Matthew 28:5

EASTER FEAR AND EASTER JOY

‘And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.’

Matthew 28:5

There was indeed enough to cause fear to the boldest heart in what those faithful women found at the sepulchre of the Lord.

I. Natural fear.—Their first thoughts would surely be of fear. Some wonderful and mysterious thing had happened; no work of men’s hand—of that they were convinced. They found themselves standing on ground where the greatest of miracles had just been wrought, and in the presence of angels, from whose lips they heard voices of the other world. Thus the women were filled with awe.

II. Reassurance.—As the angels had said to the faithful women, so He said to His Apostles afterwards—‘Fear not.’ There were persons to whom neither Christ nor His angels could have said this. They were those who thought they had got rid of Christ.

III. Easter fear.—As it was then, so it is now. Easter is a time of gladness and rejoicing, but it is also a time of fear. There must be many who would be more comfortable if they were sure that Christ had remained in the grave, and that all He said about the necessity of being holy and about the punishment of sinners had never been so confirmed; who would prefer to remain in doubt for a while whether they are to rise again, and whether He is really to judge them. Easter must be a time of fear to those who feel that they are not improving. Christ was changed at His Resurrection: and each anniversary of it reminds us that if we are His we must be changing too. ‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature’ (see also 1 Corinthians 5:7). What must they feel at Easter who are not a whit altered from the bad courses and tempers of last year!

IV. Easter gladness.—But Easter is also a time of gladness and rejoicing; Christ never meant His Resurrection to put thoughts of fear into our minds. He meant it to say to us, as the angel said to the women, ‘Fear not ye.’ The fear of the disciples soon gave place to great joy. Jesus Christ came and gave them His peace, and it took possession of their hearts. Surely that is what He means for our portion still. The joy of Easter Day is indeed a new encouragement in our pilgrimage—a fresh spring, from year to year, of blessed hope and peace; a foretaste and firstfruits of the peace which He will vouchsafe us in our hour of departure; and more—a foretaste of that joy which shall be ours in the resurrection of the just, when we shall see that Blessed One, and never more be separated from His Presence.

—Dean Church.

Illustration

‘When our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the tomb, He did more than prove the possibility of a bodily resurrection. He revealed to us a great spiritual truth. He showed that innocence and purity and righteousness are beyond the reach of corruption. He taught us that the soul, which is possessed of these, has in itself the germ of immortality. It must needs live on for ever. From this you will see that Easter-tide has a voice of admonition as well as a song of gladness. It reminds us first of a conflict won; but afterwards of a conflict which is still being waged. The victory of the Saviour is complete; and for that we rejoice and sing. But then comes the recollection of our own warfare, and we remember why the Saviour conquered. Was it not that we might conquer too?’