It’s been a little over two weeks since we celebrated Easter Sunday; the empty tomb; Christ is Risen! And now what do we do?

Here’s the heart of the matter, the heart of Easter: the knowledge of God.

After hearing the gospel — Jesus paid for our sins and is alive and very well — you and I carry the knowledge of God. The implication is that we know who He is (God) and what He has done (conquered sin and death). This means that our job is to do something with that information.

It’s job for all of us.

The Greatest News

For the non-Christian, you have just heard the most wonderful news. That is, Jesus went to the Cross on your behalf, fully knowing your doubt, understanding your experiences, taking ownership of your sins and paying the penalty for them.

Christ paid for what you said you would never do. Christ paid for what you said you would never do again. All of this is paid.

Regardless of what you’ve seen or been through, it is the greatest news to know that you are forgiven. Your heart is being renewed, and you have been given a new identity — not because of what you have done or haven’t, but because of His faithfulness and love for you!

Stepping Out

For the Christian, you have just heard the most wonderful news. That is, Jesus went to the Cross on your behalf and paid the death that you and I deserve, lived the life that you and I cannot live, and calls us to step out in faith and ownership just like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

The Gospel of John records that after Jesus’ death, these two men took Jesus’ body off of the cross and prepared it for burial. Here’s the ownership: Joseph and Nicodemus were both Pharisees — the men responsible for sentencing Jesus to his death. Removing Jesus’ body to help prepare it for burial was an act that stripped them of their titles and privileges. The disciples had already scattered and these two men surrendered everything before the murdered King and stepped out.

History records that Joseph of Arimathea was approved and ordained shortly after Jesus’ resurrection to take the Gospel to England. He ministered there for 40 years, and was buried and respected by several kings in the area. Nicodemus was stripped of his wealth and was kicked out of the city along with his family, but is said that he helped spread the gospel in Jerusalem during a time of great riots and was recognized as an honorable man.

These men, not knowing what was to happen to them after being stripped of their wealth and privileges, counted it all a loss by taking ownership of the knowledge of God. You and I carry the knowledge of God — knowing that He is God and has conquered sin and death.