EXPLORE THE TEXT
Our appropriate response to Jesus’s resurrection is worship.
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy,
they ran to tell his disciples the news.
9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”
They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid.
Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
Point out the phrases
“quickly,” “with fear and great joy,” and “ran” in verse 8.
These terms reveal the women’s mixed emotions even as they obeyed the angel’s directions.
How would you have responded to such an unexpected encounter with Jesus?
discuss the following insights regarding the women’s worship:
Imagine the scene.
Suddenly, here is Jesus and He is saying to you, “Hello!” No wonder the immediate response of the women was to take hold of his feet in worship. .Jesus knew of both the fear and joy of the women.
He told them “do not be afraid.” This was not a time for fear but joy.
The joyful news of Jesus’s resurrection must be shared.
That is why Jesus repeated the instructions of the angel to the women,
“Go and tell the disciples.” (PSG, pp. 58-59)
Direct them to the resurrection accounts given in each Gospel:
Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-20;
Luke 24:1-52; and John 20:1-22 Encourage them to reflect on and respond to these questions: What similarities do you see in these passages?
What are some differences that help you get a more complete picture of the events surrounding the resurrection?
Share what they discovered as they dug into the other resurrection stories.
Highlight the term “brothers” in verse 10.
Point out that this is the first time in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus used this familial term for His disciples.
Note that everything was changing in light of the resurrection,
including the way Jesus’s followers would know Him and relate to Him.