Joyous News

Joyous News

Joy - Week Three - Tuesday

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you. So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples” Matthew 28:1-8


Have you ever had a chore you dreaded? I have always hated studying for a test. I will come up with very important things to do when I need to study for a test. My house is usually very, very clean when I have to study for a test. My family eats really nice meals when I need to study for a test. The dogs are bathed and their toenails clipped when I need to study for a test. Some of us will think of anything to avoid a dreaded chore.


The chore these women faced was far more dreaded than a test. They were waiting for the Sabbath to end so that they could take care of the body of Jesus. This was the Man they had followed and listened to and served. This Man was family to them….and so much more. They had suffered a great loss. They were grieving. The women arrived, I imagine, bracing themselves for the sight of the battered body of their Savior. Instead, an angel awaited them, sitting on the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. He tells them that Jesus is not there. He has risen…He TOLD you this would happen! Didn’t you listen to what He said? The angel is aware that clearly they will need to see for themselves and invites them to look into the tomb and then tells them to go tell the disciples. The women listened this time….scurrying away they headed out to tell the disciples. No longer grieving, they find themselves filled with two emotions….fear and joy. They are afraid because, well…since they headed out to do this dreaded chore they have been through an earthquake, found guards that seemed to be dead, were rebuked and given good news by and angel that looked like lightning, and found the tomb empty. What does all that rate on the life stressor scale? Suddenly they have been given a new chore. They are the ones who get to tell the disciples that Jesus is alive. They get to remind the disciples that this is exactly what Jesus had told them would happen and it did. They get to bring the good news. And Jesus is alive…that is news enough to bring them joy.


So often we live without joy because we simply don’t pay attention to the things that Jesus told us. We forget His promises. We forget that He has told us everything we need to know in order to live lives of great joy and so we waste of days living without it. Be filled with joy this season. Remember what He has told you and then be filled with joy so you can hurry and tell the others!

Family Activity



Have a special breakfast picnic. Use the grill or a fire pit to fry bacon and eggs and make hash brown potatoes. Enjoy eating it out in the nippy air. Look around you and see how many things you experience with your senses that are reminders of the things God has given you and the joy you have through Christ. Have a special prayer time as a family. You might just find this one to be a cherished family tradition.