One of the great post-resurrection texts is the very end of Matthew where Jesus tells his disciples what has come to be known as “The Great Commission.” Yet, what we see in his words is the reiteration of the great covenants of Scripture: The one true God who has authority, working through his people and their obedience to him to bring a blessing to his world. To be the people of God has always been to be a missionary people, a people who live in light of what God has done for them for the sake of the world and his glory in it. To go and make disciples has always been the way of our Missionary God and his missionary people.

Being a community of the resurrection, means that we are a (re)storied people because of the restoring work of Christ in the cross and resurrection. We see in John 21 that Jesus invites us into an honest assessment of our past - our shame, sin and family stories - a present participation in his healing work, and then a life and death like his. We are taken, healed and then made to be a cruciform and therefore Christ-like people.

Motherhood represents the epitome of sacrificial love, demonstrating vulnerability, persistence, and selfless giving that spans a lifetime. Through the biblical example of Hannah, we discover three fundamental aspects of motherly love: the deep desire to give love, the commitment to fervent prayer, and the willingness to sacrifice for others' wellbeing. Hannah's journey from desperate longing to sacrificial giving illustrates the transformative power of this kind of love. The Apostle Paul frequently used maternal imagery to describe Christian love and leadership, showing that motherly love transcends gender and biological ties. This nurturing, grace-based love persists even when unappreciated or resisted, reflecting God's own nature of selfless love. In today's world, where self-interest often prevails, this model of sacrificial care becomes even more vital for building authentic Christian community and nurturing spiritual growth in others.

The narratives of Jesus with his disciples after the resurrection inform us about what it means to be a resurrection people. Jesus meets them in their fears and in their unbelief and he speaks peace over them and shows them his scars as a call to believing in the power of his resurrection. His scars and his words are the very things they need and they are the very things we need if we are to be a people that bear witness to his work in our own lives and world that are so full of anxiety and fear.

Cleopas and Mary meet Jesus following their crushing witness of his death. They are hurting and don't recognize Jesus, yet Jesus' approach to ministering to them is that of a questioner. His approach demonstrates the importance of dialogue in our relationship with God. Throughout the gospels, Jesus posed nearly 300 questions, each designed to provoke deeper thought and personal examination. The story emphasizes the crucial role of Scripture study and understanding. When Jesus rebuked the disciples for being slow to believe the prophets' words, He highlighted the importance of knowing and engaging with God's written word. This can be accomplished through systematic Bible reading, verse memorization, group study, and regular meditation. Ultimately, true transformation comes through recognizing Jesus as the suffering Savior. The disciples' eyes were opened when Jesus broke bread, symbolizing His broken body on the cross. This teaches us that genuine understanding of God's Word requires embracing Christ's sacrifice and allowing this truth to transform our perspective on life's challenges.

Good stories are true stories. Not always in the sense that the events they tell happened in time and space, but, at the very least, a good story reflects an honest account of the world where the bad is not glossed over nor the good made little of. All good stories do this and all stories can be graded on this rubric: do they reflect THE Story? THE Story is the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There we see in time and space the fact that things are so bad that the Son must die to redeem sinners, but they are so good because he conquers the evil, but death to shame in his resurrection. There we see that things are so much worse than we ever thought and God's grace is so much better than we ever imagined.

The distinguishing mark of the Christian faith is that God comes down! He comes down as one of us in his incarnation. He comes down in time and space, speaking and acting in the world as one of us. He comes down lowly, not only in the manger but on the cross, the ultimate instrument of a lowly death. But he even goes down further. His body is taken down and is placed in the grave. And the Creed tells us "He descended into hell." And why? For us. For us and our salvation. He is The Descending God!

Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem reveals profound truths about authentic kingship and worship. While the crowds expected a powerful political savior, Jesus deliberately chose symbols of humility, riding a donkey instead of a war horse. His examination of the temple challenged where people placed their trust and hope - in worldly power versus divine authority. This transformative moment demonstrates that true kingdom authority operates through service and humility, not dominance and control.