The Resurrection and the Great Commission (Matthew 28)
Gerald Largent
The Resurrection and the Great Commission
The Gospel according to St. Matthew presents the Resurrection of Christ as both a moment of awe and a call to action. It begins in silence and wonder, at the empty tomb, and ends with a command that resounds throughout all history: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
The first witnesses to the Resurrection are the myrrh-bearing women. They come to the tomb in sorrow, expecting to anoint the body of their Lord. Instead, they encounter an angel who proclaims the astonishing news: “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (Matthew 28:6).
Fear and great joy fill their hearts as they run to tell the disciples. Along the way, they meet the risen Christ Himself, who greets them with peace and reassurance. Their sorrow is transformed into proclamation, and they become the first evangelists of the Resurrection.
This pattern is essential to the Christian life. Encounter with the risen Christ always leads to witness. The Resurrection is not a private experience, but a truth meant to be shared with the world.
When Christ appears to His disciples in Galilee, He gives them what is known as the Great Commission. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,” He declares. This authority, won through His death and Resurrection, forms the basis of the Church’s mission.
The command that follows is both simple and profound: “Go… make disciples… baptizing them… teaching them.” The Church is sent into the world not merely to inform, but to transform, to bring all people into the life of Christ.
This mission is not limited to the apostles. It is entrusted to the entire Church, to each of us. Every Christian is called to bear witness to the Resurrection; not only through words, but through a life that reflects the love, humility, and holiness of Christ.
Yet this calling can feel daunting. How can we, in our weakness, fulfill such a great task? Christ Himself gives the answer: “Know that I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
The mission of the Church is not carried out by human strength alone, but by the abiding presence of Christ. He is with us in every act of service, every word of truth, every step of faith.
Pascha is therefore not only a celebration of what has happened. It is a commissioning for what must now be done. Having encountered the risen Lord, we are sent forth to proclaim His victory over death and to invite others into the joy of His Kingdom.
Like the myrrh-bearing women, we are called to move from fear to faith, from silence to proclamation, from sorrow to joy.
Christ is risen! And we are sent to tell the world.
From the St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach bulletin for April 12, 2026.