For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve., . . . (1Corinthians 15:3-5)
After the Sabbath, the women had gone to look at the grave of Jesus, but to their amazement, they saw that the large stone had been removed from the tomb. An angel was sitting on top of the stone and he told them that Jesus had risen and told them to tell this to the disciples. They were terrified yet overjoyed, and ran out quickly to find the disciples.
Because Jesus Christ has triumphed over death, the same has been promised for those who believe in His name.
. . . in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1Corinthians 15:52-53)
In fact, Jesus had earlier told his disciples about the resurrection, but they had not been able to understand. But when they met the risen Lord in Galilee, the truth of the resurrection finally became a reality for them. Their lives were changed forever and there was no turning back.
Thereafter, Jesus gave them the Great Commission. Henceforth, they were to go and make disciples of all nations. The disciples were no longer to follow old paths, but to take an uncharted path, going amongst the nations with the good news of the Gospel. Although the disciples faced much resistance, Jesus gave them the most precious gift – the promise of His presence.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
The Risen Christ called the disciples then, and He calls us today. Because of what Jesus has done for us on the Cross, when we believe and trust in Him for the gift of eternal life, we have been made right with God. This is the grace of God that we celebrate at Easter.
