What’s Next?
The day after Christmas often seems a little flat after the frenzy of shopping, decorating, Christmas parties, and family gatherings. When it is over, it’s over. Easter is a little different. There is no obsession with gift giving or Christmas cards. Sure, many of us buy some Easter candy for the kids and show off a new spring dress or shirt, but by late Easter afternoon things start looking like a regular Sunday afternoon.
Yet for Christians around the world, the Resurrection is the most significant day in history. Jesus rose from the dead over 2,000 years ago and is alive right now. But sadly, we slip into our regular routines and check our calendars for the next holiday where family will gather, often Mother’s Day. And so it goes…
In some ways this same phenomenon happened to the first disciples of Jesus. They saw him on resurrection day. And they saw him again a few times, but like us, they couldn’t quite get their heads around what had happened and how it would change their lives going forward. We know that Peter and other disciples were generally doing what Jesus told them to do: “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and they will see me there” (Matthew 28:10). However, some Bible scholars suggest that Peter had decided to go back to fishing and some of the others had decided to go with him (John 21:1-3).
Jesus had risen from the dead, but it was not yet clear to the disciples what they were to do. After a few weeks, I imagine they might have been thinking that they needed to eat so they started fishing again. They soon found out that the Resurrection had changed everything, but it hadn’t yet fully set in.
What was next for the disciples became clearer when Jesus met them in Galilee. They had breakfast with Jesus after he had assisted them in their successful fishing day. And shortly after he told them to go and make disciples of all nations. Again, at first I am confident these were just words to the disciples, but they continued to take the small steps of faith and did what Jesus told them to do. And on Pentecost things became much clearer to them.
We aren’t the first disciples, and we have a lot more information at our fingertips that can guide our thoughts and our actions. So back to the question of what’s next for us after celebrating Easter together? Here are three things we can do today:
1) Pray that God would send out laborers into his harvest!
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.””
Matthew 9:37-38 ESV
2) Remember the “Alls” of the great commission.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus has all authority
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” All means all. We are to go and assist others who can go into all the world so that everyone will come to know Jesus.
“…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” We are to share everything that we have learned from God through his word and by his Spirit.
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” God is with us always. As we go He will go with us. We are never alone when we are obedient to God.
Father, thank you for the Resurrection! Thank you for calling us to be a part of your kingdom and for sending us into all the world to make disciples. Today we pray that you would send laborers into your harvest, and as we pray we ask that you send us to someone even today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Matthew 28:7-10, 16-20; John 21:1-3 ESV
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