It’s Monday… Now What?

Easter is over. Yesterday, churches around the world were filled with worshipers who remembered the sufferings and agony of Jesus’ crucifixion and then the jubilation and rejoicing over His resurrection. Voices were joined in song as the words of “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” “Up from the Grave” and  “He Lives” echoed in the churches around the world. Songs that praise the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! What joy filled everyone’s heart and soul!

Pastoral messages were heard that stirred the hearts of believers as we worshiped and praised the name of Jesus together. What a glorious day Easter Sunday was! But now it is Monday. It is the day after Easter. And we need to ask ourselves, what now?

Let’s take a look at what the Bible records what happened on the first few days following the resurrection.

Mark 16:14 tells us that the disciples had gathered together for a meal.

“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.”

Luke 24 records two friends walking and talking about the events that had happened in Jerusalem with Jesus.

“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.”

John 21 tells the story of how Peter and 6 other disciples went out on the Sea of Galilee to go fishing.

“There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.”

Why do you think that after the most incredible event in human history had just happened, AND after the disciples had even seen Jesus, that things went back to normal for them?

The power of the resurrection was not realized yet by Jesus’ followers.

In fact, the Bible tells us of no one who really believed it had happened even though Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die and then return to life 3 days after His death.

Mark 9:31-32 records, “For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

Matthew 17:22-23 tells us, “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.”

Let’s take a look at some of these individuals.

1. The Pharisees didn’t believe. They believe the disciples would steal the body of Jesus away.
   1. “Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” – Matthew 27:64

2. Pilate didn’t believe. He agreed to allow guards to be posted.
   1. “Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.” – Matthew 27:65

3. Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary didn’t believe. They were coming to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.
   1. “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.” – Mark 16:1

4. Peter didn’t believe. He went into the tomb to see if the body was there.
   1. “And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.” – John 20:5-7

5. John didn’t believe. He also went to the tomb to see if the body of Jesus was still there.
   1. “Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.” – John 20:8

6. Thomas didn’t believe. He wanted to see Jesus in the flesh.
   1. “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” – John 20:25

But then they SAW Jesus!! Their immense sorrow became unspeakable joy, and they began a ministry that changed the world! Nothing could stop them from sharing the gospel message: Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of the world; He was buried, and then He rose again on the 3rd day just as He said He would!

Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth of what Jesus did for us:

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” – 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

Yesterday, churches all across the globe celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. There were even people in church yesterday that never go to church except on Easter and Christmas. The hearts of the people rejoiced, but will those same hearts that celebrated yesterday continue to burn for Jesus today? Tomorrow? Or in the days to come? They most certainly will… if they’ve truly “seen” Jesus and trusted Him as the Saviour of their souls.

Have you?

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore.

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever:
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

(from “One Day” by John Chapman and Charles Marsh)

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” – Psalm 51:12

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Today is Monday. What now?