If the dearest person in the whole world to you died and then a few days later came knocking on your door, can you imagine your reaction? Scared? Shocked? Disbelieving? That’s how the disciples felt when Jesus appeared in their midst showing them his hands and feet. Luke 24:41-42 says; “And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.”

But no matter how happy they were to see the Lord again, they would not be returning to business as usual. Jesus did not raise himself from the dead to resume the earthly ministry of the last three years; he was there for something that would prove to the disciples to be far scarier than that. He told them he was leaving again and he wanted them to continue the ministry in his place.

“Are you kidding?” they must have thought, “We can’t do this stuff without you.” He told them that they would be taking over for him. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19) “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

The command to any disciple of Jesus is the same today after two thousand years. That’s how the work goes on until he comes again. Are you doing the works of Jesus? That’s the power of the resurrection!