zacharias, Mary, Joseph and the
shepherds was fear inducing. As it was
at His birth, so it was at His resurrection.
Jesus had clearly and frequently told His disciples that He
was to die and be resurrected third day.
The news of His death was too tragic and unbelievable for them to
comprehend. That left the second part of
the message, the resurrection, as beyond speculation. So when He was raised on the third day, they
were not expecting it. They were
dwelling in fear lest they be the next target of the Jews and the Romans.
At dawn on the third day a group of brave lady followers
went to the tomb. It was empty and an
angel was there. They were afraid. The angel said, “Fear not.” Later that day, although they had already
been to the empty tomb and had twice been assured by others that Jesus had
risen, when Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room they were
afraid. His message to them was, “Fear
not”. The only ones not to receive that
message were the guards who had been posted at the tomb. They were terrified and ran away. Then they were told to deny the truth of the
resurrection, lie to the authorities and live in fear for the rest of their
lives that they would be found out. The
message of “fear not” is a much better alternative.
Fortunately for believers today we don’t face angelic beings
sitting on empty tombs when we are already in a heightened emotional and
fearful state. We get to hear the grand
news of the resurrection and rejoice in the victory of our risen Lord Jesus
Christ. It is much less fear inducing
but no less awe inspiring. We can
joyfully shout with Paul, “O death, where is thy sting, o grave, thy
victory?” The fear of it is conquered in
the joy of the risen Christ.
“Joy, joy, immortal joy! The Lord is ris’n to reign;
On Easter day, the Scriptures say, Christ rose to life again.
On Easter day, the Scriptures say, Christ rose to life again.
On Easter day, the Scriptures say, Christ rose to life again.
On Easter day, the Scriptures say, Christ rose to life again.
“Joy, deep and living joy! The stone is rolled away;
The empty tomb has lost its gloom, the night has turned to day.
The empty tomb hast lost its gloom, the night has turned to day.”
The empty tomb has lost its gloom, the night has turned to day.
The empty tomb hast lost its gloom, the night has turned to day.”
“Joy, Joy, Immortal Joy” by Peter Lutkin
Visit my website at www.davidccraig.net for inspiring Christian
books.
You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/
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