7/31/13:

TFTD: “And for fear of him (the angel) the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay…”” Matthew 28:4-6

When was the last time that you were afraid, or perhaps the most afraid you have ever been? Now put yourself in the shoes of these guards. It’s just a typical day at work, standing guard at the tomb of someone important so that no one would come and steal the body. And then the ground starts to shake, harder and harder, and finally you duck and cover because the giant stone that was in front of this tomb of Jesus is moving. Now this brightly dressed guy is sitting atop the stone. I don’t know about you but I sure would act dead because I was so afraid. This guy’s clothes are blinding and the tombstone, which took more than just a couple of guys to put into place, has been moved with no one’s help. Yikes!!

            Now think of the last time you were so excited you couldn't contain your joy. Did you get so excited that people couldn't understand you or didn't believe you? Because I think that’s where these women’s emotions would have been. Running back to the disciples to tell them Jesus is alive and risen just as He said. Their sentence might have looked something like this: “JesusisalivewesawhimandhetoldustocomeandtellyoutogotoGalileebecauseheisgoingtomeetyouthere. *breath* gogogogogogogogo!!!!”. If you need that broken down it said this: Jesus is alive, we saw Him, and he told us to come and tell you to go to Galilee because He is going to meet you there. Go Go Go Go Go Go Go Go!! Isn't that how excited we should be about the resurrection? Not, just on Easter, or Good Friday, but every day. We have this overflowing joy that comes from knowing Jesus. His defeat of death, and ascension into heaven gives us hope and a reminder that we will live forever with Him in Paradise. That is a joy worth getting excited about!

“The entire plan for the future has its key in the resurrection”- Billy Graham