STXWM Blog

Easter weekend was wonderful. So much celebrating, so much beauty, so much goodness. And yet, I’ve been tempted to over-indulge in sweets and social media this week in my post-holiday slump.

Have you ever experienced the emotional crash after a special day? All the planning and preparation leading up to a celebration, followed by the excitement and energy of the actual day can leave us feeling exhausted and wondering what we have to look forward to now that this big event is over.

Perhaps your Easter weekend was joyous and filled with celebratory events, worship, and food, but now you’re experiencing that post-holiday slump and wondering, 

“He is risen…now what?”

I imagine that the disciples had a similar experience. The death and resurrection of Jesus had been a roller coaster of deep lows and soaring highs, and they likely felt a bit of emotional whiplash. When Jesus revealed Himself to them after His resurrection and then ascended to heaven, I can only imagine that His followers were left feeling overwhelmed by all that had happened. 

“He is risen…now what?”

Well, we don’t have to wonder too much about this, because Jesus Himself answered the question. We read about His final interactions with His followers in each of the gospels, and they give us a very clear picture of what our response to His resurrection is to be.

In Matthew, Jesus gives us the Great Commission:

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

In Mark, Jesus shared a similar command:

“And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” (Mark 16:15-18)

In Luke, after confirming His identity to those who were struggling to believe, He issues another commission with a promise:

“It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of these things. And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” (Luke 24:47-49)

And finally, in John, Jesus reiterates His commission and the promise of the Spirit:

“Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” (John 20:21-23)

As we finish the last of our carrot cake and chocolate candies and wonder what’s next, we must remember that Easter was not the end. The resurrection, while it was the most significant event in human history and especially for those of us who follow Jesus, is not meant to be celebrated once a year and then forgotten. We must see Easter and the resurrection as Jesus intended it to be: 

a catalyst for the Gospel to be taken in the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth.

It is no mistake that most of the final recorded words of Jesus in each of the gospels centers around missions and evangelism. This was the “now what.” The events that took place that Easter weekend were not meant to end on that Resurrection Sunday. Jesus didn’t want the disciples sitting around feeling purposeless after the emotional high of seeing their Lord and Savior rise from the dead and ascend into heaven. He wanted them to have a clear direction of what they were to do next.

I believe Jesus’s instruction to the disciples is the same for all of us who still choose to follow Him today. We grieve the cost He paid for our sins on the cross. We rejoice in His victory over death, hell, and the grave that gives us access to eternal life in Him. And then we receive His commission- to be filled with the Spirit and take the message of His gospel to all nations. 

If we celebrate Easter without continuing the story, we’ll find ourselves with a chocolate hangover asking, “He’s risen…now what?” 

But when we embrace His death and resurrection AND the promised Holy Spirit and command to share the Good News, we find ourselves living passionate, purpose-filled lives for His glory and our good.

by Heather F.

It took audacious faith from the disciples to follow the command of Jesus to wait on the Holy Spirit, and then to GO- to be sent out to all nations for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. The same Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples to establish and build the church in many cities and nations is available to us today. I invite you to take a moment to pray today that the Holy Spirit would fill you anew with His power and anointing, and that you would be sensitive to His leading to take the Good News to your neighbors, community, and the ends of the earth.