Jesus’ post-resurrection message
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“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'” —Mark 16:15
Jesus’ teaching didn’t stop with the cross. In fact, Jesus has never stopped his ministry on earth. The body of Jesus spent a little while in the tomb, maybe just moments! It’s very possible that the stone was rolled across the entrance, and his body disappeared. Jesus had already handed his soul to God, but we don’t really know when his soul returned to earth. Many people who saw Jesus after his resurrection didn’t recognize him right away.
We don’t know why that is true, but we know it is true. Jesus died, then Jesus lived again. The same disciples who had grieved his death saw Jesus, alive and well. The apostles were so convinced of his resurrection that all except John were executed for their belief.
What did Jesus tell his disciples that caused their profound faith to change the world?
The disciples didn’t have to wait long to see Jesus
I love that the first people to know Jesus was resurrected were the group of women who went to the tomb to treat his body with their love and respect. They carried the spices to the tomb, and when they drew near, they realized the tomb was unsealed and open. Mary Magdalene saw the stone had been rolled away and hurried to tell Peter and John, assuming the worst (John 20:2). The other women in the group remained at the tomb. Those women, according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, saw the angels who announced to them that “Jesus is risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:6). Then the angels told the women to “go and tell” the disciples what they had seen.
Mary Magdalene returned to the empty tomb with Peter and John after informing the apostles that someone had “taken” Jesus, and she didn’t know where. Peter and John returned with Mary and found the tomb empty, as Mary had said. The men returned to the Upper Room, unaware of what had happened. Mary was heartbroken and weeping, grieving the loss of Jesus, when she looked up and saw him. She didn’t recognize him at first, but when Jesus said her name, she knew it was him.
Jesus spent the next days in his resurrected body, appearing to his disciples. He met two of them on the road to Emmaus. These two men didn’t recognize Jesus and began to talk about all that had happened. They had believed Jesus to be the Messiah, but his death on a cross had shaken their faith and caused their confusion. The man said to them, “‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25–27). They continued on the road and encouraged the man to stop and eat with them. Scripture tells us, “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:30–31). Scripture tells us these two men hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the others what they had seen and experienced.
Jesus then appeared to his disciples, who were in a room, behind a locked door! He came back again, this time while Thomas was present, and Jesus invited the disciple to touch his hands and side. Jesus didn’t want any of his disciples to doubt his resurrection.
Soon after, the disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They saw a man on the shore who asked how they were doing, and when they told him they hadn’t had any luck, the man suggested they throw the net out on the other side of the boat. Immediately, the net was filled with fish. When John, the beloved disciple, saw the miracle, he recognized the man and said, “It is the Lord!” John told Peter, who then “threw himself into the sea” (John 21:7). John stayed in the boat and brought the net full of fish with him.
That was the day Jesus fixed them breakfast and then took Peter aside. Peter had denied Jesus three times the night of his arrest. On this day, Peter was allowed to confess his love for Jesus, once for each time he had denied him (John 21:15–19).
The final message Jesus left his disciples
Jesus gathered his disciples on the Mount of Ascension. They wanted to know if he was going to “restore the kingdom to Israel.” They were asking Jesus when he would step into his role as the “conquering King Messiah” Isaiah had described (Isaiah 63:1–6).
The answer Jesus gave his disciples on the Mount of Ascension was profoundly important. He said, “It’s not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). Jesus didn’t tell his disciples then, and he hasn’t told his disciples since. Every person who has predicted the Second Coming of Christ has been wrong. We know that Jesus will return as the “Conquering King,” but the timing is known only to the Creator God.
Jesus did leave his disciples with the final message of Acts 1:8 before his ascension. Soon after, on the day of Pentecost, these men and women received “power” and “became” witnesses to the world.
Jesus’ post-resurrection messages were:
- Go and tell.
- Do you love me?
- If you love me, feed my sheep.
- You won’t know when I will return.
- Until I return, live as my witnesses and take the gospel message throughout the world.
They listened, have we?
The work of a disciple was made clear by Jesus before the ascension. The Holy Spirit was provided to all who would believe. The role of a disciple was made possible. Believers have the power to continue the earthly ministry of Jesus if we will submit our imperfect thoughts and wills to the leadership of his perfect Holy Spirit.
When or if the shelves begin to fill with chocolate bunnies next year, how many people will you have shared the gospel message of the resurrection with?
He is risen. One day, we will rise to heaven as well. People deserve the opportunity to know Jesus as both Lord and Savior and live this life with the hope of eternal life in heaven. Those disciples obeyed Jesus and changed the world; we can too. The same Spirit that touched Peter at Pentecost is the Holy Spirit within believers today.
Jesus’ last message to his disciples is still his message to you and me. “He is risen.” “Go and tell.” me. “He is risen.” “Go and tell.”
