The Rest of the Story

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.    —Mark 9:9

He was before my time, but I have heard classic commentaries from radio news host, Paul Harvey and his “Rest of the Story” reports. “The Rest of the Story” began as part of Harvey’s newscasts during World War II but became its own series on the ABC Radio Network in the 1970s. Harvey would present a little-known or forgotten fact while holding back an important aspect of the story. As he concluded his commentary, he would reveal the missing part, a famous person’s name or accomplishment, and end with some variation of his well-known tag line, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

On several occasions, Jesus instructed the disciples to tell no one about Him. After healing the blind man, cleansing the leper, or healing the deaf mute, “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it” (Mark 7:3). Many explanations have been given for why Jesus would not want His Name proclaimed. Some say His popularity made it impossible for Him to minister due to the crowds. Others point out that the animosity with the Jewish religious leaders only increased with Jesus’ popularity.

Mark 9:9 shows another reason for this delay in proclaiming the news about Jesus. As He led Peter, James, and John down from the Mount of Transfiguration, “Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” The Disciples did not know the rest of the story. Jesus may have repeatedly instructed them concerning His suffering, death, and resurrection, but they never quite got it until they met Jesus after Easter.

Jesus did not come to gather a following as a great teacher or miracle worker. Jesus came to live a sinless life, reveal God the Father to us, and die as the only and final sacrifice for our sins. Without the resurrection of Jesus, our message is only part of the story. Before Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection, He sent the disciples to only the Jewish people. Before the Empty Tomb, Jesus often told His followers to tell know one of His glory or their healing and deliverance.

After the resurrection, Mary was told, “Go quickly and tell” (Matthew 28:7). At Jesus’ first post resurrection appearance to the Disciples, He told them, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Now that Jesus had risen from the dead and His true nature as God had been revealed and understood, we are commanded to go and tell everyone that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The message of Jesus is not for one people, nationality, or socio-economic group but for every tribe, nation, and gender. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Before ascending to heaven, Jesus told His Disciples and us, to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In Acts 1:8, Jesus declares, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Sisters and brothers, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you know the rest of the story. God so loved each and every one of us that He gave His only begotten Son that we might have life in the Name of Jesus. All who call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.

Jesus is risen from the dead. Go and tell the world the rest of the story—Jesus is Lord!