Emphasis Preaching Journal

The most common emotion reported on the first Easter was fear: "The guards shook and became like dead men," says Matthew. Luke reports, "The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground." The Gospel of Mark concludes, "(the women) said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." Fear is mentioned eight times in the Resurrection accounts. Many of us might well be afraid if we suddenly and unexpectedly came upon someone back from the dead.