Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
They are fearful yet they cannot keep this to themselves. Everything is changed now. Just a day ago all of their most profound hopes had been dashed to the ground. Now everything seems possible. But the fear is a remnant of the old world order. It is even now being cast out by the Holy Spirit.
he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit
that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.”
Peter too experiences the joy of the resurrection but is still dominated by fear before Pentecost. He sees the risen LORD but remains in the locked upper room. Once the Spirit comes he can remain locked in no longer. His boldness is striking.
This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,
you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
Our encounters with the risen Jesus are meant to be a starting point. Already we can't help but speak of the experience. But there is still fear. We need more and more the Holy Spirit in our lives. He himself is the life of the resurrection alive in us. We need our own personal Pentecost to inspire us to unlock the doors and go out and tell a dying world about our hope in Jesus.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
We need not fear any more because he lives. Let us fix our gaze on him.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
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