The Resurrection Mandate: Go and Make Disciples

The resurrection of Jesus changes every day into a day of new life and mission. Matthew 28 narrates an empty tomb, angelic witnesses, and women who move from fear to worship as they encounter the risen Lord. The empty tomb functions as public evidence: Jesus did not need the stone rolled away to return to life, but the rolled stone allowed witnesses to see that death no longer held him. Cultural objections and attempts to discredit that reality emerge, yet the testimony of women—considered legally unreliable in that culture—and multiple post-resurrection appearances, including hundreds at once, ground the event in historical reality and moral surprise.

The resurrection proves Jesus’ identity, confirms prophetic Scripture, and secures the hope of believers’ future resurrection. That reality also releases present power: baptism symbolizes burial with Christ and rising into newness of life, inviting believers to a transformed pattern of living. The resurrection therefore carries a mandate—an authoritative commission—to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching obedience to Jesus’ commands. The imperative emphasizes making disciples over mere movement; mission requires sustained formation, not sporadic activity.

A practical illustration highlights the spiritual point: a missionary’s car would not start because of a loose connection, but everyone tried to push it rather than repair the wire. The lesson recommends honest diagnosis over ingenuity—Christ’s resurrection is the source of power, and churches and individuals must remain rightly connected to that power to fulfill the mandate. Resistance to the truth still appears as fabrication or money-driven cover-ups, but the risen Lord speaks authority that reassures hesitant followers: all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to him, and he promises presence to the end of the age. The summons concludes with a pastoral call to personal response—repentance, confession, and renewed reliance on resurrection power—not as religious routine but as relational transformation that moves outward to heal and disciple a broken world.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Stay connected to resurrection power Being creatively industrious cannot replace a direct connection to the risen Christ. Spiritual fruit requires a visible, maintained link to the source of power; otherwise energy dissipates into effort without life. Renewal begins by fixing the loose wiring—confession, dependence, and union with Christ—so the church can move with momentum. [41:44]
• 2. Resurrection validates Christ's identity The bodily rising confirms that Jesus’ claims and God’s promises converge in a single event. That validation anchors trust in Scripture and grounds hope for future resurrection beyond sentimental memory. Confidence in doctrine flows from the historical reality that God raised the dead, changing how believers live now. [58:26]
• 3. Mandate: go and make disciples The commission centers not on movement but on formation: making disciples entails baptism and teaching obedience to Christ’s commands. Mission focuses on sustained spiritual growth rather than sporadic outreach; disciple-making reshapes communities and cultures over time. The risen Lord’s authority and promised presence give the mandate urgency and endurance. [68:04]
• 4. Women were first witnesses Women arriving first at the tomb subverted cultural expectations and strengthened the testimony’s credibility. Choosing marginalized witnesses undermines any charge of invention and highlights God’s use of the vulnerable as primary heralds of new creation. That inversion invites the church to expect God’s surprising priorities in mission and witness. [47:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [32:11] - Resurrection Day Celebrated
• [33:24] - Communion Distributed
• [34:12] - Every Day Is Holy
• [36:40] - The Resurrection Mandate Defined
• [38:10] - Missionary Car Illustration
• [41:44] - Loose Connection Analogy
• [42:50] - Matthew 28: The Empty Tomb
• [47:12] - Women as First Witnesses
• [55:55] - Paul's Testimony and Appearances
• [58:26] - Resurrection's Theological Importance
• [68:04] - Go and Make Disciples
• [71:13] - Invitation to Respond

Based on the sermon summary and transcript provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
Matthew 28:1-20 (ESV)
*1 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. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 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.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”*

Observation questions

1. According to Matthew 28:1-10, what were the different emotional states the women experienced from the time they arrived at the tomb to the time they left to tell the disciples?
2. In the story of the missionary’s car [41:44], what was the simple solution to the problem that everyone had overlooked while trying to push the car?
3. What was the reaction of the Roman guards when they realized the tomb was empty, and what did the religious leaders pay them to say [44:50]?
4. What two specific actions are involved in the command to "make disciples" according to Matthew 28:19-20?

Interpretation questions

1. The stone was rolled away not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in [48:52]. Why is this detail about the empty tomb so significant for validating the resurrection as a historical event?
2. The first witnesses to the resurrection were women, whose testimony was considered unreliable in that culture [47:12]. How does this cultural detail actually strengthen the credibility of the biblical account rather than weaken it?
3. The final command is to "make disciples," not just to "go" [01:08:04]. What is the practical difference between these two ideas in how we think about our mission?
4. Some of the disciples worshiped Jesus on the mountain, "but some doubted" [01:05:55]. What does it mean that doubt and worship could exist in the same moment, and how does Jesus respond to their hesitation?

Application questions

1. Staying connected to the resurrection power is described as being more important than being creatively industrious on our own [41:44]. What does a "loose connection" to Christ look like in your own life? What is one practical way you can "tighten" that connection this week?
2. The resurrection is not just a historical fact to be studied, but a person to be encountered [01:01:35]. How would you describe your own relationship with Jesus? Is it more like studying a historical event or knowing a living person?
3. The mandate is to make disciples, which involves "sustained spiritual growth rather than sporadic outreach" [01:08:04]. Who is one person in your life you could invest in for the long term, not just with a single conversation?
4. The religious leaders tried to discredit the truth with a lie and money [01:02:52]. What are some of the "convenient lies" our culture tells about Jesus today? How can we choose to believe and share the "life-changing truth" instead?
5. The promise of Jesus’ presence is given to those who are fulfilling the mandate [01:08:32]. When you think about sharing your faith or investing in someone, what fears come to mind? How does the truth that Jesus has "all authority" and is "with you always" address those specific fears?
6. The resurrection changes how we live every day, not just how we celebrate one Sunday [36:40]. What is one ordinary part of your daily routine (e.g., work, family time, errands) that could be transformed if you saw it as part of your "resurrection mandate"?