Being with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
Matthew 28 makes me want to jump, shout, cry, and take in the deepest breath of air I can! Can anyone else relate? I mean, when we read this chapter, we read about the most significant moment in history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ! It is a moment of transformation where despair turns into joy and death gives way to life. It’s the moment that has the power to change everything for anyone who believes!
We all face moments of doubt, discouragement, and despair in our lives, but like the women at the tomb, we are called to move forward in faith, trusting in the promises that God has made through Jesus. This passage speaks not just of an event in history but of a transformative truth that impacts every believer today.
The chapter begins with two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, coming to the tomb where Jesus had been laid to rest. They see an unexpected scene. The stone is rolled away, and an angel is sitting on it, declaring that Jesus is not there; He has risen, just as He said He would (Matthew 28:5-7). This announcement is not just a bit of good news; it is the culmination of Jesus’s mission to save humanity! He conquered death just as He said He would! With His victory over death comes our victory over death as believers in Him.
The angel tells the women to go quickly and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen and that He will meet them Galilee (Matthew 28:7). On the way, they meet Jesus Himself who reassures them and tells them to continue their journey to tell the others and to meet Him later in Galilee, and so they go.
The thing that strikes me about the women in these passages is that they kept moving forward. They went in faith, as we should go in faith. The picture of them continuously pursuing Jesus is so beautiful and inspiring. Scripture says that they were both afraid yet filled with joy. I think it’s important to remember that both emotions can exist within us at the same time, and that’s okay. I love that scripture reminds us that we all have the same emotions and the same feelings, but we are all united by the same faith in Jesus.
We are also all called to the same mission that is given to us at the end of the chapter. It is called the Great Commission, and it calls us to action. Just as the women of the at the tomb were sent to share the news of Jesus’ resurrection, so are we called to share the good news of Jesus with the world. Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations.
The resurrection is not just an event in history. It is the foundation of our faith. It reveals that Jesus is not just a historical figure but the living Lord who defeated the grave. It is THE event that changes everything. As we reflect on the resurrection, let us remember that we are called not just to celebrate what happened but to live boldly proclaiming the news of it. Jesus’s victory over death gives us hope, compels us to share the gospel, and assures us of His constant presence. Let us embrace the mission Jesus has given us with confidence and joy!
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
- SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
- OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
- APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
- PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.