Did you know that many ministers/priests take the week after Easter off because they have had such an intensive preparation and celebration time, that they need some well-deserved rest and renewal? Easter Sunday is Day One of the rest of our lives.
Sunday morning changed the history of the world. Without Sunday morning, the story that Christians would tell would be like the story in many great movements: an extraordinary teacher/leader, misunderstanding/persecution by those conserving the status quo, and eventual martyrdom.
Christians have a different story because Jesus died, was buried, but then rose by the power of the very Creator of Life itself. Jesus is not dead. Sunday morning changed the world—and the life of everyone who believes in the risen Lord.
Sunday morning was God’s part of the story. Monday begins our part!
Look at how the earliest disciples spent the time after the resurrection:
- Two of them decided to go home to Emmaus, so disappointed—stunned—by the events of the weekend. “We had hoped that he was the one . . . .” (Luke 24)
- Some were sequestered in their room, trying to decide if they believed the story of the women.
- Thomas was out, just trying to figure things out for himself—not with the others.
- Even after Jesus appeared to them and breathed on them the Holy Spirit, some of them decided to do some fishing while they waited in Galilee (John 21)
- The disciples went to Galilee (home for many of them), but then returned to Jerusalem to wait for further instructions. That’s a lot of walking in the 50 days between Passover and Pentecost.
What are you doing the day after Easter?
Of course you are putting away the Easter eggs and sending the Sunday clothes to the cleaners—just like the disciples going fishing.
But what are you really doing after Easter?
- Are you waiting for Power?
- Are you waiting for an assignment?
- Are you waiting for instruction?
- Are you waiting for an epiphany?
- Are you waiting for the persecution to settle down?
Waiting is appropriate for a while! We see that with the first disciples, but waiting was not the pattern for the rest of their lives?
The Easter story was the beginning for them, not the end of their ministry! And so it should be for all of God’s people. Sunday resurrection gives us a new life! This new life is the same new life that Jesus received, or, as Paul said in Romans 6:13:
but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
To “offer” is not to passively wait. To offer may be to actively wait, but in anticipation of a certain assignment.
The four Gospels all end with Monday assignments for these Jesus’ disciples and beneficiaries of the Sunday resurrection:
Matthew: 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark: 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Luke: 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
John: 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.
What are you going to do on Monday? Today?
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