He is Risen, but not gone

This was part of a sermon from Matt 28. To catch up, read the last few posts.

And lastly, Easter will outlive the holidays because even though Jesus has risen, he is not gone.

When Jesus says, ‘Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ He is saying: Risen does not mean absent.

When the angel’s message to the women was that Jesus is not present in the tomb, but present in Galilee!

But these words of Jesus have even more bite to them if we read them together with the rest of the great commission.

Ever had a non Christian friend say to you, ‘If you can SHOW me Jesus, then I’ll think about taking him seriously.’ It’s something we find hard isn’t it?

But in what way is Jesus ‘here’ even though he is risen?

Or, in what sense do people ‘meet’ Jesus as we go to all the nations?
In Ch 28: There are 3 ways;

· They will meet Jesus’ authority as the Easter story is retold. ALL authority has been given to me. My death and resurrection testify to that.

· Matthew also says that they WILL meet Jesus’ flesh and blood here on earth. People like you and me whom have already responded to Jesus’ call to follow him. Is it true to say that when people meet you, they get to meet Jesus? It can be if we decide to let Easter prepare us for life after the holidays.

· And it’s also fair to say that people will meet Jesus through his words as we teach them and commend others to obey.

The way that Easter out lives the holidays is through the fact that even though Jesus is physically in heaven right now, he is still active in this world as we seek to make disciples.