"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.  Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid.  Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and they they will see Me.

These words are directed to those two brave women--Mary Magdalene, and Mary, wife of Cleopas.  They had been faithful, and they are rewarded beyond measure. 

They not only had the word of the angel, and the sight of the empty sepulchre to rely upon, but now they had seen the Lord Himself in the body of His resurrection.  In a very real way, their faith had turned to sight.

Jesus directed them to convey the good news to the disciples and to then tell them to go into Galilee at the spot where He had promised to meet them.

There are four Gospels, and each has a different reckoning of the events after the resurrection of Christ.  This particular appearance to the women on the road is not found in any other Gospel.  There are as many as 10 appearances that are recorded in the Gospels:

1. To Mary magdalene at the tomb (John 20:11-18)

2. To the women on the road as they were going to find the disciples (Matthew 28:9-10)

3. To the two followers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)

4. To Peter (Luke 24:34)

5. To 10 disciples on Sunday (Thomas absent) Luke 24:36-43)

6. To the 11 disciples the next Sunday (John 20:19-25)

7. To seven of the disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25)

8. To more than 500 followers on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16)

9. To james (I Cor. 15:7)

10. To the Apostles at the ascension (Acts 1:3-11)

http://mybethanybible.Blogspot.com