“Holy Week” is over. “Holy Week” encompasses all of the events in the last week of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. It begins with Palm Sunday and ends with the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Christians and non-Christians celebrate during “Holy Week”. They especially celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many families celebrate by observing traditions that have been passed down through the generations. Churches spend large amounts of time, energy, focus, and finances celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Now what? It seems like too many people and ministries go right back to business as usual after Easter is over. They celebrated the empty tomb, but they celebrated the empty tomb from their personal vantage point. Most people give very little thought to what the empty tomb requires of us once we accept Him as Lord and Savior.
To most people, the days after Easter are letdowns. However, that should not be the case. In fact, something very interesting happened just one week after Jesus rose from the dead. He appeared to the Apostles while they were gathered on a Sunday night. He commissioned them at this appearance. The encounter is recounted by the Apostle John.
Most people give very little thought to what the empty tomb requires of us once we accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Here is the point, followers of Jesus are given new life at their new birth. Furthermore, we are commissioned to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of all the nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) It is important to realize that this commission was given to His followers, not just the Apostles. Thomas was absent during this encounter. However, the two disciples on the way to Emmaus were present. Therefore, we can conclude that this commission is for everyone, not just the eleven (Judas already having committed suicide), or the ten (Thomas was absent). Therefore, it is safe to conclude that this encounter was a smaller example of the larger truth that the church is commissioned to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of the nations.
Warren Wiersbe, the great Bible teacher, commentator, and former Pastor of Moody Bible Church, pointed out that “Christ breathing on the group is reminiscent of God breathing on Adam and he came to life. So, it is in the new creation. God breathed on the disciples and they were given new life.” It is generally agreed upon among scholars that the meaning of verse twenty-three is that by preaching the Gospel, men find forgiveness, or remain condemned by their rejection of the Gospel. (John 3:16-18)
Here is the point, followers of Jesus are given new life at their new birth. Furthermore, we are commissioned to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of all the nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) It is important to realize that this commission was given to His followers, not just the Apostles. Thomas was absent during this encounter. However, the two disciples on the way to Emmaus were present. Therefore, we can conclude that this commission is for everyone not just the eleven (Judas already having committed suicide), or the ten (Thomas was absent). Therefore, it is safe to conclude that this encounter was a smaller example of the larger truth that the church is commissioned to preach the Gospel, and to make disciples of the nations.
If you celebrate the resurrection, then you also accept the commission. So, when you are struggling with the question, “He is risen, now what?”, recall this, and other, post-resurrection appearances and you will be encouraged. The empty tomb is not all that Christians celebrate. We also celebrate the fact that God chose to involve us in His mission by giving to us the Great Commission. So, go tell somebody about Jesus!