He Has Risen, So Get Moving!— Adam’s Angle

One of the best sermons I ever heard was five sentences long.

Back in college, some buddies and I were helping to set up chairs in our church. The sanctuary was empty, except for us. One of my friends, Mike, took the opportunity to play preacher to an invisible congregation. He ran up to the pulpit, and, under sudden inspiration, belted out:

Listen up people—I’ve got something to say. Jesus died for you. He died for your sins and rose from the dead. (Dramatic pause…) What are you still doing sitting there? Get out there and go tell someone!

Those of us who have been Christians for a while can lose the sense of wonder we should have at Easter. That simple message—that Jesus died for our sins and rose again to reconcile us to God—is the headline of the ages. That’s why our celebration this Easter should be more than enjoying a rump roast (sitting on our rumps). Our celebration should move us to tell someone.

Consider that, in the Gospel of Matthew, the Great Commission directly follows the news of the resurrection:

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:1-10,16-20)

He has risen. Now get out there and tell someone!

— Adam Pivec
4/12/09