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We remembered Good Friday, celebrated the Resurrection of our Risen King Sunday, now what? What do we do with the rest of the week? Next week? Next year?
Somewhere along the way, the answer became, “we celebrate, then we sit down, buckle up, get comfortable and coast until Jesus comes back again.” And we have called this “being the church," "Christianity" and "following Jesus."
Wait. What? That’s it?
We celebrate the power of a God who raised a dead man to life by sitting and listening to a sermon once a week, or in most cases, once every 3 weeks. And that's it?
If we truly understand Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, can that really be it? Can we really encounter the living God and then live life as if nothing has changed? How are we misunderstanding the call on our life?
How long can we ignore this misunderstanding? How long can we go on pretending we’re satisfied with “sit and stay” instead of “go and tell”? How long can we go without taking the Great Commission seriously?
When you read through the Gospel accounts, take note of the disciples' response and some of Jesus’ first words in Matthew 28 as the Risen Savior:
"So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 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 28:8-10
They had fear and joy, and ran to tell of the good news! As they were doing that, Jesus met them and they worshipped Him.
“Do not be afraid...go and tell.”
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
This is it, you guys. This is the reason why we are left on earth as believers. This is the plan for the kingdom: God using fearful, joyful, worshipful, inadequate, ordinary believers to tell others about Jesus!
Our mission is to make disciples, to be the church (not just go to church) and to proclaim the good news until His return.
The Tomb Is Empty So That We Would Be Filled
God has given us the power to go and make disciples. Not to rally around political causes, or post things on Facebook, or sit in a pew, or slap Jesus on around Christmas and Easter. But to risk, to abandon, to follow Him and make disciples.
He invites us to a thrilling life where fear is conquered with joy, and doubt is replaced with faith, and the adventure of the unknown is rewarded with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, encountering the living God!
There is nothing more thrilling in life than seeing someone understand Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday for the first time.
- Have you considered the Great Commission and the call on your life?
- Wherever you are, wherever you “go,” are you making disciples?
- Do you pour into people and help them mature in their faith?
- Do you spend time with people who aren’t Christians?
- Do you share your story? Do you hear theirs?
- Do you invest time with new believers?
- Do you invite them into a life worth living?
- Can you say “follow me as I follow Christ”?
Now is the time, today is the day to take the Great Commission seriously. If we truly understand the resurrection, we have a responsibility. We will be accountable for the truth and grace that has been entrusted to us. I pray we’ll examine our time, talent and treasure, and use them generously to "seek and save the lost."
Let's move from sitting to standing. Then let's use our feet to go and tell, to go and make, to go and love.