Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
Reflection
We go to the mountain and we see Jesus. Even with our doubts and questions. Even while we question why, we go. We go to see Jesus and worship Jesus. We go to the mountain and wonder what Jesus has in store for us. What are we to do with our lives now that Jesus has died and rose again? What are we to do in this still sinful world of war, illness, poverty, fighting, stealing...? What are we going to do now Jesus? It seems the work is not finished after all! So, now what? We thought you were the answer, but it seems that everything just goes on like always! Now what? Now what, that you seem to be leaving us and ascending into heaven? Are you just going to leave us in the midst of this mess to be persecuted and crucified just as you were persecuted and crucified? What's so great about this discipleship thing that you have led us into? Can't you see, Jesus, why we doubt? Can't you see why we wonder if any of all of this was worth any of the effort in the first place? Now, what?
You directed us towards this mountain with all of our doubts and questions and fear and worry... yet when we set our eyes upon you... we worship. We worship and can't help it. We worship even in the midst of our doubt, we fall to our knees in your presence and we worship.
And then... then you declare something we all need to hear. In the midst of this sinful evil world and even in the midst of our very own sinful lives; you declare your authority over everything. I mean everything. Everything, not in just what we can sense with our senses but you even have authority over things that we can't sense with our senses. You have authority even over time! We needed to hear that so badly! We need to know it and you told us... You ARE God! Yes, you are God! Not just man... yes you are a man... but at the same time you are God!
So, since you ARE God, we can put behind ourselves all the negatives. Death, illness, poverty and all of those things we came with in our doubt... you have flipped. You have flipped it all and have given us the hope we need... you ARE God. Yes! You tell us to GO! Go, as a command. And now since you have flipped it all we can now go. Go in the confidence only you can give. In the end, after all, you are God! And the end has been taken care of. So now all of the negatives can't defeat us. All of the illness, the doubt and the suffering will change into everlasting life. Life where we will once again hear the voice of God proclaim...
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
(Revelation 21:3-5)
Yes, Lord and Savior, Jesus, we hear your command to Go! And Going boldly we leave baptizing and making disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we will GO, teaching, praising, singing, rejoicing and shouting your great authority over all of that is seen and unseen. How could we do anything else? For now we know as you have told us... "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
With us in the midst of our sinfulness, our doubt, our worry, our poverty, our illness, our suffering, our persecution, our death, our resurrection, our new and eternal life. You are always with us! Now and forever!
Jesus, you flipped it all for sure. Yes... you flipped our certain death into certain and eternal life!
Thanks be to God!
Song
Prayer
Oh Jesus! Oh Father! Oh Spirit! Oh God! Oh Trinity! You have flipped it for all of us. And we have flipped for you. Lead us in our lives... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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