Surprising Courage

Surprising Courage

Women At The Tomb

Read: Matthew 28:1-5

Lois held her whimpering toddler close and rocked him. If it hadn’t been for their dripping clothes, she would have thought she had dreamed the last few minutes. She and Jacob had stopped at the house of their vacationing neighbor to feed the cat and water the flowers on the deck. When Lois heard a sudden splash, she jumped into the deep end of the pool without a second thought. Now she wondered how she had managed to pull Jacob out. Lois didn’t know how to swim, and she had been afraid of deep water since childhood.

The women who went to Jesus’ tomb two days after his crucifixion also displayed surprising courage. When an angel rolled the stone away from the tomb and sat on it, his face shone like lightning and his clothing was a brilliant white. The Roman guards shook with fear and fainted when they saw him, but the women listened to what the angel had to say. How did these women, already weakened by grief at witnessing Jesus’ crucifixion, stand up to such a terrifying sight when Roman soldiers, trained for hardship and combat, fainted?

The soldiers considered Jesus a criminal and stood guard to prevent his followers from stealing his body and pretending that he had risen from the dead. The women came to tend the body of the leader they had loved and served. Although the angel’s appearance alarmed them, their pure motives gave them the courage to face the situation despite their fear. When we concentrate on loving and serving God, we find surprising courage just when we need it. Even when fear would be a natural response, our faith will help us to face whatever comes our way—rather than faint like a Roman soldier.

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!

Psalm 31:24