Go and Tell!

"From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3). I hope all of you experienced an Easter Sunrise Service this morning. It is so invigorating, so exiting to worship right at sunrise, knowing it was early in the morning that first Easter Sunday that Jesus rose from the dead, defeating even death.

Because of the resurrection we have life. In fact, without the resurrection, we would have nothing. The Bible says, "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (1 Cor. 5:14). But Christ did rise from the dead. The proof is overwhwelming; the witnesses plentiful.

Paul states plainly: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." (1 Cor. 15:3-8)

Follow the evidence of Scripture and you will know the truth and you will praise the Lord "from the rising of the sun to its setting" (Psalm 113:3) every day. Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph, but soon the scribes and the Pharisees turned the people against Him. Refusing to believe the truth that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, they had Him crucified. A horrible death!

But that wasn't the end of the story. There was hope; an unbelievable and certain hope for all who believe. And that hope is Jesus. He isn’t dead. He’s alive! He rose from the dead the third day and He now lives inside of everyone who believes. He is there to empower you to live a life of righteousness. By faith you are saved. By faith you live the resurrected life in Jesus Christ.

When Mary and the other women came to the tomb early that first Easter morning they encountered an angel. He told them to "come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. 28:6b). They looked into the tomb. It was empty. They had witnessed the crucifixion. They had seen Jesus die on the cross. They watched the centurion pierce His side with the sword, proving He had died. Yet, now the tomb was empty! What did it all mean?

The angel said, "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (v. 6a). "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you" (v. 7).

First, the angel told the women to "come, see the place where Jesus lay" (v. 6b). They were to come and see where Jesus was not. He did "lay" there but not any longer. He wasn’t in the grave because He had risen from the dead! The tomb was empty!

I am reminded of that great Christian song Because He Lives, which says, "An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives." And then the chorus continues, "Because He lives I can face tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives." Life. That is what both the cross and the empty grave are all about. The cross provides forgiveness which allows you to live life as God designed it. The resurrection provides life, abundant and eternal. And that life is yours by faith.

The angel told the women, "Come, see" (v. 6b). "Come, see" that Christ has risen. "Come, see" and experience the fact that Jesus is alive. Believe. Place your faith in Him, His death on the cross, and His resurrection. And then live by that same faith. That means telling others. So the women were told to take the truth of the resurrection to Jesus’ disciples so that they too would "come, see" Jesus. In Galilee they would "see" Him (v. 7). Then they too would believe unto salvation. They too would have faith in Jesus. They too would live by that faith.

 That’s what the women did. They ran to tell the disciples (v. 8). And when the women saw Jesus Himself (v. 9), He also told them to take the truth to His disciples (v. 10). When the disciples heard the good news they went to Galilee (v. 16) and there they "saw" Jesus, alive! (v. 17). But take note of one thing. When the women saw Jesus they "worshiped Him" (v. 9b). Also, when the disciples saw Jesus they too "worshiped Him" (v. 17). When you meet the risen Christ by faith you will worship Him and He will give you new life!

When your life has been changed by Jesus you can’t help but tell others. The angel told the women to "go quickly and tell His disciples that He (Jesus) is risen from the dead" (v. 7a). Then Jesus Himself told the women, "Go quickly and tell" (v. 10a). Later Jesus told the disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (v. 19a). All who believe are to "go quickly and tell." Whatever you do, "go quickly and tell."

Matthew 28:18-20 is known throughout the church as The Great Commission. Starting with the women, Jesus has commanded all of His people to "go quickly and tell." Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about Jesus and the power of the cross. Tell them about the resurrection and the life He gives to all who believe. Tell everyone you come in contact with. And tell them in the power and name of Jesus. He has "all authority…in heaven and on earth" (v. 18). He gives that authority to you and He empowers you, as you give witness to Him. Amen.