WATCHWORD:
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
Meditation:
Marching Order
Setting the stage: Jesus has been crucified, dead and buried in a tomb. Only one disciple, John, was there on Calvary with Jesus’ mother, Mary, and the other Mary. The other disciples were hiding in the city, fearful of retaliation by the Jewish leadership. Then, the Resurrection and the instructions given to the women at the tomb for the disciples to meet Jesus on a hillside near Capernaum, in Galilee.
Matthew’s gospel continues, and the eleven make the three-day journey into Galilee, where Jesus spends time with them, calming them of their excitement of seeing Him alive, then He gives them their marching order that will serve them throughout their lives as apostles.
How do you read verses 18-19? Are these two separate bits of information, one, Jesus claiming authority, and the other sending the disciples? Or, is the first simply the subject of the second, i.e. “making disciples of all nations, Jews and Gentiles, through Jesus, who is God with all authority in Heaven and earth?” Don’t miss the emphasis: making disciples of all nations through Jesus.
As we read scripture, there is a tendency to see Jesus as separate from God, two different entities, rather than Jesus as God incarnate. The disciples now have a similar transition, having been with Jesus as a human, and now the claim of deity. Now the Word that became flesh has been made real to them, and the lessons, the healings, the miracles all have become part of the sacred Truth.
Except for the geography, the timing, and, of course, seeing Jesus face-to-face, the experience of the disciples and our own faith journey is very similar. Do you think our transition of going from “Jesus Loves Me, This I know” stage of childhood to our present stage of faith development was different than the experience of the disciples? How are we understanding the “going and making disciples”, part?
I suspect that Marching Order is much less complicated than we make it out to be. How? You may ask. How about this: How we live our lives tells others so much about whose we are. On top of that, when we take those opportunities that come our way to share our faith journey, we are planting seeds. Making disciples is as simple as planting seeds, or as complicated as being a missionary to the lost, or leading others, overtly, to Jesus. You know, following Jesus can be as simple as reading the instruction manual, then acting out parables or lessons. Am I right? Marching Order, indeed!
And Jesus says this to us, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Thought for the day:
The key to our living lives as Christians is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs and wants of those around us. If we think that the Lord is assisting us, then we have that backwards. Right?
Closing Prayer:
We need help, Lord. We are Yours and we want to carry out the role that You have given us, even though that way is often obscured by our own thinking. Grant us clarity of thought and hearing, Lord, so that we may listen to the pleadings and murmurs of the Holy Spirit and know that is Your guidance for us. It is with great gratitude, Lord, that we acknowledge being Your Child, and it is with great gratitude that we follow Your will, and it’s with humble pleading, Lord, that we ask You to make clear the path that You would have us take. In the name of Jesus Christ we offer these prayers. Amen.
