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Do Not Be Afraid - Easter Sunday
PDF At Home Liturgy
Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Do Not Be Afraid
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7) Amen.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary needed to hear it twice. “Do not be afraid.” Why? When does anyone need to hear, “Do not be afraid”? Only when there is a reason to fear. So what reason did Mary and the other Mary have to fear?
These two women had been long-time followers of Jesus. Matthew tells us “they had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs” (Matthew 27:55). And they had watched the crucifixion. These women were Jesus’ disciples. They served him. And when all others had abandoned him… When eleven of the twelve of his closest friends were nowhere to be found, these women stayed and watched.
And how were they repaid for their devotion? There are some things you can’t unsee. How long would it be before they could close their eyes and not see his back pocked with holes where the Roman whips had pulled off chunks of skin and flesh? How many sleepless nights would pass before they could forget the spurts of blood that shot from the holes the nails made in his hands and feet? For how long would the crown of thorns, the pools of blood, the darkness, the earthquake, the cries of pain… for how long would these sights haunt their dreams? Was it enough to make them afraid to sleep? Afraid to close their eyes?
Did it make it better or worse to see him buried? To watch Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea wrap him and put him in that cave of a tomb and roll a stone over its mouth. To know that this waking nightmare was real. He’s dead.
Did the fear subside over the next day or did it increase? Did the quiet Sabbath bring them rest and relief? Or did they expect more? They saw how the Jews and Romans treated their teacher. Were they satisfied with just him? Or would they come after his followers too? Hadn’t the Romans killed countless others with less good reason? Would the disciples… Would these women have to life the rest of their lives in fear?
The day after the Sabbath Mary and the other Mary went. Whether locked away or out and about the fear was the same so what’s the difference? May as well go see the tomb. But on the way what happens? Another earthquake. At the last earthquake their teacher died. What could be happening now? They came to the place and they see bodies. The big, bad, Roman guards have been so terrified that they went into a dead faint. And there, casually sitting on the stone door of the tomb is a being of pure light. “Do not be afraid.”
His news is mind-boggling. How would you even make sense of it? Not here… Just as he said… Go and tell… Mary and the other Mary hurry off. “Afraid yet filled with joy.” They’re happy but their fear isn’t gone. One intense emotion is merely pilled on another. Happily-terrified. Fearfully joyful.
And then they see him. The face they saw pale with death after Joseph and Nicodemus washed off the blood. The hands and feet and side from where blood had poured. Is he still wearing burial clothes? Does he still smell of myrrh and aloes? Their dead teacher stands before them in the morning glow. “Do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid.” That’s not something you say, unless someone has reason to fear. And weren’t Mary and the other Mary afraid?
But we’re not, right? We’re not afraid. After all what is there to fear? Of what should we be afraid?
How about the world? Look at the news. Every day, horrible things happen all around the world. Disasters. Disease. But more than that. Every day, people do horrible things. Every day, people invent new ways to behave like monsters and every day the media brings word of it right into our hands. Word of what people do to each other. What some countries do to their own citizens. What some people do to their own spouses. What some parents do to their own children. Here in America, how long has it been since the last random killing made front page news. And we all breathe a collective sigh of relief to hear that the lone gunman had “a history of mental illness,” because that means we can label them different, a freak, a monster and forget that anyone is capable of anything at anytime. That anyone else could be millimeters away from similar monstrosity. That a world of 7 billion people is a world of 7 billion reasons to be afraid.
And if we’ll admit that the world is a scary place, we have to also admit to what scares us the most. It’s death. We’re afraid to hear about the horrible things that happen in our world, because one day some horrible thing is going to happen to us. Death is a horrible thing. Have you ever thought about it? How, even in a country like ours, how few people get a “good” death? Quietly, in their sleep. Surrounded by family. That’s not normal. Much more common is months of pain after years of infirmity and then dying alone. That’s if you’re so lucky as to not get hit by a bus or some such accident. If you so lucky as to get a chance to grow infirm. But “good” or “bad”, our death is coming. Every day is a step closer to that horrible thing we all fear.
But what are we really afraid of? Afraid of death? Afraid of other people? Afraid of this world? These are just symptoms. Consequences of the real problem. What we are really afraid of isn’t out there. It’s in here. It’s our sin.
The suffering people inflict on each other in this world; it’s a symptom of our sin. The death that will one day rip us out of this world; it’s what we deserve because of our sin. Our sin separates us from God. Because of our sin he ought to abandon us with the 7 billion other sinners on this rock. Because of our sin God ought to leave us to die alone and unloved. Because of our sin God ought to throw us into the endless death of eternity in hell. What is there to fear? Of what should we be afraid? It’s us. It’s ourselves. It’s our sin. And it’s what our sin means for our eternity.
“Do not be afraid.” That’s not something you say, unless someone has reason to fear. And weren’t Mary and the other Mary afraid? Aren’t we? Don’t we have reason to fear? Yes! So? “Do not be afraid.” Why not? Why shouldn’t we be afraid? “Come and see.”
Look with Mary and the other Mary. See the tomb? It’s empty. Jesus isn’t here. So what? What does that mean for our fear?
We fear our sin. We fear it’s consequences in this life. We fear what sin deserves from God. But what we deserve, Jesus endured. He was in that tomb because he died. The perfect Son of God died. He had no reason to fear the consequences of sin or its punishment. He never sinned. But he took our sin on himself. He was punished. He died for our sins. Jesus lived the perfect life we can’t and died the eternal death we deserve to save us from our sin. Sin still has consequences in this life but not punishment. Not anymore. Jesus took it all. How do we know? Because he is not here. He’s not in the tomb anymore. Sin really has been paid for and Jesus’ life proves it. So sin is nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid.”
“Come and see.” Look with Mary and the other Mary. See what Jesus has done? He rose. Just as he said. So what? What does that mean for our fear?
We fear death. We fear the pain and the loneliness. We fear this life coming to an end. But the end of this life is not the end of our life. Death could not hold Jesus, just like he said. He died and rose again just as he said he would. He paid for sin and the proof is his life. So that means Jesus has robbed death of its sting. Of its victory. Jesus conquered death. Death could not hold him and it will not hold us. Any of us. We live in Jesus. Now and forever. Even if we die in this life we have a place in the life to come because of Jesus. Jesus is exactly who he said he is. He is our Savior. He is our life. So death is nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid.”
“Come and see.” Look with Mary and the other Mary. See Jesus appear to you? He is here. Not here in the tomb. Here before you. Here with you. So what? What does that mean for our fear?
We fear this world. We fear the things sinners do. We fear the things that happen because of sin. But none of that can harm us. Not really. Because Jesus is with us. He rose and appeared to Mary and Mary and the disciples. He rose and he comes to us in his Word. In Baptism. In his Supper. Jesus rose and took his place at God’s right hand to rule over all things for our good. Nothing can happen that he doesn’t want for us. Nothing can happen that he can’t use to draw us closer to him. In him we are safe. In him we are saved. The whole world is nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid.” “Come and see.” See what Jesus does to our fear. Hear the message of what Jesus has done and “do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid.” And then? “Go… Tell.” Jesus rose from the dead for Mary and the other Mary. Jesus resurrection; the message of what Jesus has done. It was theirs. Theirs to trust. Theirs to do away with their fear. Theirs to bring to others. Jesus sent them. “Go… Tell.”
The message of Jesus is ours. Jesus rose from the dead for Mary, and Mary, and the disciples, and for you, and for me. This message is ours. Ours to trust. Ours to do away with our fear. Ours to bring to others. Jesus sends us with his message. Our message. “Do not be afraid.” But “go…Tell.”
This message is ours. And because it’s ours we want to share. We want others to have what we have. Forgiveness. Peace. Faith. We want them to know why we aren’t afraid. Not of the world. Not of death. Not of sin. We want them to know why they don’t have to fear. Jesus is not dead. Jesus is who he says. Jesus is here. Jesus is risen.
Mary and the other Mary would never forget Good Friday. They would never forget the blood. The cross. The tomb. But they also would never forget what Good Friday meant. Because they would never forget Easter Sunday. They would never forget that in that blood sin was washed away. They would never forget that on that cross death was conquered. They would never forget that that empty tomb meant that God is our Savior. That our Savior is King.
Mary and the other Mary would never forget what they got to see. They would never forget what they got to tell. They would never forget what that message did to their fear. And neither will we. The message is life. Jesus is alive. Do not be afraid. Come and see. Go and tell. This message is ours. Amen.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) Amen.
View all episodes
By Pastor Ethan CherneyPDF At Home Liturgy
Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Do Not Be Afraid
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7) Amen.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary needed to hear it twice. “Do not be afraid.” Why? When does anyone need to hear, “Do not be afraid”? Only when there is a reason to fear. So what reason did Mary and the other Mary have to fear?
These two women had been long-time followers of Jesus. Matthew tells us “they had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs” (Matthew 27:55). And they had watched the crucifixion. These women were Jesus’ disciples. They served him. And when all others had abandoned him… When eleven of the twelve of his closest friends were nowhere to be found, these women stayed and watched.
And how were they repaid for their devotion? There are some things you can’t unsee. How long would it be before they could close their eyes and not see his back pocked with holes where the Roman whips had pulled off chunks of skin and flesh? How many sleepless nights would pass before they could forget the spurts of blood that shot from the holes the nails made in his hands and feet? For how long would the crown of thorns, the pools of blood, the darkness, the earthquake, the cries of pain… for how long would these sights haunt their dreams? Was it enough to make them afraid to sleep? Afraid to close their eyes?
Did it make it better or worse to see him buried? To watch Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea wrap him and put him in that cave of a tomb and roll a stone over its mouth. To know that this waking nightmare was real. He’s dead.
Did the fear subside over the next day or did it increase? Did the quiet Sabbath bring them rest and relief? Or did they expect more? They saw how the Jews and Romans treated their teacher. Were they satisfied with just him? Or would they come after his followers too? Hadn’t the Romans killed countless others with less good reason? Would the disciples… Would these women have to life the rest of their lives in fear?
The day after the Sabbath Mary and the other Mary went. Whether locked away or out and about the fear was the same so what’s the difference? May as well go see the tomb. But on the way what happens? Another earthquake. At the last earthquake their teacher died. What could be happening now? They came to the place and they see bodies. The big, bad, Roman guards have been so terrified that they went into a dead faint. And there, casually sitting on the stone door of the tomb is a being of pure light. “Do not be afraid.”
His news is mind-boggling. How would you even make sense of it? Not here… Just as he said… Go and tell… Mary and the other Mary hurry off. “Afraid yet filled with joy.” They’re happy but their fear isn’t gone. One intense emotion is merely pilled on another. Happily-terrified. Fearfully joyful.
And then they see him. The face they saw pale with death after Joseph and Nicodemus washed off the blood. The hands and feet and side from where blood had poured. Is he still wearing burial clothes? Does he still smell of myrrh and aloes? Their dead teacher stands before them in the morning glow. “Do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid.” That’s not something you say, unless someone has reason to fear. And weren’t Mary and the other Mary afraid?
But we’re not, right? We’re not afraid. After all what is there to fear? Of what should we be afraid?
How about the world? Look at the news. Every day, horrible things happen all around the world. Disasters. Disease. But more than that. Every day, people do horrible things. Every day, people invent new ways to behave like monsters and every day the media brings word of it right into our hands. Word of what people do to each other. What some countries do to their own citizens. What some people do to their own spouses. What some parents do to their own children. Here in America, how long has it been since the last random killing made front page news. And we all breathe a collective sigh of relief to hear that the lone gunman had “a history of mental illness,” because that means we can label them different, a freak, a monster and forget that anyone is capable of anything at anytime. That anyone else could be millimeters away from similar monstrosity. That a world of 7 billion people is a world of 7 billion reasons to be afraid.
And if we’ll admit that the world is a scary place, we have to also admit to what scares us the most. It’s death. We’re afraid to hear about the horrible things that happen in our world, because one day some horrible thing is going to happen to us. Death is a horrible thing. Have you ever thought about it? How, even in a country like ours, how few people get a “good” death? Quietly, in their sleep. Surrounded by family. That’s not normal. Much more common is months of pain after years of infirmity and then dying alone. That’s if you’re so lucky as to not get hit by a bus or some such accident. If you so lucky as to get a chance to grow infirm. But “good” or “bad”, our death is coming. Every day is a step closer to that horrible thing we all fear.
But what are we really afraid of? Afraid of death? Afraid of other people? Afraid of this world? These are just symptoms. Consequences of the real problem. What we are really afraid of isn’t out there. It’s in here. It’s our sin.
The suffering people inflict on each other in this world; it’s a symptom of our sin. The death that will one day rip us out of this world; it’s what we deserve because of our sin. Our sin separates us from God. Because of our sin he ought to abandon us with the 7 billion other sinners on this rock. Because of our sin God ought to leave us to die alone and unloved. Because of our sin God ought to throw us into the endless death of eternity in hell. What is there to fear? Of what should we be afraid? It’s us. It’s ourselves. It’s our sin. And it’s what our sin means for our eternity.
“Do not be afraid.” That’s not something you say, unless someone has reason to fear. And weren’t Mary and the other Mary afraid? Aren’t we? Don’t we have reason to fear? Yes! So? “Do not be afraid.” Why not? Why shouldn’t we be afraid? “Come and see.”
Look with Mary and the other Mary. See the tomb? It’s empty. Jesus isn’t here. So what? What does that mean for our fear?
We fear our sin. We fear it’s consequences in this life. We fear what sin deserves from God. But what we deserve, Jesus endured. He was in that tomb because he died. The perfect Son of God died. He had no reason to fear the consequences of sin or its punishment. He never sinned. But he took our sin on himself. He was punished. He died for our sins. Jesus lived the perfect life we can’t and died the eternal death we deserve to save us from our sin. Sin still has consequences in this life but not punishment. Not anymore. Jesus took it all. How do we know? Because he is not here. He’s not in the tomb anymore. Sin really has been paid for and Jesus’ life proves it. So sin is nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid.”
“Come and see.” Look with Mary and the other Mary. See what Jesus has done? He rose. Just as he said. So what? What does that mean for our fear?
We fear death. We fear the pain and the loneliness. We fear this life coming to an end. But the end of this life is not the end of our life. Death could not hold Jesus, just like he said. He died and rose again just as he said he would. He paid for sin and the proof is his life. So that means Jesus has robbed death of its sting. Of its victory. Jesus conquered death. Death could not hold him and it will not hold us. Any of us. We live in Jesus. Now and forever. Even if we die in this life we have a place in the life to come because of Jesus. Jesus is exactly who he said he is. He is our Savior. He is our life. So death is nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid.”
“Come and see.” Look with Mary and the other Mary. See Jesus appear to you? He is here. Not here in the tomb. Here before you. Here with you. So what? What does that mean for our fear?
We fear this world. We fear the things sinners do. We fear the things that happen because of sin. But none of that can harm us. Not really. Because Jesus is with us. He rose and appeared to Mary and Mary and the disciples. He rose and he comes to us in his Word. In Baptism. In his Supper. Jesus rose and took his place at God’s right hand to rule over all things for our good. Nothing can happen that he doesn’t want for us. Nothing can happen that he can’t use to draw us closer to him. In him we are safe. In him we are saved. The whole world is nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid.” “Come and see.” See what Jesus does to our fear. Hear the message of what Jesus has done and “do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid.” And then? “Go… Tell.” Jesus rose from the dead for Mary and the other Mary. Jesus resurrection; the message of what Jesus has done. It was theirs. Theirs to trust. Theirs to do away with their fear. Theirs to bring to others. Jesus sent them. “Go… Tell.”
The message of Jesus is ours. Jesus rose from the dead for Mary, and Mary, and the disciples, and for you, and for me. This message is ours. Ours to trust. Ours to do away with our fear. Ours to bring to others. Jesus sends us with his message. Our message. “Do not be afraid.” But “go…Tell.”
This message is ours. And because it’s ours we want to share. We want others to have what we have. Forgiveness. Peace. Faith. We want them to know why we aren’t afraid. Not of the world. Not of death. Not of sin. We want them to know why they don’t have to fear. Jesus is not dead. Jesus is who he says. Jesus is here. Jesus is risen.
Mary and the other Mary would never forget Good Friday. They would never forget the blood. The cross. The tomb. But they also would never forget what Good Friday meant. Because they would never forget Easter Sunday. They would never forget that in that blood sin was washed away. They would never forget that on that cross death was conquered. They would never forget that that empty tomb meant that God is our Savior. That our Savior is King.
Mary and the other Mary would never forget what they got to see. They would never forget what they got to tell. They would never forget what that message did to their fear. And neither will we. The message is life. Jesus is alive. Do not be afraid. Come and see. Go and tell. This message is ours. Amen.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) Amen.