And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." Matthew 28:9-10
"Don't be afraid", that's what Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene and Mary. That was the first thing Matthew Records Jesus speaking to them after greetings.
Afraid Strong's G5399 - phobeō to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm; of those startled by strange sights or occurrences.
It would be definitely a strange sight to see the Savior you watched die three days earlier in front of you. Even having an angel tell you it could happen,it would probably be alarming.
Jesus immediately sent them on a mission after seeing them. "Tell the brothers to go to Galilee". He could have went to them to the disciples. He could have walked and talked along the way like He did on the road to Emmaus. He could have went on His own. Instead His first recorded thing after resurrection is telling His woman followers not to be afraid and to go.
I realize that is what God does with us too. He shows up and then He sends us out. He tells us not to be afraid to do what He's asked of us. What He has called us to do is different for each of us, but the message remains go.
We can't be effective Christians if we are not going. It might be to ministry, but it could be to a career or to attend to our family's needs. We are going to the mission field He called us to. For a long time, my mission filled was NW Arkansas and SW Missouri. I felt bad that I did not feel drawn to a nation. I didnt think about the United States as a nation. I did remotely consider the nations that come to NWA because of the business industry there, and I certainly prayed for those.
Jerusalem to Galilee was somewhere between 64 and 111 miles depending on where you were in either of those locations. Some say it was a 4 days journey. We also know at least some of the disciples were in Jerusalem, as some came to the tomb. Jesus went on to Emmaus, but the women were called to tell the disciples to go, and they went. Then the next mention of the women turns up an Acts back in Jerusalem with the disciples in the upper room.
I feel like it's okay that I have felt called to my home community at that time in my life. I can see it in the Bible. I don't have to be afraid. Nor do I need to be afraid to go as God directs me. If He calls me, He will equip me.
Lord, You know I've lived a lot of my life small for You. I've been afraid of missing the mark or self-promotion. I've also been afraid of failure and rejection. I know it isn't how You called me to live. Help me to be obedient where You tell me to go, to do what You have called me to do, to walk in obedience in Your power and grace as I go where You send me.
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