“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

-Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 (NLT)

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said!” The angel delivered a joyous report to the two grieving women who came to Jesus’s tomb early Sunday morning. But the message wasn’t just for them. The angel (and then Jesus Himself) directed Mary Magdalene and her friend Mary to go and tell the disciples what had happened.

When the resurrected Jesus met the disciples at Galilee, He gave them a final command: to report the Good News of His victory over sin and death to all nations, initiating new followers into faith in Christ. They were to baptize these new disciples into a triune community of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey Jesus’s commands. They would not be going it alone. Jesus promised He would help them, that He would always be present with them. He would also send the Holy Spirit to equip them to preach this Gospel.

The report of Good News started at the empty tomb, then reached the first disciples, then went out to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, just as Jesus predicted. (Acts 1:8) As Christ-followers, saved from our sins by grace, we too have been “read in” to the report, despite all of our hang-ups, shortcomings, and doubts. Jesus has entrusted His Gospel to us. He whispers His story of salvation, redemption, and reconciliation to our hearts so that we can declare it to others. He writes our own stories so that we can share the Good News alive in us. We testify to Jesus’s resurrection when we remain on mission to fulfill His final command.

A new day has dawned. The true Light of the world, the bright and morning Star, has blotted out the darkness of the grave forever. We are no longer entombed in fear, worry, insecurities, addictions, evil, and death. Instead, His triumph gives us a purpose, and His presence gives us the power to live out His mission to the world.

 

For Further Reflection:

How has the Gospel changed your life? Who can you share the Good News of Jesus with today?

Jesus, I worship You as my resurrected Savior. Thank you for entrusting me with the Gospel and changing my life through Your victory over sin and death. Please open my spiritual eyes to see where I can make a difference for Your glory.