What now

The question becomes "what now?" It's a fairly easy question to ask after Christ has risen. What next? What do we do with what is the most important, most unlikely, most critical moment in human history?

First, we must examine options. Do we really believe that is what happened? A 2010 Barna poll showed that only 42 percent of Americans said the meaning of Easter was Jesus' resurrection. A whopping two percent identified it as the most important holiday of their faith.

The reason? Folks have problems with the whole rising from the grave thing. But Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, says, "believing in the Resurrection is essential. It shows that nothing is impossible with God. In fact, Easter without the resurrection is utterly meaningless. And the Christian faith without Easter is no faith at all."

Let's look at what Jesus did after the resurrection for leadership.

He restored his disciples' faith and gave them hope. Remember, Peter had said to Jesus in Matthew's gospel, "We have left everything to follow you." Then in John's Gospel he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

They had very literally given their lives for this man, this movement, his teaching. Suddenly he was gone. They were beyond devastated. He used the time between the resurrection and the ascension to restore them.

The church should be about the business of restoration, it seems to me. We need to start looking for those we've left behind, explore the reasons they were left behind, and go out and find them, bringing them back into the fold or into the fold for the first time.

Second, Jesus taught his disciples how the scriptures pointed towards him. We need to learn to express ourselves in this manner. If we never pick up the Bible, how then can we possibly hope to disciple those persons who are so very near us desiring Jesus?

Finally, he sent his followers out to share the good news. His final words on the planet were to go and make disciples of all nations.

I'm physically exhausted, frankly. Easter and the lead-up to it are difficult on pastors. Multi-services, emotion pouring forth like the release of a sponge, etc., etc. But this is our mission. This is why Christianity still exists. This is what we're here for.

And this is what is next.