Bible Reading: Judges 17; Acts 21; Jeremiah 30,31; Mark 16
Mark 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
The angel that the ladies encountered on Sunday morning scared them when they entered into the tomb. They were not expecting to see a living man sitting in the sepulcher. They were expecting to see the lifeless body of their beloved Jesus. But their expectations were wrong! He comforted the woman and commanded them:
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
The resurrection of Jesus had taken place and they were to be witnesses of it. The angel reminded them that seeking for a dead man is not acceptable. Jesus of Nazareth was crucified but he is risen and he is not in a tomb! As the ladies tried to process this information they were instructed to go and tell the disciples that Jesus was raised from the dead. There are several things about this encounter that are very important. For one thing the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ were the women. It seems that women find Jesus quicker and easier than men do.
Another interesting thing about the angel's instructions were that he intentionally pointed out that the ladies were to tell the disciples AND PETER that he was going to meet with them in Galilee. Peter as a leader of the disciples had denied the LORD three times. Now the angel was specifically pointing out that Peter needed to be encouraged to meet with Jesus in Galilee. Have you ever denied the Lord Jesus? Have you ever had an opportunity to speak up for the name and Jesus and did not take it? Remember what you felt like later?
Peter must have felt like a huge failure. He had denied the Lord and now he was gone. The angel wanted the ladies to be sure that told Peter that Jesus was alive. That word of encouragement would lead him to Galilee so he could be restored by Jesus himself. Jesus wants all men to hear the invitation to meet with him. Even if you have blown it, Jesus will restore you if you will come to him!
In Christ,
Rody
