So What Happens on Monday?
John 16:7 – But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
Jesus is dead.
The disciples are scattered.
Fear has gripped everyone.
And then Jesus bursts from the grave, destroying the chains that fear and death have had on His followers.
It is the day after the resurrection, so now what?
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
POWER!
Once the power of the Holy Spirit came, the disciples went. They went to all the areas of the world and made disciples. They went and planted churches. They baptized people. Christianity grew quickly. People were on fire!
When we embrace what Easter is truly about (no, not bunnies and chocolate), we can’t help but realize that after Jesus claimed His rightful throne in heaven that we have been given a mandate. This mandate is just like a military command, but a military command that involves no more blood to be shed. The blood was shed on the cross. Christ took the one and only death needed to claim victory in this war.
Matthew 28:18-20 – 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.”
This military mandate is to simply “GO.”
This isn’t a suggestion. In the original documents, it says, “having gone, therefore, make disciples.” This must be interpreted as having imperative force. When a participle, such as the Greek word, πορευθέντες, functions as a circumstantial participle dependent upon an imperative, it gains imperative force.
Just imagine the disciples’ excitement when they heard this!
So, Christian, GO and get that POWER that CHRIST has GIVEN us! And then GO and MAKE disciples, BAPTIZING them in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT.
boyradd 