Matthew 28:8-15: a reflection

8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. 9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.” 11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, 13saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. 14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” 15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.

The women leave the empty tomb in a rush of fear and great joy, running to tell the disciples what they have seen. And on the way, the risen Jesus himself meets them: Rejoice, he says. They fall at his feet and worship him, and he calms their fear: Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers. Meanwhile, the authorities, hearing the same news from the guards, respond very differently: they bribe the soldiers to spread the lie that the disciples stole the body.

Notice how the risen Christ meets the women. They come in a mixture of fear and joy, and Jesus meets them, greets them, calms their fear, receives their worship, and sends them to tell others. The risen Lord does not remain distant; he meets his people, turns their fear into joy and worship, and gives them a mission. And notice, too, that no bribe or cover-up could undo what had happened; the authorities could spread a lie, but they could not make the tomb full again. The truth of the resurrection stood.

That meeting is offered to us as well. The risen Christ still meets his people, still calms their fears with his do not be afraid, still receives their worship and sends them to tell others. When you come to him in a mixture of fear and hope, he meets you, and turns fear to joy. And no effort to suppress or deny the resurrection can undo its truth; Christ is risen indeed, whatever the world may say. Meet the risen Lord in worship, let him calm your fears, and go, as the women were sent, to tell others what is true: he is risen, and no lie can bury that truth.

Lord Jesus, the women left the empty tomb in fear and joy, and you met them, greeted them, calmed their fear, received their worship, and sent them to tell others; while the authorities tried in vain to bury the truth with a bribe. Thank you that the risen Christ still meets his people this way. Meet me as you met them: when I come to you in a mixture of fear and hope, calm my fear with your do not be afraid, turn my fear to joy, receive my worship, and send me to tell others. And thank you that no effort to suppress or deny your resurrection can undo its truth; you are risen indeed, whatever the world may say. Help me meet you, the risen Lord, in worship, let you calm my fears, and go, as the women were sent, to tell others what is true: that you are risen, and no lie can bury that truth. I worship you, my risen Lord.