What emotions did the women experience, and how can we relate to them? Stepping into the Story “So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.” (Matthew 28:8) A real, dawn-lit garden; a real, vacated tomb; a real message from an angel. The women—Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (v. 1)—rush off, hearts pounding, minds racing. Two emotions dominate: fear and great joy. The Emotional Cocktail • Fear (phobos) • Great joy (chara megalē) They don’t cancel each other; they mingle. Awe shivers alongside elation. Fear That Draws Near • Mark 16:8 records them “trembling.” • Luke 24:5 notes they were “terrified.” • This is reverent fear—awareness of divine power, much like the disciples’ reaction when Jesus stilled the storm (Mark 4:41). • Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Healthy fear keeps the heart alert, humble, and obedient. Joy That Overflows • Their joy matches the angel’s earlier words: “He has risen” (Matthew 28:6). • Luke 2:10 announced Jesus’ birth with “good news of great joy.” Now that “great joy” reaches completion in His resurrection. • 1 Peter 1:8 speaks of “joy unspeakable and glorious” for believers who trust the risen Christ. Why Both Emotions Coexist • The resurrection shatters categories—both unnerving and exhilarating. • Fear guards against treating holy things lightly. • Joy assures that God’s triumph is for us, not against us. Relating Their Emotions to Our Lives • Encountering God’s power can still unsettle us—diagnosis healed, closed door opened, prayer answered in an unexpected way. Awe and gratitude collide just as for the women. • Hearing the gospel for the first time often stirs fear (conviction) and joy (forgiveness). Acts 2:37-41 shows listeners “cut to the heart,” then “gladly” baptized. • Sharing Christ can feel risky yet thrilling. The women ran; we speak, text, post, and serve. Living It Out Today • Hold holy fear: Approach Scripture, worship, and daily decisions with reverence (Hebrews 12:28-29). • Nurture resurrection joy: Sing, testify, and recall the empty tomb when circumstances darken (Romans 15:13). • Let both emotions fuel obedience: “The love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Like the women, hurry to tell others. • Expect the Lord to meet you on the way: Moments after they ran, “Jesus met them” (Matthew 28:9). Step out, and He often confirms the message with His presence. Their fear keeps the moment weighty; their joy keeps it bright. Together they sprinted into history’s greatest news—and we can run in the same emotions every resurrection morning. |
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