The risen Christ tells his friends to do a big thing
(From the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, verses 16-20)
On the morning of Jesus' resurrection, the women who had come to his tomb to pray had a big surprise. "Greetings! Jesus said to them. He stood before them, his arms stretched out, a huge smile on his face.
The women couldn't believe their eyes. It was Jesus! Alive! They fell on their knees before him, grabbed onto his feet, and worshipped him.
Jesus touched them gently and lovingly. "I want you to do something for me. Go and tell the rest of my disciples that I will meet them in Galilee.
The women did as Jesus had asked, and the 11 men who were Jesus' closest friends went to Galilee right away. Once there, they climbed to the top of the highest mountain and waited for him.
Soon Jesus showed up. Like the women, the men couldn't believe their eyes. Some of them doubted that it really was Jesus. How could someone who had died be alive again, they wondered.
But Jesus spoke to them. "God has put me in charge of everything in heaven and on earth. I want you to go to every place on the face of the earth. Tell everyone you meet about me. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teach them to do everything that I have taught you.
This was a big thing to do! How would they ever be able to do it?
Jesus knew what they were thinking. "Remember, he told them, "that I am with you always - day after day, week after week, year after year - right up to the end of this age.
Questions to think about:
I wonder what the women said when they worshipped Jesus on Easter morning.
I wonder what it feels like to be touched by Jesus.
I wonder if someone has ever asked you to do something big. How did you do it?
I wonder what you know about Jesus that you can tell someone else.