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Four Resurrection Imperatives

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The greatest reality of history, is the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When the two women called Mary came to the tomb on the morning after Christ rose, they were greeted by an angel of the Lord with these words:

“He is not here; for He is risen as He said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead …..” (Matthew 28:6-7).

In the above passage, we find four imperatives of the resurrection which still speak to us today:

1) “Come” — The resurrection offers us a great invitation (Matthew 11:28). The Lord does not force us to serve Him, but lovingly invites us to do so (Revelation 3:20). Initially, we come through obedience to the gospel of Christ in the act of baptism (Romans 6:3-4; cf. Acts 22:16; Gal. 3:26-27). We must be willing to do what Colossians 3:1 tells us to do — “seek those things which are above.”

2) “See” — The resurrection urges investigation and verification, weighing the overwhelming evidence. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 that the resurrected Christ was physically seen by more than 514 eye-witnesses. The blood of martyrs speaks eloquently of the reality of the empty tomb — Christ has indeed risen! (Matthew 28:6; 1 Corinthians 15:20).

3) “Go” — The resurrected Christ places us under an obligation — to undertake a mission (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). The empty tomb still demands our mobility to take the saving gospel of Christ to a world of folks lost in sin. As faithful disciples of our Lord, we must be willing to “Go.” We are not to rest on our laurels, but are to go “everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4) — to teach and preach Jesus in every house (Acts 5:42).

4) “Tell” —  The resurrection demands proclamation! It is not a secret to be kept or knowledge to be hoarded. Rather, it is “good news” to be shared with the world (Acts 13:32 ESV). The “good news” that Jesus is risen! Men are in need of a Savior — Jesus is that Savior (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14) — “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). Every day in word and deed, we must proclaim the living Savior to a dying world lost in sin (Matthew 5:14-16; Acts 8:34-35; Acts 18:24-28).

Conclusion:

Jesus rose from the dead and the world has never been the same (Acts 17:6). The reality of the empty tomb can transform empty and fruitless lives (Romans 12:1-2; Gal. 5:22-25; Colossians 3:1-10). However, the resurrection of Jesus will not matter to us personally until we have been raised with Him (Romans 6:1-6; Colossians 2:12; Gal. 3:26-27).

We must become participants in the Resurrection through obedience to the gospel (Romans 6:16-17; 1 Peter 1:18-23). The question we must ask ourselves is, “Will we be obedient to the gospel call?” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; cf. Romans 1:1-6; Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:1-6).

The angel of the Lord who appeared at the resurrection, still commands us today to: “Come …. See …. Go …. Tell ….” (Matthew 28:6-7).

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