My prayer for all of us is that we will have an amazing Easter weekend, as we celebrate the central event in all of history, the resurrection of Jesus from the grave.

This Easter we have been reflecting on how Jesus took our place on the cross, was buried for three days, and tomorrow we will celebrate how He rose from the grave in victory. As we reflect on the power of the gospel this Easter it is important to ask ourselves this question: how will we respond to this extraordinary event?

In certain traditions, people celebrate what is known as Easter Monday, and they call it either Bright Monday or Renewal Monday. The more I think about that, the more I like that thought … Bright Monday!

On Friday, darkness. On Saturday, silence. On Sunday, victory. On Monday and beyond, brightness, light, life, revival.

How do we respond to the resurrection? What do we do in our everyday lives after celebrating Easter?

Let’s look at what Jesus said to His disciples after He rose from the grave and returned to them in John 20:21: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Jesus has sent us! There is an assignment on our lives. He is sending you and me into all the world to share the good news.

How do we know? His final words before He ascended back into Heaven could not be clearer in Matthew 28:19-20:

“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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”It strikes me that the Great Resurrection leads to the Great Commission.

Jesus, sent to bring salvation to humanity, now sends us to extend that same invitation to all people. We are called to be the light of the world, to bring brightness to the darkness.

This Easter, may we rightly respond to the resurrection of Jesus by joining Him in the mission to make disciples of all nations!