(Matthew 28:10)

As we stop and think about the whole Easter story—the main focus is always on the fact

that the tomb is empty. We gather and celebrate that fact that Jesus is risen from the

dead. However, this verse that comes at the end of the passage within Matthew that tells

the story of the women finding the empty tomb—changes the direction of this event.

What I mean by this is that this is not the end of the story. It can be so easy to stop at the

resurrection. Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead on the third day—end

of story. But here Jesus is telling the women to go and tell the disciples what they saw

and to go to Galilee and wait for he would appear to them there. This sets the stage for

the next step. For after the resurrection, the question becomes now what.

Jesus goes and appears to the disciples and then commissions them to go and make

disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching. After the resurrection, Jesus then calls his

followers to continue where he left off—they are the ones now to go and preach so that

all people may know this story and come to believe that Jesus is the promised one of God

and that through Jesus people can receive the gift of forgiveness of sins, salvation and

eternal life.

Within the church, it can seem like Easter worship is the culmination of everything. We

have just finished Lent and Easter is the high holy day with all the fanfare during worship

with the sanctuary full—yet Easter is not the final chapter, it is not the finale. Rather it

is just the beginning. For it is out of Easter Sunday that now, we as disciples are called to

carry forward and take this message of Easter morning out into the world so that all may

hear and believe.