The Story
Chapters 28, 29
What Do You Do After Easter?
The Evening of Resurrection Sunday
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.'" John 20:19-23 (NIV)
Through locked doors in His new, physical, resurrected body Jesus visited the cowering fearful disciples. Of course everyone was stunned and happy. Jesus wasted no time. He told what to do after Easter. "as the Father has sent me, I am sending you”. He sent them to tell others about the cross and resurrection, about God’s relentless, sacrificial pursuit of all people. They were to go in the empowerment of his Holy Spirit.
With that command each of us knows our purpose. We must tell others. We must live the kind of life that compels others to wonder what’s different and good about us. We must get the message out. In fact this command is given to us in all four Gospels and Acts. There’s no ambiguity about it.
And, yes, we must set others free from condemnations. We are not permitted to hold others hostage to unforgiveness.
Prayer
“Lord, please give me the desire, courage, and motivation to reach others for your sake, just as Jesus commanded. Amen”
All through Jesus' ministry there was a group of women who followed him, remained close to Him and attended to his needs (Matt 27:55 for starters).
ReplyDeleteThese women were there at the cross. They didn't run, they didn't deny, they hung in there with Jesus completely. They were focused on HIm. They loved Him and that was their primary concern. They, too, were disciples, however, because of the culture, because of God's wishes, they weren't titled as such.
But, who received the blessing of knowing and speaking with Jesus first? It was this small group of women. They were afraid when confronted with the angel, for who of us wouldn't be? But, they were in trusted with telling the disciples the world's message of "He Has Risen"!
These women were the first blessed with seeing Jesus after his resurrection. What was their response? They didn't doubt, they didn't question, they fell at his feet and worshipped Him! (Matt 28:9)
The Great Commision was filled first by a band of women who didn't long for recognition, didn't care for politics, but there only concern was loving, caring for and worshipping their Lord. When we are called to "Go and make disciples" isn't what these women did by obeying Jesus and telling "his brothers He Is Risen" the witness that we bear and that our hearts bear testimony to?
One can hardly bear witness to something they haven't met personally, haven't loved personally, haven't invested in 'personally'.
Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of Jesus, her sister and the others leave us an example that first we know Him and we love Him-then we bear witness.
Thank you Lynda for sharing these wonderful words with us.
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