Often our Easter hearts are centered on the four imperatives from the angel in Matthew’s story of Jesus’ resurrection, clear direction for the 1st and 21st century churches: Come and see, go and tell!

The first Christians were a contrast society. The church was built on the primal claim that Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified, is now raised from the dead. And so, in sharp tension with the world, the ancient church loved Christ as Lord instead of Caesar, and their lives were ordered around Christ’s resurrection instead of Rome’s activities and offerings.