Rejoice!

​Matthew 28:9-10 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held him by the feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
 
WE can picture the physical scene – the women on the ground, grasping Jesus’ feet. But what does it mean that they “worshiped him”?
    First, worship requires they recognized Jesus is their risen Lord. The other gospels record various responses from people who saw the risen Lord. Some knew him almost immediately. Others needed more convincing, even a second meeting with Jesus. When each person did realize, “He is risen!” (Mark 16:6) everything changed in their relationship with Jesus. Everything changed in their lives.
    Worship of our holy God really begins when we proclaim, “Jesus is risen!” One of the great changes in people as they saw the risen Jesus was their joy. See how Jesus even told them to “Rejoice.” He invited them, instructed them to have hearts of joy because he is alive for their sake. Yes, worship is joy when we know Jesus’ resurrection is the sign that we, too, will have eternal resurrection from the dead as we confess him, “Lord and Savior.” 
    A third aspect of worship occurs when Jesus comforts and assures them, “to not be afraid”. We have no fear of life, no fear of death, as we worship the risen Lord. We believe  his promises. We know life because he is alive and Lod of all. And fourth, the scene concludes with, “go and tell”. Worship includes a loving, joyful expression to tell the world that Jesus is risen.
    When you go to church, do you rejoice because your Lord is alive? Does your heart fall at his feet and cling to him? Do you rejoice because his life offers you the way to eternal life? Does your worship time remind you to live in joy each day, even when life is hard? Does your worship send you to tell others, “Jesus is alive?” Does your worship change you?