The Story Goes On!

The Garden Tomb just outside Jerusalem

Easter is past. The tomb is empty! And the story goes on!

The Bible tells us that on the evening of the first Easter...

The disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said. As he spoke he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord! He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." 

John 20:19-22, NLT

The links in the chain of the plan of Redemption began in eternity past when the Father and the Son devised salvation's plan. In their foreknowledge, they knew that Adam and Eve would sin, so they planned that the Father would send the Son, the Son would suffer and die as the Redeemer of the world, and the Holy Spirit would empower the disciples to preach the gospel and be witnesses of the provision for salvation from sin through Jesus' death and resurrection.

The Father and the Son had completed their parts. Now, as Jesus breathed on His disciples and told them to receive the Holy Spirit, He was passing the baton to them. Through the power of the Holy Spirit that would be imparted to them on the Day of Pentecost, they must now spread the gospel to the world that was waiting to hear the story of Redemption. 

The disciples were the connecting link between Christ and the world He had died to redeem. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

Then Jesus added, 

If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are not forgiven.

John 20:24, NLT

This was a reference to the forgiveness of sins that He had just told them should be preached in His name. The forgiving of sins would in reality be the work of Christ, although its proclamation and pronouncement would be by His disciples. He was committing to them the preaching and propagation of the salvation He had purchased with His blood.

Today, as His disciples, we too are sent into the world with the message of salvation.

Christianity is always one generation from extinction.

Are we doing our part to spread the Good News to our generation?

Books by AnnaLee Conti