The Power of Fear

Mk. 16:5

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices to the tomb to anoint Jesus. Arriving early on Sunday morning, they wondered how they would get in. Who would roll the stone away? Looking up, their question was answered, and in a way that they least expected it. Unafraid, they went into the tomb, and there saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe. Now they were alarmed! Did they realize this young man was an heavenly messenger? Or did they think that he was responsible for the missing body of Jesus? But, before they really had time to process, he spoke to them, Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you. Jesus did all as He said He would. Why were they so afraid? Why did they shift into inaction? The passage tells of their fear and astonishment, and most of all of their silence. The resurrection was earth shattering, not something that they would have witnessed on a daily basis. Thankfully, their silence was short-lived, and these women who loved Jesus and who witnessed His crucifixion, burial, the empty tomb, and the message of the resurrection would speak out. Matthew relays the next step in their journey, So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Fear can either be crippling or the motivation for hurried action. In the case of these women, it did both!

Father,
Give me Your strength to use my fear as a means to speak out for you. Let it move me to action and not silence the words that mean so much to me.
In Jesus name,
Amen