Devo: Matthew 28:9-10

These are just two verses but it greeted me with warmth. I felt God’s embrace by reading it. A little bit of a backstory: Mary of Magdalene and Mary of Bethany were instructed by the angel of the Lord to tell Jesus’ disciples that He is risen from the dead (V. 7).

The angel told them to “go quickly (V. 7)” and they did exactly what they were told. They “went out quickly from the tomb…” and “ran (V. 8)” to tell the news to His disciples. They were obedient. They did what they were told right away, and they did it “with fear and great joy (V. 8)”.

“And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them,…” V. 9

Jesus met them. Wow. God knows the agony that Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany felt when they witnessed the sufferings of Jesus. They thought that Jesus was dead.

“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Vv. 5-6

“…as He said.” – The angel reminded them of what Jesus told them before His crucifixion.

They must have felt relieved to hear from the angel that their beloved Jesus is not dead. I am imagining the feeling of being in deep sadness and then suddenly being overwhelmed by hope and joy. Wow. When Jesus met them, He told them to rejoice. The response of Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany was to fall at the feet of Jesus and worshiped Him.

I think I would do the same if I had been in those women’s shoes. I would just lay at His feet and bask in His holy presence. In Jesus’ presence, I am calm and content. Ahh.. I just want His presence.