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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 23, 2008 ALL SHOOK UP |
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Frontline Devotion for Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008 by Fritz Foltz
Matthew 28: 1-10
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. Suddenly
Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and
worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my
brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Matthew says the Resurrection really shakes up the world. In fact, he reported an earthquake literally rocked it. Remember he said those at the Cross also experienced an earth tremor. It’s pretty clear he thinks these are significant signs that the Last Days when everything will be shook up have begun.
You can see what he is trying to do if you at look at the signs of the Last days in Matthew 24. Matthew’s account modifies the classic picture by extending it into a prolonged development. Wars, famines, and earthquakes are marks, but qualified by the remark that this is just the beginning, birth pangs so to speak. After this beginning God’s people will be hated and handed over to be tortured and executed. The temple will be destroyed. The persecution will continue until God’s message is carried to the ends of the world. Then finally angels and the Son of Man shall descend from heaven to gather God’s people. Some of these will be the dead who are raised and some the faithful who are still alive.
If you read Matthew’s account of the Passion and Resurrection, you soon realize he thinks these begin the process. Jesus, the first of God’s people, is hated, tortured and killed; earthquakes shake the earth, the huge temple curtain is destroyed, the first of the angels descend from heaven, the first of the dead are raised from the tomb, Jesus receives authority, and he sends his people to the ends of the earth.
His account of the empty tomb contains marks as well. The usual order is shaken. Soldiers using weapons try to hold back the Last Days; angels descend from heaven to thwart their efforts. The dead Jesus comes to life and the armed soldiers are as dead people. Women become the only witnesses to the resurrection, women whose word was not creditable in first century society, women who could not testify in court, women who will not even be included in the official Church lists, in fact, a woman who is only listed as “the other one ".
But the angel tells these once insignificant women, “Do not be afraid”, and Jesus sends them off on his mission with, “Do not be afraid”. The women do go and tell, and the men listen to them, doing what they say. Surely the new creation has begun. Men obey women.
The Last Days began at the Empty Tomb. It has been going on for 2000 years. Sometimes it seems very little has progressed. We still counsel if you turn the other cheek, you will get hurt and maybe even killed; we still warn if you share your goods, you might become poor, if our nation refuses to fight, the violent will inherit the earth, if our society cleans up the environment, our economy might collapse, if you love too much, you invite pain, if you are alive now, you certainly will die, if you are healthy now, you soon will be sick, if you laugh now, you inevitably will cry, if you are successful now, people eventually will bring you down. Our society is still based on the presumption that death is going to swallow up life. Christians proclaim just the opposite.
Perhaps we have not made much progress because we never get over the first step, never hear Jesus’ first words, “Do not be afraid”. Listen more carefully this Easter. Have faith in what He who overcame death and set off the last days proclaims.
Let us pray: Shake up our loves, Father that we might have the courage to listen to the Risen Christ who lives among us. Give us courage to do his work, no matter what the cost. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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