Author: THERESA JACOBSON

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Easter Day – April 5, 2026
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; 
go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” 
- Matthew 28:10 -
Do Not Be Afraid
We experience the joy and peace of the Resurrection of Jesus with twenty-twenty vision. The revelation of Jesus and the truth of His teachings were not revealed to us suddenly. We wonder how they didn’t know. We wonder why they were afraid. We have seen the end of the story, we know God’s work of salvation was fulfilled in Jesus. They didn’t have the same perspective. They lived the horror of the crucifixion and despite Jesus’ promises, never expected the events of Easter Sunday. They did not know what would happen next. 
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb to take care of Jesus’ body. A great earthquake shook the earth, and they discovered the tomb was empty. An angel told them not to be afraid. I don’t know about you, but those words rarely have the intended effect. The women had reason to be afraid: an earthquake, an angel, and no body. The angel told them to go tell the disciples that He had risen. They departed with fear and great joy. Then Jesus appeared before them and said, “Greetings!” They fell at His feet and worshipped Him. Now, more than ever, you might think that they would let go of the fear. Jesus was alive and standing before them, but He knew this was more than they could bear. “Do not be afraid. Go and tell the good news.” Jesus gave them peace to do what they were called to do. Jesus comes to us in the same way: to give us courage to go and tell His story despite our fear.
The empty tomb was a sign that God did something amazing with Jesus, but everything became clear as Jesus appeared to the witnesses. Their stories make it clear to us today. We look back and see God’s work finished in Jesus, and experience peace that we could never know without Him. Peace of heart. Peace with God. Peace that changes the world. We are now called to join with the first witnesses in sharing that peace, preaching that Christ died but was raised by the God who keeps His promises. 

Easter Day – April 5, 2026
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; 
go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” 
- Matthew 28:10 -
Do Not Be Afraid
We experience the joy and peace of the Resurrection of Jesus with twenty-twenty vision. The revelation of Jesus and the truth of His teachings were not revealed to us suddenly. We wonder how they didn’t know. We wonder why they were afraid. We have seen the end of the story, we know God’s work of salvation was fulfilled in Jesus. They didn’t have the same perspective. They lived the horror of the crucifixion and despite Jesus’ promises, never expected the events of Easter Sunday. They did not know what would happen next. 
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb to take care of Jesus’ body. A great earthquake shook the earth, and they discovered the tomb was empty. An angel told them not to be afraid. I don’t know about you, but those words rarely have the intended effect. The women had reason to be afraid: an earthquake, an angel, and no body. The angel told them to go tell the disciples that He had risen. They departed with fear and great joy. Then Jesus appeared before them and said, “Greetings!” They fell at His feet and worshipped Him. Now, more than ever, you might think that they would let go of the fear. Jesus was alive and standing before them, but He knew this was more than they could bear. “Do not be afraid. Go and tell the good news.” Jesus gave them peace to do what they were called to do. Jesus comes to us in the same way: to give us courage to go and tell His story despite our fear.
The empty tomb was a sign that God did something amazing with Jesus, but everything became clear as Jesus appeared to the witnesses. Their stories make it clear to us today. We look back and see God’s work finished in Jesus, and experience peace that we could never know without Him. Peace of heart. Peace with God. Peace that changes the world. We are now called to join with the first witnesses in sharing that peace, preaching that Christ died but was raised by the God who keeps His promises.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Peggy Hoppes. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Peggy Hoppes. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.