Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid

Matthew 28:1-15

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Sorrow turns to awe and joy as the women hear the angel's message and see the risen Jesus for themselves. The first to know, they hurry to share the amazing news.

The guards are bribed to lie, to say the tomb is empty because Jesus' followers stole the body while they slept. The penalty for falling asleep on duty was death, but perhaps Pilate too could be squared with a bribe.

Why?

After Sabbath is Sunday, it is the first day of the week. It is a day of great and joyful. For Jesus has risen.

When people saw Jesus they will afraid for might be the ghost, so Jesus comforted them, Do not be afraid.

Jesus reminded them he will meet disciples in Galilee as he mentioned. Everything is running as Jesus described.

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耶穌復活後不同人的反應

抹大拉的馬利亞和那個馬利亞來看墳墓，她們渴慕愛主的程度，極迫切，甘願冒險、辛苦。即使有衛兵，有石頭，還是去。我們常常有許多理由，太早，太遠，很忙、聽不懂、和大家不熟，沒有歸屬感等。如果沒有那個心，即使沒有理由也會找理由。

重點在石頭滾開，主要是要讓兩位馬利亞看見耶穌已經不在了，已經復活了！當我們願意去，神會回應我們，讓我們明白。

天使的說明，在於這些事不是偶然，而是在神的計劃中。耶穌不是在耶路撒冷、不是在墓門口，而是在加利利，即從耶穌呼召門徒的地方。這事以後，從新呼召他們。這次稱呼他們為我的弟兄，完全的接納他們。

祭司長和長老要衛兵做假見證，他們還是為自己的利益，寧可做假見證。神蹟可以讓軟弱的人堅強起來，神蹟對於只看重自己利益的人，抗拒神的人，心裏更鋼硬，寧可違背律法。

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How?

Trust in Jesus Christ, for Jesus is the Son of God and Jesus is our Savior, my way, my truth and my life.