It’s not too hard to imagine the devastation and grief the followers of Jesus must have felt as they were confronted with his crucifixion on the cross. However, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary felt it their duty to go and visit the tomb where Jesus was laid and take spices prepared for his body. And so early on the Sabbath morning following the crucifixion they went to see the tomb.
There they were confronted with a great earthquake and an angel who had rolled back the stone. And the angel said to the women “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him” (Matthew 28: 5-7).
I was impressed by an editorial written by Pavel Goia DMin, in the April 2022 issue of Ministry where he used the above theme. I have taken some of his thoughts and put them into my words below.
We often emphasize the third commandment the angel gave them, “Then go quickly and tell his disciples.” But we often miss that before the angel told them to go and tell, he bid them come and see.
In our lives we have nothing to tell others unless we have seen it for ourselves. We have nothing to give unless we have seen it first. We have nothing to share unless we have experienced it first. In Isaiah 43:10 we read, “You are my witnesses.” We cannot be a witness in a court of law based on what someone else has seen. We must have seen it ourselves!
Isaiah saw the Lord, and it changed his life. He shared the story and worked powerfully as a witness for God. Two men filled with demons who saw Jesus and were healed, told the whole city. A Samaritan woman at a well saw Jesus, and she told her whole town. Zacchaeus saw Jesus, and he called all his friends and shared his experience. Paul on the road to Damascus saw Jesus, and his ministry turned the world upside down.
The theme of this editorial challenges us to come to Jesus, learn of Him and see and appreciate His life of ministry. Unless we experience His transforming grace in our lives, we cannot tell others of His message of love. God is calling us to spend time in His presence in order to have firsthand experience of Him. He is calling us to come and see – then go and tell.
Bill Gillard