The Gospel concludes with the resurrection and the commissioning of the disciples. The gospel is good news because it doesn't end with the cross; following Jesus demands from us all that we are and have, but it gives us a new and eternal life in return. The narrative of the resurrection paves the way for the commissioning: the witness of the women contrasts starkly with the fearful falsehood of the guards and provides a positive model for the witness of the church.