Day 16 — Up & Out

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Happy Easter Monday! Christ is risen!

It was the day after the most important day in history. For the disciples – even after everything they’d gone through with Jesus: the miracles, the parables, the crowds, the Last Supper – this day must have felt like the most incredible so far.

The disciples had been left with the memory of Jesus stripped and nailed to a cross, bleeding and finally exclaiming ‘IT IS FINISHED’. They were living with the harsh reality that their Saviour and Lord, their hope, their everything, had died. How would this play out? We can only imagine how it must have felt: the pain, shock and fear. Had anything he said actually been true?

The disciples must have had questions but as soon as they saw Jesus again, ‘They worshipped him’. When we see and encounter Jesus we can’t help but worship him. He calls that response out of us. I love how the songwriter and worship leader, Matt Redman, puts it, ‘When we face up to the glory of God, we fall facedown in worship.’

We can only imagine what this time of worship would have looked and felt like… bowing down in holy reverence, embraces of intimate respect, the raising of hands in utter awe. Being in the physical presence of the risen Jesus must have raised their faith to another level and lifted them up to a place of elation. 

But an encounter with Jesus doesn’t just lift us up or raise our spirits, it leads us out beyond ourselves and what we know. We hear Jesus’ voice saying, ‘Go therefore…’, him calling us to love others, to lead others to him and to be light wherever we go. The direction from a place of encounter (worship) is clear: up and out.

Prayer: Jesus, our glorious, risen King, we’ve seen how powerful and majestic you are, and known your love and forgiveness; we worship you! Show us and help us to lead others into that encounter with you today. Amen.

Song: Up & Alive

Luke & Anna Hellebronth
Worship Pastors