We’re still in the season of Easter, well, that is until the end of the week, so:

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

I love the Easter season.  It’s the very center of the good news. And you all know that Matthew 28 is my favorite of all the chapters of the Bible, I bet. I preach on it… well… a TON. The chapter is full of such great stories and moments. They are really the bulk of the DNA of a mission developer pastor, which, by the way, is ALL pastors post-COVID – and maybe pre-COVID as well.  

A couple weeks ago we highlighted a scripture from Matthew 28. It was right after the resurrection as the women approached the tomb. They arrived, met an angel, survived an earthquake (haha!), received the good news of Jesus being alive, and then were instructed to go on to tell the rest of the disciples the good news, and one other really important thing:

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” - Matthew 28: 5-7 (NIV)

So, why Galilee? Jerusalem would’ve been so much better, right? With SO many people there, it would’ve been such a big deal for Jesus to show up and show off his resurrected body.  “Three days, y’all!! TOLD YOU! Take that haters!” But nope. Galilee. How about a little nearby town? Maybe just a nice little house to meet up and have a meal together. That would have been so nice. I mean, Galilee is 78 miles from Jerusalem. That’s a LOOOOONG way.But nope.  Galilee.  Why?

Here’s why: Galilee was back to EVERYDAY life. That’s where everyday life was and that’s where Jesus wants to meet them…. and…. US. Jesus isn’t waiting until Sunday to hang out with you and listen to your prayers. Jesus isn’t looking for an appointment on your way-too-dang-busy schedule. Jesus is in everyday life, showering you in Jesus’ everyday LOVE.

This is really important church: the new church isn’t going to just be about a gathering in a building on Sunday mornings. It’s going to take place on the baseball field, in the store, at work, in line at the grocery, in your homes, in your everyday LIFE.   

And maybe, just maybe, our gospel-bearing moments were ALWAYS meant for the space in between Sundays, and Sundays were always meant to be like the motor on a Hot Wheels track that restarts our energy in the Word and the bread and wine. Maybe our everyday life is the place where the church is supposed to be, and the gathering is just a moment to remember who and whose we are? That being the case, then, we might want to be encouraged to look for ways to share everyday LOVE in our EVERYDAY life!  

Be encouraged church, you were built for everyday life and everyday love. You are already well equipped to be gospel bearers in a world looking for hope, grace, good news, and EVERYDAY LOVE in their EVERYDAY LIFE!

Lord, call us into our everyday lives and help us share your everyday love, Amen!

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