He Is Risen: Everyone Sent to Tell

Devotional

Day 1: The Living Hope Found in the Resurrection

Because of God's great mercy, we have been given a new birth into a living hope. This is not a fleeting or fragile hope, but one that is anchored in the historical reality of Jesus Christ rising from the dead. It is a hope that breathes and endures, promising an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This hope is kept secure in heaven, reserved for all who trust in Him. It is the foundation upon which our faith is built. [01:39]

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:3-4 ESV).

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to be reminded of this "living hope" today, and how does the reality of the resurrection change your perspective on that situation?

Day 2: The Empty Tomb Changes Everything

The discovery of the empty tomb was a moment that shattered all expectations. It was not an end, but a glorious beginning. This event stands as the pivotal moment in human history, validating everything Jesus said and did. If the tomb was not empty, our faith is meaningless; but because it is, our celebration has a firm foundation. The resurrection proves that death has been defeated and the Father accepted the Son’s sacrifice. The cross was the payment; the empty tomb is the receipt. [20:05]

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV).

Reflection: How does the historical truth of the empty tomb move from being a theological fact to a personal reality that actively shapes your daily life and choices?

Day 3: Go and Tell the Good News

The first response to the resurrection was a command to go and tell. This news was too wonderful, too life-altering, to be kept secret. The instruction was given not to the powerful or the theologically trained, but to ordinary people who had encountered the risen Christ. They were sent out with a message of grace and reconciliation, calling even those who had failed Him "brothers." This command to share the good news is an invitation to participate in God’s work of redemption. [21:49]

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead…’” (Matthew 28:5-7 ESV).

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that God might be gently prompting you to share this good news with, and what is one simple way you could begin that conversation?

Day 4: You Are Sent

The privilege and responsibility of telling others about Jesus is not reserved for a select few. It is given to everyone who has experienced the transformative power of the resurrection. You do not need a special title, a vast amount of knowledge, or a perfect record. You simply need to know the story and believe it to be true. From the youngest child to the oldest adult, every believer is called and equipped to be a messenger of hope. [24:59]

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV).

Reflection: What is one fear or insecurity that holds you back from sharing your faith, and how can you bring that specific fear to Jesus, who is with you always?

Day 5: The Promise of His Presence

We are never sent out on our own. The same risen Christ who commanded the women to go also promised His enduring presence. This promise is our confidence and our strength. It means we do not rely on our own eloquence or ability, but on His power working through us. Whether we are speaking to a friend in the playground or a neighbor over the fence, we can trust that He is with us. His presence turns our telling from a duty into a joy-filled mission. [24:26]

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 ESV).

Reflection: How can you intentionally rely on Christ’s promised presence rather than your own strength in your interactions with others this week?

Sermon Summary

The service opens with a reading from 1 Peter 1:3–4 that frames Easter as new birth into a living hope and an imperishable inheritance kept in heaven. A short prayer follows, thanking God for the gift of Easter, the torn curtain that grants confident access to God, and asking God to speak to those who do not yet know him. Worship then leads into a vivid retelling of the first Easter morning: two women named Mary go to the tomb expecting grief, find an earthquake, an angel, a rolled-away stone, and an empty grave. The angel’s announcement—“He is not here; he has risen”—stands as the decisive claim of the narrative.

Attention turns to the corroborating oddities that support the account’s credibility: Roman guards who fainted rather than stole a body, and the choice of two women as first witnesses, a detail unlikely to be invented for cultural prestige. The empty tomb functions as proof that death did not hold its victor; the cross paid the penalty, and the resurrection functions as the divine receipt confirming that payment. Emotions collide in the scene—fear and joy mingle as the women run to tell the disciples they have seen the risen Lord.

The risen Lord calls the disciples “brothers,” erasing past failures and commissioning relationship rather than condemnation. The command to “go and tell” arrives with urgency: the first evangelists were not the most qualified but the ones closest to the truth. Practical examples underscore this commissioning—children giving Bibles to friends, older members sharing faith with carers—demonstrating that proclamation requires belief, simple testimony, and reliance on Christ rather than flawless answers.

Promise anchors the commission: the risen Christ accompanies every witness “to the very end of the age.” The account moves from a localized tomb to a global mandate. The Great Commission closes the service as a practical outworking of resurrection hope: authority vested in Christ, a charge to make disciples of all nations, and the reassurance of Christ’s ongoing presence. The tone stays celebratory and mobilizing—Easter is not just past event; it is the foundation and fuel for ongoing mission, given to every age and stage of the church.

Key Takeaways

1. The tomb is empty The empty tomb functions as the defining historical claim: it removes the comfortable middle ground and forces a decisive response. If a body remained, Christianity could remain one moral option among many; the empty grave, however, reorients the whole story of sin, death, and hope. This emptiness demands proclamation, not silence, because it announces victory over death and the inauguration of new life. [17:52]
2. Resurrection validates the cross The resurrection serves as the divine receipt that the cross accomplished its work; the penalty was paid and accepted by the Father. This theological pairing prevents moralism or mere example-making and locates salvation in enacted, forensic reality. The cross addresses guilt; the resurrection demonstrates God’s acceptance and sovereign vindication. [20:05]
3. All are called to tell God chose unlikely messengers—two women without public standing—to run and announce the news, showing that qualification depends on encounter more than résumé. Proclamation therefore becomes accessible: simple testimony from those who have seen or trusted the risen Christ moves the gospel forward. Evangelism centers on faithful telling, not winning debates, and trusts the Spirit to work through ordinary speech. [22:46]
4. Christ’s presence empowers proclamation The command to go accompanies the promise “I am with you always,” which reframes mission from solo effort to Spirit-enabled companionship. Presence mitigates fear, covers past failures, and supplies ongoing authority beyond human competence. This promise converts scattered witnesses into a continuing community sent under Christ’s authority. [37:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:39] - Scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:3–4
[02:41] - Opening prayer and worship
[16:24] - Easter morning imagined
[17:52] - The empty tomb revealed
[20:05] - Meaning of resurrection and cross
[21:49] - Women instructed to “go and tell”
[24:26] - Promise of Christ’s presence
[25:27] - Universal invitation to proclaim
[37:34] - The Great Commission closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Matthew 28:1–10 (ESV)
*Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”*

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Observation questions

What details in the passage indicate that the resurrection was a real, historical event and not a legend or myth?
How did the women respond emotionally to the empty tomb and the angel’s announcement? [20:35]
What specific instruction did both the angel and Jesus give to the women? [21:49]
Who did Jesus refer to as “my brothers,” and why is that significant? [21:08]

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Interpretation questions

Why is the empty tomb such a decisive claim, and how does it challenge a person to respond? [18:14]
In what way does the resurrection serve as a “receipt” for the work of the cross? [20:05]
Why might God have chosen these specific women as the first witnesses, and what does that reveal about how He works? [19:22]
How does Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always,” change the way we understand our role in sharing the gospel? [24:26]

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Application questions

The resurrection isn’t just a past event—it’s the foundation for ongoing mission. Who in your life needs to hear that Jesus is alive, and what’s one practical way you could tell them this week? [26:11]
Jesus calls imperfect people—even those who’ve failed Him—His brothers. How does knowing that your past doesn’t disqualify you affect your willingness to share your faith? [21:25]
The first messengers weren’t theological experts; they were ordinary people who encountered Jesus. What fears or insecurities hold you back from simply telling others what Jesus has done for you? [22:46]
The women ran with “fear and joy.” When have you experienced both emotions at once in your walk with God? How can joy overcome fear when you talk about Jesus?
Jesus promised to be with us “to the end of the age.” How does His presence empower you when you feel nervous or unqualified to speak about Him? [37:56]
From children giving Bibles to friends to older members sharing with carers, everyone has a role. What’s one setting—work, family, neighborhood—where you can intentionally be a witness this week? [24:59]
The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. How does this truth shape not only what you say to others but how you face your own struggles and fears?

Sermon Clips

The Marys went to the tomb expecting grief, and they found an empty tomb and a risen king. They expected a body, and they found Jesus alive. They expected grief and silence, and they went were sent running to tell the best news that has ever been told. And Jesus is sending us in all of our excitement and celebration today. Jesus is sending us to tell that same news today. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. Sin is forgiven. Death is defeated. He is risen just as he said he would. [00:25:10] (36 seconds) #HeIsRisen

What we've seen in the dramas, what we've read in the bible, not quite how it is in the dramas, but we believe that this really happened. The resurrection happened. The tomb is empty, and that is true, and it changes everything. It means that Jesus really is who he said he was. It means death has been defeated. It means that the cross worked. The punishment was paid. The father has accepted it. The cross was the payment. The resurrection is the receipt. [00:19:49] (31 seconds) #ResurrectionChangesEverything

We can't reduce Jesus to being a nice teacher. The the kids, the young people might have a really nice teacher at school, but I would guess that a really even the nicest of teachers have ever promised that they will rise from the dead and leave an empty tomb behind. The tomb was empty. Matthew tells us a little bit later, and nobody in Jerusalem ever produced a body. The guards were posted there. They were not amateurs. They were Roman soldiers. They were so terrified that they collapsed in fear, and the first witnesses were Mary and Mary. [00:18:37] (37 seconds) #NotJustATeacher

And I want to just stop and think about that for a moment because for some of us in the room, some of us watching online, we might find this really hard to believe. Really? A man rose from the dead? Did that really happen? And the the thing is the resurrection doesn't leave us with a a comfortable middle ground. If Jesus really rose from the dead, this is a great day of celebration and rejoicing. The day of resurrection was maybe the most important day of human history. And if he didn't, then the whole of Christianity falls apart. [00:17:59] (38 seconds) #ResurrectionIsAllOrNothing

If you were to make up a story in the first century, you wanted to make it sound convincing, you would not pick Mary and Mary to be your public witnesses. You'd maybe pick Peter or one of the religious leaders. You'd pick somebody whose testimony carried some weight in the culture. You would not have picked Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. But the fact that Mary and Mary were the people who found the tomb is one of the reasons that the account has that ring of truth. [00:19:14] (35 seconds) #WomenWitnessCredibility

From the youngest child in our church who gives our bible to a friend, to the oldest person in our church who would have loved to have been in the service today, but is watching online who tells their their carers week after week about the love of Jesus. It is our job. If we trust in Jesus, it is your job to tell others about him. Who gets to go and tell? The answer is you. [00:24:44] (26 seconds) #YouGetToTell

The same goes for every single one of us. We don't have to win arguments about the resurrection. Perhaps, in our simplicity, we see, as the women said, that Jesus is alive, and we respond by saying, this is what it means for you that Jesus is alive. And we're not sent out on our own. When people when we tell people about Jesus, we don't do it ourselves, but the risen Christ is with us. He is with his people, he promises. [00:24:02] (30 seconds) #RisenAndWithUs

Well, if that is you, you trust in Jesus, I want you to look at who God chose to be the first messengers of the resurrection. Not the 12 apostles, not the religious leaders, not even the most qualified or the most educated or the most respected, but he chose Mary and Mary. Two women who had no power, no official role, no theological training or degree, Jesus said to them, go and tell. [00:22:25] (32 seconds) #OrdinaryMessengers

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He Is Risen: Everyone Sent to Tell

Devotional

Day 1: The Living Hope Found in the Resurrection

Day 2: The Empty Tomb Changes Everything

Day 3: Go and Tell the Good News

Day 4: You Are Sent

Day 5: The Promise of His Presence

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

He Is Risen: Everyone Sent to Tell

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