Easter People: Fear, Joy, and Go Tell

Devotional

Day 1: The Light of Christ Cannot and Will Not Be Quenched.

The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate victory of light over darkness. This is not a temporary or fragile light, but one that blazes through the deepest despair and the murkiest of circumstances. It is a divine light that was present at creation and shone brightest from an empty tomb. This light, the life and love of God, refuses to be extinguished by any power in heaven or on earth. It is an enduring truth that offers hope to a world in need. [32:51]

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life or in the world around you have you seen the persistent light of Christ breaking through a seemingly dark situation? How does that sight strengthen your faith today?

Day 2: A Fear that is Reverent Awe, Not Terror.

To fear God is not to be frightened of Him, but to be filled with a profound sense of reverence and awe. This is a fear that stops you in your tracks, not to paralyze you, but to fill you with wonder and admiration. It is the feeling of being struck by something so spectacular and holy that words fail. This holy reverence is the proper response to encountering the majesty and mystery of a God who conquers death. It is the beginning of true wisdom and worship. [38:16]

The guards shook and became like dead men from fear. (Matthew 28:4, personal paraphrase)

Reflection: When was the last time you were truly awestruck by God's presence or His work in creation? What everyday moment might become an opportunity for that kind of reverent wonder this week?

Day 3: Great Joy is the Outward Expression of Awe.

The natural result of being struck with reverent fear is an overwhelming sense of joy. This joy is not a superficial happiness but a deep, abiding gladness that comes from witnessing the movement of God. It is the cause and the effect of recognizing God’s goodness. This joy is so powerful that it compels you to move, to share, and to tell others what you have experienced. It is a gift that cannot be stolen, for it is rooted in the eternal victory of Christ. [42:47]

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy. (Matthew 28:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific, recent experience of God's goodness that fills you with a joy you are compelled to share? Who in your life might need to hear about that joy today?

Day 4: Obedience is Our Joyful Response to Grace.

Obedience to God is not about forced compliance or manipulation. It is the free and willing response to the grace we have already received. When we truly comprehend the love and victory offered to us in Christ, we are empowered by the Spirit to follow His lead. This obedience is simply going and telling—sharing the good news of what we have witnessed God do. It is a discerning, joyful act of participation in God’s ongoing work in the world. [46:05]

Then go quickly and tell his disciples. (Matthew 28:7, ESV)

Reflection: Considering the grace God has shown you, what is one simple, tangible step of obedience you feel invited to take? How might you "go and tell" someone about God's love in a way that feels authentic to you?

Day 5: We Are Sent to Tell What We Have Witnessed.

The call to share the resurrection story is not a complex command. It is an invitation to simply tell others about the presence of the living Christ among us. You do not need to have been at the empty tomb to be a witness; you only need to point to where you see God moving now. Your story, your experience of grace, is the light someone else may need to see. It never hurts to share this good news; it is always an opportunity to extend God’s love. [53:13]

Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of 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 28:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person in your circle of influence who may think their light is extinguished? How can you, through a simple act or word, reflect the light of Christ to them this week?

Sermon Summary

Easter worship proclaims the resurrection as a present, active reality that transforms endings into new beginnings. The resurrection story centers on three movements: fear, joy, and obedience. Fear receives a fresh definition as reverent awe rather than crippling terror; that awe responds to the divine in a way that draws worship rather than flight. Joy appears as the outward expression of that inner awe—a gladness that compels people to move, speak, and bear witness. Obedience follows not as coerced duty but as a willing, empowered response to grace; when grace meets human freedom, people go and tell what they have seen.

The gospel passage from Matthew 28 narrates an earthquake, an angelic encounter, and women who leave the tomb “with fear and great joy.” The presence of light that cannot be quenched threads through the recounting of that moment, insisting that truth and life break through darkness. The two women at the tomb model faithful presence: they do not scatter but stay with the story from trial through death to resurrection, and they become the first worshippers and messengers. Their response—falling at the feet in worship and then departing to tell—frames evangelism not as strategy but as the natural fruit of encountering the risen Christ.

A theological and practical through-line runs from the dawn at the tomb to daily life: reverent wonder and gladness block every barrier to God’s work, and obedience rooted in grace invites ordinary people into witness. The resurrection invites simple, tangible action—telling the good news, offering small acts of love, and embodying Christ’s light to neighbors whose hope dims. The conviction that Christ lives requires no embellishment; presence, proclamation, and the shared witness of transformed lives suffice. The call remains constant: receive the grace offered each day, live in reverent joy, and go tell the world that life has conquered death.

Key Takeaways

1. Fear as reverent awe Fear in the resurrection account functions as a holy awe that draws people into worship instead of driving them away. This reverent fear reorients attention from personal alarm to recognition of divine presence. When fear becomes reverence, it cultivates humility and a readiness to adore. [37:09]
2. Joy fuels proclamation Joy emerges as the outward result of encountering God’s work and compels people to speak of it. This gladness carries the truth beyond private feeling into public testimony and action. Sustained joy resists obstacles and sustains witness amid trials. [42:26]
3. Obedience as willing response Obedience appears as a voluntary movement empowered by grace rather than coercion. When grace intersects freedom, people choose to depart and share what they have seen. This obedient witness flows from trust, not manipulation, and honors human dignity. [44:56]
4. Women as primary witnesses The two women model faithful presence and first-response worship at the resurrection. Their witness reframes authority and testimony in the gospel: those who stay with the story become its first proclaimers. Their example invites attentiveness, courage, and proclamation in everyday contexts. [48:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:36] - Easter worship introduction
[31:12] - The core claim of faith
[32:51] - Light that cannot be quenched
[34:59] - Reading: Matthew 28:1–10
[37:09] - Fear redefined as reverence
[42:26] - Joy as outward response
[44:56] - Obedience as willing choice
[48:38] - Women as first witnesses
[52:32] - Daily call to go tell
[53:33] - Prayer and benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading:
Matthew 28:1-10 (ESV)
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Observation questions

What specific actions did the two women take upon hearing the angel's message and then upon seeing Jesus?
What two emotions are specifically mentioned as the women left the tomb? [39:24]
What were the guards' physical reactions to the appearance of the angel?
What were the women told to do after they had seen the empty tomb?

Interpretation questions

The women experienced "fear and great joy" simultaneously. How can these two emotions, which often seem opposite, work together in a moment of encountering God's work? [39:24]
The women were the first to witness the resurrection and were sent to tell the men. What does this tell us about who God chooses to use as messengers and how this might challenge our own assumptions?
The angel told the women, "Do not be afraid," and then Jesus later told them the same thing. In this context, what were they not supposed to be afraid of, and what does this reveal about the nature of the fear they were feeling?
The command from both the angel and Jesus was to "go and tell." Why is telling others such a central and immediate part of the resurrection response?

Application questions

The fear described is not about terror but a reverent awe that draws us to worship. [37:58] When was a time you experienced a sense of "awe and wonder" at something God was doing, and how did that feeling move you toward worship rather than away from Him?
Joy is described as the outward expression of an inner awe that compels us to move and speak. [42:26] What is one recent experience of God's goodness that has filled you with a joy you felt you had to share with someone else?
Obedience is presented as a willing response to grace, not a coerced duty. [44:56] When has following God's lead felt like a natural and joyful next step rather than a burdensome obligation? What made the difference?
The two women stayed present through the entire story—the ministry, trial, death, and resurrection—which positioned them to be the first witnesses. [48:01] What does "staying present" with Jesus through the hard and confusing times look like in your life, and how has that faithfulness prepared you to recognize His work later?
The resurrection invites simple, tangible action—telling the good news and offering small acts of love. What is one simple, tangible way you can "go and tell" someone about God's love this week, either with your words or through a small act of kindness? [52:32]
The presence of Christ is with us even on our bad days. [51:33] How can remembering Christ's presence with you change the way you walk through a difficult or ordinary day this week?

Sermon Clips

There is another awesome witness that they had right there. And because they saw the beauty in what was happening, they saw the presence of Christ, they fell down and worshiped at his feet. They heard his greeting. They heard his voice, and they heard the culmination of the grace that is offered to all of humanity. And it is through this act of worship where they are then sent to tell the good news. Christ is alive. We have seen. We have heard. We were there. [00:49:08] (51 seconds) #ChristIsAlive

Because of the goodness we see, because of the goodness we, hear, because of the goodness we know, because of the grace of Jesus Christ that is present with them even before they know it. You do not know the light of Christ that you might be to someone when they think their light is extinguished. It never hurts. It never hurts. Just to tell the good news that Jesus lives among us. Thanks be to God. [00:52:44] (43 seconds) #ShineHisLight

Challenge is for us to accept the grace that is offered to us daily so that we can feel empowered by the movement of the holy spirit to trust, to have faith, and to obey the goodness of God. And our challenge in a simple and tangible way. We don't have to reinvent the wheel, friends. In a simple and tangible way, go and tell someone. Because of the goodness we see, because of the goodness we, hear, because of the goodness we know, because of the grace of Jesus Christ that is present with them even before they know it. [00:52:05] (54 seconds) #GraceEmpowers

In fact, it should be for us maybe a time and a space to reaffirm what it is we know to be the truth and the foundation of our faith. And that being that Jesus Christ was born, Jesus died, Jesus arose, and Christ will come again. Christ will come again. Christianity, essentially, if you try to sum it up, it may be a sentence. There's a lot more to it than this. But if you were to sum it up in a sentence, is the belief in a triune God, father, son, and holy spirit that came to Earth in human form to defeat death and have the final victory over sin, death, and evil. [00:31:19] (50 seconds) #FaithFoundation

And these two women who had been along this whole journey with Jesus and the disciples, these two women witnessed the entire event, the whole thing. They saw the ministry. They saw the trial. They saw the death. And now they haven't ran away to hide. They haven't scattered. They're present at the resurrection. And they are told to go and tell what they have witnessed with obedience because of the beautiful fear and joy they have experienced. [00:47:41] (50 seconds) #WomenWitnesses

Now fear in this in this passage is the Greek word phobos. Maybe that's close to Latin phobia or something like that. Right? Which has an either or meaning. It could be terror, or it could be respect and reverence. For us for us, I believe that the scripture is calling us to respect and reverence, not actual terror. So when we hear about having the fear of God or fearing God, it's not about being afraid or frightened or alarmed. [00:37:05] (53 seconds) #FearAsReverence

So when we hear about having the fear of God or fearing God, it's not about being afraid or frightened or alarmed. It's about having respect and reverence. Reverence is about having a sense of awe and honor, love, and admiration. So when we read in the scripture, the guards shook paralyzed with fear at the sight of him and became like dead men, pale and immobile. I don't see these as men who are who are as struck in this fear of dread, but a fear of of reverence and respect. [00:37:48] (50 seconds) #AweNotTerror

So even when we skip ahead and we look at verse eight, it says, so the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell the good news to the disciples. This isn't a fear for them of being afraid of what they just witnessed. This is fear and reverence and respect. This is all struck wonder and amazement to go and and and tell the others of something that's so beyond their imagination. [00:39:03] (36 seconds) #AmazedAndSharing

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Easter People: Fear, Joy, and Go Tell

Devotional

Day 1: The Light of Christ Cannot and Will Not Be Quenched.

Day 2: A Fear that is Reverent Awe, Not Terror.

Day 3: Great Joy is the Outward Expression of Awe.

Day 4: Obedience is Our Joyful Response to Grace.

Day 5: We Are Sent to Tell What We Have Witnessed.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Easter People: Fear, Joy, and Go Tell

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