Honoring the Resurrection.

Acts follow(s) the Gospels.

How should we honor the resurrection?

We can look to the scriptures to see how to respond to the resurrection of Christ. For a more painless route, we could simply follow what Jesus ordered. To clarify, it was an order that Jesus gave, “to make disciples of all nations”, for just prior to giving it in the book of Matthew, He Himself stated, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, GO THEREFORE…in other words, I’m in charge, now GO. But how do we respond to that? How have others responded to the order of God to go and “teach them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19)?

There was a man who received similar orders, directly from God and can learn from that man several things. That man of course is Jonah.

We’ve all heard the story of a great sea creature or whale. Often read and misunderstood as allegory and not a historical account. Let’s not forget that Jesus Himself proclaimed, “For just as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” If we accept that Jesus’ resurrection took three days, we must also accept His comparison to the history of God’s prophet Jonah.

But what of Jonah? How did Jonah respond to God’s order to leave his place of comfort, his people Israel, and prophecy (or deliver God’s message) to a foreign people? Unfortunately, I think his response was similar to ours today.

Jonah disobeyed God. He ran away-fleed. Jonah paid his own fare. Jonah caused a great storm that nearly shipwrecked those in his circle. He tried to be the Hero of the dilemma that his own decisions created. Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed up by the “great fish”. Does anyone here aspire to be like Jonah? I imagine none of us do, but many of us are or have been. Have you cried out from “the belly of Sheol” after you’ve put yourself in some dire circumstances. Have you come to the place, where when “surrounded by the deep”, “your life was fainting away” and the only thing you could say, like Jonah, was “Salvation belongs to the Lord”?

In sharing the gospel message, God did not ask you to save anyone. Jesus does not want you to concern yourselves with the decisions of men. He is concerned however, that you decide to follow His instructions, “Go Therefore, and make disciples of all nations,”..and he goes on, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Or as Mark puts it, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Man’s ultimate decision, to follow Christ or to remain a slave of the enemy, will be revealed at the conclusion of you following Christ’s order. Let me state that again.

The ultimate decision, for someone to follow Christ or to remain a slave of the enemy, will be revealed AFTER you follow Christ’s instructions, as Luke puts it, to “proclaim repentance and forgiveness” (Luke 24).

So, how should we honor the resurrection? Just tell people what Christ has done for them. Tell people that no matter how hard they try, their sin is going with them to the grave unless they are first washed by the blood of Jesus.

Jesus Christ knows us. He knew, he knows, and will forever know us. Jesus knew that we would be worried and afraid. That’s why he said at least 4 times after His resurrection, “Peace be with you...do not be afraid”. That’s why he showed His disciples that He would provide for their earthly needs when he rhetorically asked, “Do you have any fish?”, and at the obedience to his instruction the disciples had more than they could eat. That is why Jesus “blesses those who have not seen and yet have believed” and lastly it is why he made sure to tell His followers, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

He is with you always! He has all authority, now THEREFORE GO and make disciples of all nations.

Happy Resurrection Day.

John 20:21: Peace be with you (to Disciples)

John 20:28: Peace be with you (to Thomas)

Matthew 28:10: Do not be afraid.

John 20:29: …Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

John 21:4: “Do you have any fish?”

Cast your net at the guidance of His Word.

Matthew 28:19: 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”.

Mark 16:15: Go into all of the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Luke 24: Repentance and forgiveness of since should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.