After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. “Don’t be afraid,” the angel told Mary, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said.”
Just then Jesus met the women and said, “Good morning! Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
Good Morning! Do not be afraid.
These are two of the best phrases we can remember from Jesus. He will joyfully greet us in the morning at the beginning of our day, and He starts by telling us “Do not be afraid.” Even the angel of the Lord began his greeting in the same way, from the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the announcement of His resurrection, “Don’t be afraid!” This phrase is mentioned 365 times throughout the Bible, once for each day of the year. It goes well with Jesus’ greeting of Good Morning! Jesus knows our fears, He knows what we face in this world, and He knows what is to come. So if we are to believe what Jesus says, then these are greetings we should really take to heart every day. Jesus’ words of comfort are not just some empty, nice-sounding cliché telling us to “try harder” or “be more positive”. No, Jesus simply greets us with what we need to hear most in this world, “Do not be afraid.”
When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life, He promises to be with us from morning till night, in the dark and light, the good and the bad, fighting our spiritual battles for us, and we are mercifully forgiven. What else do have we to fear?
So remember this every morning, and wake up with these two phrases in mind. They are the first words Jesus spoke after His resurrection and victory over death.
“Good Morning! Do not be afraid.” – Jesus
