And the women were afraid. When Jesus died upon the cross, the hopes and dreams of these women died with him. As much as they believed he might be the Messiah, as much as they knew he was a good man, a profound teacher, even miracle worker, as much as they still loved him, their hopes died with Jesus on the cross. The worst thing that could have happened happened. The story had ended.
Death is irreversible.
The women are afraid, overwhelmed with terror, not because they are afraid of God, but because they realize that with the empty tomb the story, a new story, is just beginning. God was far more powerful than they ever could have imagined. The women's fear, their terror, is not the fear or terror of walking down a strange dark alley late at night not knowing what lurks in the shadows and doorways. Their terror is having seen and heard something so incredibly powerful, so wonderfully good, unlike anything that they had ever heard before. When we know that we stand in the presence of God, when we know we see God's power at work, an awe comes over us.