Suddenly...Jesus!
By Susan Klein
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them.”
Matthew 28:8-9a
By Susan Klein
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them.”
Matthew 28:8-9a
Have you ever had a situation in your life where you had
high hopes or expectations about something, only to meet with disappointment in
the end? I think we’ve all experienced this at one time or another. We have
expectations of our spouses, our children, our employers, our elected
officials...all of whom fail to meet our expectations at some point.
Imagine the women at the tomb after the crucifixion. They are already saddened by Jesus’ death. They are undoubtedly still in mourning as they walk the distance to His tomb, crying along the way. They had been expecting Him to be their reigning King, only to have Him put to death before their very eyes. Now, they are going to the tomb with the expectation of finding His lifeless body within. They are carrying their jars of herbal preparations and cloths to properly care for His body. They are expecting the guards to allow them entrance to the tomb to perform these rituals. Imagine their disappointment, once again, as they see the stone rolled away, the guards on the ground like dead men, and the tomb empty. “Someone must have taken His body! Oh no! God, how can we possibly survive yet another tragedy? Is this really all there is to life, one disappointment after another?”
But then, something wonderful happens! The angel delivers the good news that He has risen, and that He will be appearing to them shortly! Their focus now turns from having their own “expectations,” to living in “expectancy” of seeing their Lord! They are afraid, yet filled with joy at the same time! They really don’t know what to expect when they deliver the news to the disciples, nor do they have any expectations of how this turn of events will impact their own lives. But, they are living with the “expectancy” that Jesus lives, and will be with them soon! This is for certain. Their expectancy is now found in the live person of Jesus Himself, and they will not be disappointed!
Scripture says they hurried away, or ran. They were excited in their expectancy! And, sure enough, verse 9 confirms it. Suddenly, Jesus...! As their hearts were pounding in their chest from excitement, suddenly, He was there! Peace flowed, worries were dismissed, all the prior unmet expectations were forgotten!
They clasped His feet and worshiped Him!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What unmet expectations do you have of others, and of yourself?
2. Is living in “expectancy” of Jesus enough for you?
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 146:5-6; Proverbs 23:18
Imagine the women at the tomb after the crucifixion. They are already saddened by Jesus’ death. They are undoubtedly still in mourning as they walk the distance to His tomb, crying along the way. They had been expecting Him to be their reigning King, only to have Him put to death before their very eyes. Now, they are going to the tomb with the expectation of finding His lifeless body within. They are carrying their jars of herbal preparations and cloths to properly care for His body. They are expecting the guards to allow them entrance to the tomb to perform these rituals. Imagine their disappointment, once again, as they see the stone rolled away, the guards on the ground like dead men, and the tomb empty. “Someone must have taken His body! Oh no! God, how can we possibly survive yet another tragedy? Is this really all there is to life, one disappointment after another?”
But then, something wonderful happens! The angel delivers the good news that He has risen, and that He will be appearing to them shortly! Their focus now turns from having their own “expectations,” to living in “expectancy” of seeing their Lord! They are afraid, yet filled with joy at the same time! They really don’t know what to expect when they deliver the news to the disciples, nor do they have any expectations of how this turn of events will impact their own lives. But, they are living with the “expectancy” that Jesus lives, and will be with them soon! This is for certain. Their expectancy is now found in the live person of Jesus Himself, and they will not be disappointed!
Scripture says they hurried away, or ran. They were excited in their expectancy! And, sure enough, verse 9 confirms it. Suddenly, Jesus...! As their hearts were pounding in their chest from excitement, suddenly, He was there! Peace flowed, worries were dismissed, all the prior unmet expectations were forgotten!
They clasped His feet and worshiped Him!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What unmet expectations do you have of others, and of yourself?
2. Is living in “expectancy” of Jesus enough for you?
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 146:5-6; Proverbs 23:18
Susan is a We Women Bible Study
Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring
and working with inner-city youth.
