Matthew 28:16-20 NIV
16 Then the eleven disciples went to
Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When
they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then
Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.”
GO!
Sort of back to the
start for Jesus and His now eleven disciples. How’s that? Jesus had
pre-arranged this meeting with His disciples, to go to Galilee. This is back to
where Jesus’ ministry began and where He first called some of His disciples.
It’s almost like an extension of His ministry after His resurrection. So, this
is a connecting place for ministry to continue into this world, even after He
returns to heaven. And on a mountain to boot. God seems to go to mountains to
meet with His people.
I think that is why
I like mountains myself. Mountains, to me, mean peace, fresh air, and
spectacular views. Thin places, I’ve heard others refer to them as, thin places
close to God. So, think back on mountains that you have been to. Think back on
the mountains that God mentions in Scripture and give all of that some thought.
So, here in this one
verse is a call to obedience in following Jesus pre-arranged instructions and a
spiritual connection with God. For the disciples, this was a journey that is
faith-filled and a journey that will move ministry into the future through
them.
Reflect on your own
walk with God and think of the times and places that God has called you to go
to that are unknown. Give thanks to God that you are called and permitted to
serve Him in your life in your present life journey.
We see God and
worship Him. Here the disciples see Jesus and worship Him. It’s a sign of faith
and belief that Jesus IS who He says He is… God. But some of us still doubt.
That’s not only then but for disciples today. I fall to doubt at times. This is
unfortunate, but really natural. In the midst of my doubt, I tend to dig deeper
into God’s Word. I think that may be a good thing. In the midst of my doubt, I
pray. In the midst of my doubt, I look to see God. So, here, it seems to me in
the seeing and believing or doubting, all is a walk with God that leads to
faith, trust and hope.
So, as we all walk
out our lives, let’s live in faith and doubt, and not judge the other person
that is wavering from one to the other. For in faith or doubt, God is still
present looking for each of us to be with Him.
And then Jesus makes
an amazing move and declaration. First off, He comes to the disciples. He comes
to you and me as well. He doesn’t wait for us to come to Him. Next, he declares
His authority that exists not only in the physical realm of earthly creation,
but in the spiritual realm of heaven. Think about it… He came to earth from
heaven. So, Jesus in God exists not only as flesh and blood but Holy Spirit. And
now we tie it all back to the Trinity of Father, Son and Spirit. Yea, Holy
Trinity!
So, what about this
authority that Jesus speaks of? Well, it’s a given. God is always giving. God
even gives His authority. Jesus gives His life. The Spirit gives His church on
earth, and the saints within it, gifts to carry out what is coming next, in
these few verses of Scripture.
Now, with Jesus
having established His authority in this world and in heaven, He issues a
command for the disciples then and now. Go! An action command. Jesus has been
teaching us, and them, all along. Even through the winter and spring months
with this very series of Reflections, we have heard Jesus’ teaching. Teaching that
points to Him and the Father’s plan of salvation for all people. A plan that
now will involve the guidance of the Holy Spirit at work not only in disciples,
but in the catholic church as well. Catholic you say? Sure! Not just Roman
Catholic, but ALL the church here on earth made up of ALL believers from
various Christian practices, theologies and callings to GO. Go and do what?
Tell of what God has done! Tell of how God has acted in your own life by
forgiving you and saving you and giving you a new life through what Jesus has
already done. Yea, sure, GO! This is not the first time God has issued this
command. So, even to the people of Jesus’ day, it should sound familiar. Maybe
they even have the passage of Scripture memorized.
Genesis 12:1 NIV
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people
and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
This GO command uses
all the teachings and examples that Jesus has been letting us in on all along.
This GO is a GO of trust, hope, faith and the belief that God has our backs. But
again, GO and do what?
Well first, tell the
Gospel to the people, then baptize, baptize, baptize. Remember that your
baptism is a gift from God. Your baptism is an action of God. Your baptism is
God claiming you! And from your baptism you become a new creation, powered and
gifted by the Holy Spirit, through all that you have witnessed God do through
Jesus to forgive you, to free you from sin, death and the devil. No longer are
you held captive. You are too, as a newly baptized child of God called to GO! GO
and proclaim all that God has done, TO all those God places in your life, day
after day after day, place after place after place. This is an exciting new eternal
journey, full of risk, danger, and ultimate joy living with God as you GO!
Now Jesus has set
the Trinity in the center. Baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. All God. All unique. All different, yet ALL God.
Think of it!
Revelation 7:9 NIV
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no
one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing
before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white
robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
That there, IS, what
this GO results in at the end of time! This is the fulfillment of the command
of this “Great Commission.” This “Great GO!”
And as disciples GO!
We recall the teachings of Jesus. We “Point to Jesus” and tell of His Word as
recorded in Scripture, and TEACH, TEACH, TEACH. Thinking and witness in Word
how Jesus has taught disciples all along. For in Word and through the Holy
Spirit we can be assured that Jesus IS WITH us all along the way we GO!
Revelation 21:1-4 NIV
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I
saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now
among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people,
and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He
will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
WOW!
Back to the start we go with Jesus, in this passage. Remember how He was present at Creation? Now He is present at the beginning of the ministry given to His disciples. Jesus came to earth in the flesh and blood of a divine intervention, and now He draws us into this divine intervention to be at One with Him, to be at One with the Father, and to be at One with the Holy Spirit. Why? Tag your it. Tag I’m it. Listen to Jesus, and be obedient to His call and the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide His church, here on earth and finally in eternity, when all will be made new and perfect, once again. So, yea, back to the beginning we go, with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The power of the
Trinity is evident in creation. And not just the creation of what is physical.
The power of the Trinity is evident in the spiritual. So, seen or unseen, God
shows His awesome power and majesty.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what
is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
The disciples can
see Jesus. Jesus in the flesh. He is, without a doubt resurrected from the dead
and alive. Yet, Jesus is leading us to not just trust our eyes, but to also
trust in the Holy Spirit, which He is giving to us on the mountain tops of our
lives. The Holy Spirit that will lead us and guide us and provide for all our
needs. So, once again, Trinity, the Father sent His Son to us, and the Son
leaves, or better yet, gives us the Holy Spirit to bring us back to God…
Father, Son, Spirit… here with us.
So, guess what? We
will die, unless you are one of the few that are alive when Jesus comes again. But
we know that since Jesus lived, suffered, was crucified, and buried, and rose
again; He has led the way for us to eternal life. How? In His death, He forgave
us and released us from the bondage to sin. Sin holds no eternal power over us.
And since He rose again, just as the Father had planned, He rose again FOR us
that the power of death would be defeated. So, rejoice in what God has done. He
forgave our sinfulness, put it to death, and leads us to new life by overcoming
death. Why? So that we could live with Father, Son and Spirit, forever in unity
into eternity. Wow! How mighty is that? How majestic is the power of God!
So, this is an eternal
thing here. We GO! We look to the teachings of Jesus. We GO and tell the story.
We GO and teach the teachings. We GO to all the places and people God calls us
to not only teaching, but living out the Gospel of love God places in our
hearts through what He did to bring us into Him, and to one another, forever.
Yep… Today… tomorrow…
and forever… GO! Thanks be to God!
I love this song.
Enjoy this YouTube Music Video…
“Come to Jesus”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGy2VHlj0qY&list=RDqGy2VHlj0qY&start_radio=1
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