Scripture
7And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” Matthew 28:7-10
Observation
The women ran. The first evangelists of the risen Lord didn’t waste any time. They didn’t wait for more explanation from the angel. They didn’t ask to see Jesus risen and alive before taking up their assignment and literally running with it. While the other 11 hid behind closed doors for fear of reprisals the Mary’s were setting the pace by faith. It wasn’t that they weren’t afraid. The narrative makes it clear that they were indeed frightened, but the joy overcame their trepidation. I love how Jesus met them “as they went”. They ran to Him, they clung to his nail scarred feet. They, no doubt, wanted to stay right there, but what did Jesus tell them? Don’t be afraid! What would they be afraid of? Maybe, if they let go, they wouldn’t see Him again. If they could just stay right here with Him then all would be well. Jesus was confirming the words of the angel. They had to get the word out. There’s work to do and not much time to do it. Think about how Jesus met the disciples on the road to Emmaeus and “as they went” He revealed the scriptures to them that He had fulfilled in His death and resurrection. Remember the lepers? They didn’t get healed in the presence of Jesus. They got their healing as they walked out their assignment, “When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.” (Lk. 17:14)
Application
It’s not as they stood, as they argued, as they worshipped, as they studied. Jesus shows up “as they went.” Think about about how many miracles happened on their way to somewhere else. Ours is not a stationary faith. Faith starts at His feet and then moves through our feet as we “go into all the world to make disciples.” Ours is not a faith of retreat, but advance. Ours is not a faith to be kept but to be shared, not to be hidden, but to be shown. Maybe one of the lessons God was trying to teach us through the “shut down” of the church building during the pandemic is that we were never meant to be a “come and see”, but rather a “go and show” faith. Now that buildings are opened back up I feel the pull to go back to what we knew instead of looking for the new thing God wants to do. Yes, we need to worship at His feet, but we also need to get on our feet and make disciples on our school campuses, offices, neighborhoods, etc. Just like the Mary’s we will need to move past our fears and let the joy of the Risen Lord carry our feet into crazy conversations, impossible situations, and miraculous interventions.
Prayer
Lord, I feel You stirring me to not fall back into “the way things were”. I love sitting here at Your feet, but there are many who do not know You love them or came for them, or died for them, or rose for them and You’ve called me to tell them. I feel so out of place on the school campuses, but I see You doing something there. I keep waiting for You to move, but it might just be that as I move that’s where You’ll meet me.
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