1/15 Matthew 28:9-10

⁹ 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."

It's hard to imagine the shock the disciples must have felt when they saw Jesus. If you had seen someone brutally murdered, put in a tomb, and then three days later turned around and saw that person alive and well, what would you think? The word translated "Greetings!" is most frequently translated "Rejoice!" While it was used as a greeting, it had extra significance when it came from a loved one who his family and friends thought was dead. That call to rejoice was not only for the two Marys, but for everyone that would receive Jesus' victory over death. Jesus took care of our biggest problem, death. Rejoice!

They took hold of Jesus' feet and worshiped Him. If they had any doubts before that He was worthy of worship, those doubts are gone now. The world did its worst and He is still victorious. What confidence that should give to us who follow Him!

Jesus gave the women one of the most common commands in Scripture: "Do not be afraid!" Next, He had a mission for them. They were to go and tell His brothers to go to Galilee. How significant that He would now call them brothers. The apostle Paul explains that those God foreknew He predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus, so that Jesus might be the first among many brothers (Romans 8:29). God is our Father, and Jesus is our Brother. We were adopted into the family of God through the blood of Christ that justified us. Try to fathom that!

Consider: If Jesus is your big Brother, what do you have to fear?