The Message

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’  Mark 16:15 (NIV)

Jesus is risen!  He was taken from His followers, betrayed, beaten and crucified.  They laid His body in a tomb.  But on the third day, just as He had promised them, He rose from the grave.  Death was unable to contain Him!  God decreed it!  When our Heavenly Father says that it must be so, then this is the Way it will be!  At first it was difficult for anyone to grasp.  Jesus had spoken of what needed to happen.  The weight of what we hear sometimes escapes us.  His Disciples had listened to Him speak of this scenario, but when they were facing it, was it too much for their worldly eyes?  Was it too hard for them to stand out on nothing less that the Words of their Savior?  Did they still struggle to believe?  Do we struggle too?

In defense of us all, it is not a normal and common occurrence.  People just don´t usually climb out of their tombs after death has overcome them.  Should someone tell us that is what happened to someone today, would we too be skeptical?  However, the case of Jesus is unusual.  What is it about Jesus that makes Him so different?  Is it because He has a special tie to God Almighty?  Is it because EVERYTHING about Him was a direct expression of love and grace to all men everywhere?  Was He sent to us deliberately?  Were His presence with us, His ministry, His example, His sacrifice and His resurrection all expressly given to us for a reason?  Is Jesus special and vital to us because God in Heaven reaches out to us and touches us through His Son?

As Jesus reunites with His followers after He rose that day, He gives them a job.  He tells them to set off on a mission.  He gives them a message to share with the world.  Our Savior tells us to spread the Word to all creation.  But what Word are we going to spread?  What message will we give?  To what will we testify?  To whom will we give our special news?  Will we limit to those who haven´t heard?  Or does the message go out even to us?

The Disciples learned an important lesson about God that day.  When their Lord and Savior stood in their presence, they understood the mighty power of the will of God.  They finally saw for their own eyes the Presence of the arm of God.  God conveys to His people His intentions.  His people stand on these promises.  Even though we do not always see how it is happening or could ever happen, for us those Words are as sure as the One who spoke them.  Is this what we call faith?  Is this what it means to believe in something?

Jesus sends us out to tell the world.  Is this the message we could give?  Could we tell the world that Christ is risen?  Could we say that although we all have so many limitations and find it hard to see, the Word of God cannot fail?  Could we tell the world that God is here?  Could we declare to all creation that the God who put it all here is at work?  Could we say that He has never let His attention stray?  Could we draw attention to the fact that He is alive?  Could we say that the ALL POWERFUL ONE has got a plan and He is surely able to carry it out?

Dear Jesus, we hear Your commission to us.  But before we may share any special truth of You or the Father, the weight of it must dawn on us.  Please open our eyes to see that You have risen.  Rise within our lives and within our hearts.  We may not see how it can be.  But if You can beat the grave, then our hard hearts should be no obstacle.  Roll back the stone and let Your Presence become our reality.  Let us live for the reality of You and the Father.  Then let us share.

Amen