Mark 16:5-6a
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed.”
Mark’s using a code. Or maybe it’d be better to call it a signal. It’s for us as much as for the women. To catch it, though, change “alarm” into “afraid” and read it again: “They were afraid, but he said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.’”
Does it sound familiar now? This is one of the signals used throughout the Bible. Whenever someone says, “Do not be afraid,” what’s coming is going to be good news; actually, great news. As in
The angel Gabriel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.” (Luke 1:30-32)
So that’s the signal. “Do not be afraid” equals “good news.” (If you hear someone say, “woe unto you…” however, start bumming out now.)
The question is, how will they react? Will they believe it? What will they do with this news?
This isn’t just a question for the women, though. It’s also one for us. We, too, are afraid at times, nervous, apprehensive, worried. And often for good reason. And when someone comes – a messenger (which is the actual English translation of the Greek word for “angel”) – to tell us not to be afraid, how do we react? Do we believe it? What will we do with it?
So we know it’s a code, a signal for great news, but do they? That’s the difference, I suppose, between reading a story and being in it.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to hear and believe when you send us people to remind us to take courage, to put away our fear, and trust in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“…that’s the difference, I suppose, between reading a story and being in it.”
I love that. Thank you.
“Do not be afraid” is the phrase I read on Easter Sunday that has stuck with me. Going through a challenging work situation that I’ve been avoiding, “Do not be afraid” really hit me hard. It made me realize that God is there with me through it all. Just as He was at the beginning (at the Christmas story) and is on the resurrection day. I need not be afraid of this situation as God is there with me.
Thank-you for the reminder!