How does Matthew 28:9 encourage us to share the news of Jesus' resurrection? The Setting: Fresh from an Empty Tomb • The women have just discovered the stone rolled away and heard the angel’s announcement (Matthew 28:1-8). • They are already “hurrying away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and running to tell His disciples” (v. 8). • In that moment of obedience, Jesus chooses to meet them personally. Matthew 28:9 — The Encounter “Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.” Immediate Takeaways for Sharing the News • “Suddenly” highlights divine initiative—Jesus Himself empowers our witness. • His single word, “Greetings,” turns alarm into assurance; we carry that same reassuring message. • Their response—grasping His feet—confirms the bodily, literal resurrection we proclaim. • Worship precedes witness: adoration fuels proclamation. Worship Fuels Witness • Genuine worship overflows into testimony (Psalm 40:3). • Grasping His feet marks surrender; surrendered hearts speak boldly (Acts 4:20). • The women’s worship validates their message; people listen when devotion is evident. Touching the Reality: A Tangible Resurrection • Physical contact (“grasped His feet”) underscores the factual nature of the event (Luke 24:39). • We announce not an idea but a risen, touchable Lord (1 John 1:1-3). • Certainty about His bodily resurrection energizes confident proclamation (1 Corinthians 15:14). From Fear to Boldness • Verse 8 shows fear mingled with joy; verse 9 replaces fear with worship. • Encountering Jesus transforms messengers—He turns trembling runners into fearless heralds (2 Timothy 1:7-8). • Because He is alive, we need not hesitate to speak. Jesus’ Word: “Greetings!” and Its Mission Implication • The Greek chairete carries warmth—“Rejoice!” Our message is fundamentally good news. • Joyful proclamation attracts listening ears (Isaiah 52:7). • Sharing the resurrection spreads the same joy Jesus offered that morning. Parallel Affirmations in Scripture • John 20:17—“Go to My brothers and tell them…” reinforces the go-and-tell pattern. • Mark 16:15—“Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” widens the audience. • Acts 1:8—The risen Lord promises power for witness “to the ends of the earth.” Practical Steps for Today • Begin every day in worship; let adoration spill into conversation. • Speak of Jesus’ resurrection as a historical certainty, not merely a belief. • Share with joy—His first word to the women was a greeting of rejoicing. • Move from private encounter to public announcement, just as the women did. • Trust His presence; the One who met them meets us (Matthew 28:20). Essential Truth to Carry The living Jesus meets worshippers, turns their joy into bold testimony, and sends them to declare a literal, bodily resurrection that changes everything. |
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