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1. The Resurrection Changes Everything

  • The resurrection is the central event of Christian faith.

  • It validates the cross and opens the door to a new kind of life—a Kingdom life.

2. The Great Commission as a Resurrection Appearance

  • In Matthew, the only post-resurrection appearance is brief but powerful (vv. 16–20).

  • It takes place on a mountain—symbolic of divine encounters in both Old and New Testaments.

3. Why So Short?

  • Matthew's community already believed in the resurrection.

  • His focus is on Jesus’ teachings and how to live in resurrection reality now.

4. The Context of Early Christians

  • The Gospels were written as apostles were dying and persecution was rising.

  • The earliest message wasn't “Jesus was born,” but “He is risen.”

5. Resurrection Was the Starting Point

  • Early believers experienced Jesus as alive and active in their lives.

  • Then they asked: What did He teach? What did He do?

6. Tuning In to the Spirit

  • Jesus promised to be with us “to the very end of the age.”

  • But our culture overwhelms us with curated content, making it harder to “tune in” to the Holy Spirit.

  • Like an old radio dial, we need practice and stillness to hear God’s voice.

7. Today’s Challenge

  • We often know the story of Jesus but live disconnected from the power of His resurrection.

  • The same Spirit that empowered Paul and Peter is with us today.

 

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you tend to focus more on what Jesus did or on what He is doing now in your life? Why?

  2. What distractions are clogging your spiritual “frequency”? What helps you tune into the Holy Spirit?

  3. How might your life look different if you truly lived from the power of the resurrection each day?

  4. The first believers started with “He is risen.” What would change if that were your starting point, too?

  5. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is with you “to the very end of the age”?