Why the Resurrection is Necessary for the Great Commission
Easter is the pinnacle holiday of the Christian faith. Without it, there would be no reason to celebrate Good Friday or Christmas.
Easter is also central to the Great Commission. More specifically, the reason believers celebrate Easter—the resurrection—is crucial to the Great Commission.
Believers may not always consider the relationship between the two beyond their sequential order in Scripture. But without the resurrection, there wouldn’t be a commission.
The Resurrection and Jesus’ Authority
The Great Commission is not just a command from Jesus. It includes a declaration, a command, and a promise. Jesus’s declaration is that “‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18).’”
Why does Jesus have authority? His authority was given to Him by God the Father “when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:20-23).”
Yes, Jesus and God are one, and Jesus had authority with God before He came to Earth as a man (John 1:1-4). Yet when Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead, He stripped authority from Satan over sin and death. Now seated at the right hand of God, Jesus’ authority gives Him rule over the universe and the right to commission His followers. John Piper once said, “Jesus has all authority. That’s why He has a right to say, ‘Go everywhere.’”
The Resurrection and the Gospel
In the Great Commission, Jesus said, “‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations … (Matthew 28:19).’” The first step in making disciples is sharing the gospel. What is the gospel without the resurrection? The answer is nothing.
If Jesus was still in the grave, there would be no victory over sin and death. Without the resurrection, there would be no hope for a resurrection life.
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” -1 Corinthians 15:17-18
Thank God that Jesus was raised from the dead. Because of His resurrection, our sins are atoned for, and we are considered righteous and justified in God’s eyes.
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” -Romans 4:25
A complete gospel presentation should always include the resurrection. Because Jesus is alive, believers can share the gospel with the confidence that those who put their faith in Him will be saved and have a new life in Christ (Romans 6:4-5).
A Celebration Beyond Easter
The resurrection is not an event to only celebrate at Easter. The resurrection is the reason Jesus has authority over Heaven and Earth, the reason believers have assurance of salvation, and the reason we have the Great Commission.
Jesus’ victory over the grave gives His disciples the freedom to go to the ends of the Earth and proclaim the good news of a new life in Him. Don’t let the message of the resurrection end with Easter. Take it to those who have no knowledge of this glorious miracle that Christ accomplished.