Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2021 16:58:02 GMT -5
Running to Tell By Kirsten Holmberg
Click here for the audio message
So the women . . . ran to tell his disciples.
Matthew 28:8
READ MATTHEW 28:1–10
The modern-day marathon is based on the story of a Greek messenger, Pheidippides. According to legend, in 490 bc he ran approximately twenty-five miles (forty kilometers) from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks’ victory against their formidable foe, the invading Persians. Today, people run marathons for the personal satisfaction of an athletic achievement, but Pheidippides had a greater purpose behind his effort: each of his steps was run for the sheer joy of delivering good news to his kinsmen!
Some five hundred years later, two women also ran to deliver good news—the most pivotal news in all of history. When Mary and Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb where Jesus had been placed after His crucifixion, they found it empty. An angel told them that Jesus had “risen from the dead” and to “go quickly and tell his disciples” (Matthew 28:7). The women, “afraid yet filled with joy,” ran to tell the disciples what they’d discovered (v. 8).
May we have the same joyful exuberance at the resurrection of Jesus, and may it invigorate us to share the good news with others. We may not even need to “run” farther than next door to find someone who needs to know about our Savior. He won the battle against death so we might live victoriously with Him forever!
REFLECT & PRAY
God, I rejoice because of Your victory over death. Thank You for allowing me the privilege of sharing this good news with those You’ve put in my life. Learn more about the resurrection of Jesus.
Who shared the good news of Christ’s resurrection with you? How will you share it with others today?
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
While today we typically use the word angel as a catch-all term for any heavenly messenger, the Bible makes distinctions between various heavenly beings. For example, cherubim are winged beastlike creatures that guard the boundaries between the earthly and heavenly realm, most notably after Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). On the other hand, angels—literally, messengers—aren’t described in the Bible as having wings and can sometimes take the form of a human being (Hebrews 13:2). They not only function as messengers (for example, Gabriel in Luke 1:26-38) but perform missions on God’s behalf toward His plan of redemption for all of creation (Matthew 28:2-7). Monica La Rose
Matthew 28:1-10
King James Version
28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Click here for the audio message
So the women . . . ran to tell his disciples.
Matthew 28:8
READ MATTHEW 28:1–10
The modern-day marathon is based on the story of a Greek messenger, Pheidippides. According to legend, in 490 bc he ran approximately twenty-five miles (forty kilometers) from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks’ victory against their formidable foe, the invading Persians. Today, people run marathons for the personal satisfaction of an athletic achievement, but Pheidippides had a greater purpose behind his effort: each of his steps was run for the sheer joy of delivering good news to his kinsmen!
Some five hundred years later, two women also ran to deliver good news—the most pivotal news in all of history. When Mary and Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb where Jesus had been placed after His crucifixion, they found it empty. An angel told them that Jesus had “risen from the dead” and to “go quickly and tell his disciples” (Matthew 28:7). The women, “afraid yet filled with joy,” ran to tell the disciples what they’d discovered (v. 8).
May we have the same joyful exuberance at the resurrection of Jesus, and may it invigorate us to share the good news with others. We may not even need to “run” farther than next door to find someone who needs to know about our Savior. He won the battle against death so we might live victoriously with Him forever!
REFLECT & PRAY
God, I rejoice because of Your victory over death. Thank You for allowing me the privilege of sharing this good news with those You’ve put in my life. Learn more about the resurrection of Jesus.
Who shared the good news of Christ’s resurrection with you? How will you share it with others today?
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
While today we typically use the word angel as a catch-all term for any heavenly messenger, the Bible makes distinctions between various heavenly beings. For example, cherubim are winged beastlike creatures that guard the boundaries between the earthly and heavenly realm, most notably after Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). On the other hand, angels—literally, messengers—aren’t described in the Bible as having wings and can sometimes take the form of a human being (Hebrews 13:2). They not only function as messengers (for example, Gabriel in Luke 1:26-38) but perform missions on God’s behalf toward His plan of redemption for all of creation (Matthew 28:2-7). Monica La Rose
Matthew 28:1-10
King James Version
28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.