After Easter, what?
(Matthew 28v16-20 Acts 1)
When Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to His followers not just once or twice but numerous times in various locations over a period of about six weeks. On the last occasion near Bethany His disciples saw Him being taken up into the clouds. From His previous teaching they understood He was returning to heaven and the place of highest honour and authority at God the Father’s side.
Over these six weeks He had been teaching with greater clarity than ever about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, Matthew records it was back in Galilee, Jesus gives His disciples a memorable commission. Matthew actually finishes his Gospel with these words.
Jesus said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
It says that when they saw Him the disciples worshipped Him ‘but some doubted’. That used to annoy me. Jesus was clearly alive, why could they not now just finally trust Him?
But perhaps there’s an honesty in Matthew’s account that is actually strangely comforting. These people did believe in Jesus, they gladly worshipped Him but they still had questions. They were still trying to process and understand all that had happened. And what might happen next!
We might imagine them rather hesitantly asking something along these lines, ‘Master we’re so glad you’re alive again. We were so confused and afraid when you were executed. We didn’t know what to do! We believe in you more than ever now you’ve risen from the dead, but…now what? We believe you’re our Messiah, the Saviour promised to Israel. Are you going to be crowned in Jerusalem now? Will you restore our nation’s independence and prosperity like the prophets seemed to suggest?’
These were natural questions for Jews like Peter and John. We shouldn’t be too quick to condemn them for don’t we all wonder about things at times? Painful tragedies and cruel injustice, Lord what are we to make of these? In such a frustrating, distressing world, why are we here? What can we do?
Jesus’ words in these readings are vitally important to give us a uniquely Christian perspective on what’s going on and the part we must play in it.
Our Lord has a much greater and more generous plan than to prosper just one nation. He suffered and died to save and renew people from all nations. He is risen Lord with all authority in heaven and on earth. The kingdom of God is to be global, universal! The Spirit will be poured out to make His followers powerful witnesses everywhere.
So Christians are called to be people with a mission. We are to speak and demonstrate the truth of God in Jesus, urging our fellow human beings whatever their background to turn and trust in Him. Here is forgiveness and promise, comfort and hope! Taste and see that our Lord is good!
Let me say something which should be obvious but perhaps we don’t like to think about. The world’s population in 2023 is 8 billion people. 2 billion people profess Christian faith though evidence suggests a great difference between the numbers on paper and those actually practising faith and discipleship. So at least three quarters of the world’s population is not yet saved but spiritually lost and according to our Lord on ‘the broad road’ destined for judgement.
The Church’s mission is as great as ever. Jesus suffered unimaginable anguish on the cross to atone for the sins of the world. His arms were stretched wide on the cross as if in welcome. His redeeming love reaches out to the ends of creation. Our commission if we are His followers is to bring this message of His love and grace to our neighbours both locally and globally until He comes again.
As we accept this call to be witnesses for Christ and make disciples of all nations let’s be encouraged and instructed by Scripture. Let me sum it up with three short phrases. We are to go to the world –
By His Grace
In His Strength
For His Glory
We engage in mission by the grace of our Lord. Our testimony is not that we are better than others. Christians are just as guilty, broken and lost as everyone else in this world but we have a Saviour! We are trusting in One Who has come and suffered with us and for us and so we are forgiven, healed, restored and comforted. No other religion or philosophy can offer such assurance.
We engage in mission in His strength. The Son of God became incarnate and triumphed over sin and evil and death in the flesh, in weakness and vulnerability. As the Father sent Christ so He sends us, in the flesh. We are so human and fallible, at times confused and anxious just like these first disciples. We may have questions that will only find answers in heaven but we choose to believe. We trust Jesus Who calls and authorises us. His Spirit fills us with His power giving us the courage and wisdom we need. We’re not alone. Our Master is with us to the end of the age!
We engage in mission for His glory. If we live for our own pleasure and gratification we will be disappointed. Christians are not out to make a name for ourselves or build our own little empires. We live to promote His name above all names, to seek first His kingdom and will worldwide. We offer ourselves heart and soul in service to this cause.
Let us rise then, prepared to go wherever He may send, willing to do whatever as He may guide, by His grace, in His strength, for His glory, encouraged by this promise in Scripture - that those who live for His glory in this present imperfect age will share His resurrection glory in the age that is to come!
(Matthew 28v16-20 Acts 1)
When Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to His followers not just once or twice but numerous times in various locations over a period of about six weeks. On the last occasion near Bethany His disciples saw Him being taken up into the clouds. From His previous teaching they understood He was returning to heaven and the place of highest honour and authority at God the Father’s side.
Over these six weeks He had been teaching with greater clarity than ever about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, Matthew records it was back in Galilee, Jesus gives His disciples a memorable commission. Matthew actually finishes his Gospel with these words.
Jesus said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
It says that when they saw Him the disciples worshipped Him ‘but some doubted’. That used to annoy me. Jesus was clearly alive, why could they not now just finally trust Him?
But perhaps there’s an honesty in Matthew’s account that is actually strangely comforting. These people did believe in Jesus, they gladly worshipped Him but they still had questions. They were still trying to process and understand all that had happened. And what might happen next!
We might imagine them rather hesitantly asking something along these lines, ‘Master we’re so glad you’re alive again. We were so confused and afraid when you were executed. We didn’t know what to do! We believe in you more than ever now you’ve risen from the dead, but…now what? We believe you’re our Messiah, the Saviour promised to Israel. Are you going to be crowned in Jerusalem now? Will you restore our nation’s independence and prosperity like the prophets seemed to suggest?’
These were natural questions for Jews like Peter and John. We shouldn’t be too quick to condemn them for don’t we all wonder about things at times? Painful tragedies and cruel injustice, Lord what are we to make of these? In such a frustrating, distressing world, why are we here? What can we do?
Jesus’ words in these readings are vitally important to give us a uniquely Christian perspective on what’s going on and the part we must play in it.
Our Lord has a much greater and more generous plan than to prosper just one nation. He suffered and died to save and renew people from all nations. He is risen Lord with all authority in heaven and on earth. The kingdom of God is to be global, universal! The Spirit will be poured out to make His followers powerful witnesses everywhere.
So Christians are called to be people with a mission. We are to speak and demonstrate the truth of God in Jesus, urging our fellow human beings whatever their background to turn and trust in Him. Here is forgiveness and promise, comfort and hope! Taste and see that our Lord is good!
Let me say something which should be obvious but perhaps we don’t like to think about. The world’s population in 2023 is 8 billion people. 2 billion people profess Christian faith though evidence suggests a great difference between the numbers on paper and those actually practising faith and discipleship. So at least three quarters of the world’s population is not yet saved but spiritually lost and according to our Lord on ‘the broad road’ destined for judgement.
The Church’s mission is as great as ever. Jesus suffered unimaginable anguish on the cross to atone for the sins of the world. His arms were stretched wide on the cross as if in welcome. His redeeming love reaches out to the ends of creation. Our commission if we are His followers is to bring this message of His love and grace to our neighbours both locally and globally until He comes again.
As we accept this call to be witnesses for Christ and make disciples of all nations let’s be encouraged and instructed by Scripture. Let me sum it up with three short phrases. We are to go to the world –
By His Grace
In His Strength
For His Glory
We engage in mission by the grace of our Lord. Our testimony is not that we are better than others. Christians are just as guilty, broken and lost as everyone else in this world but we have a Saviour! We are trusting in One Who has come and suffered with us and for us and so we are forgiven, healed, restored and comforted. No other religion or philosophy can offer such assurance.
We engage in mission in His strength. The Son of God became incarnate and triumphed over sin and evil and death in the flesh, in weakness and vulnerability. As the Father sent Christ so He sends us, in the flesh. We are so human and fallible, at times confused and anxious just like these first disciples. We may have questions that will only find answers in heaven but we choose to believe. We trust Jesus Who calls and authorises us. His Spirit fills us with His power giving us the courage and wisdom we need. We’re not alone. Our Master is with us to the end of the age!
We engage in mission for His glory. If we live for our own pleasure and gratification we will be disappointed. Christians are not out to make a name for ourselves or build our own little empires. We live to promote His name above all names, to seek first His kingdom and will worldwide. We offer ourselves heart and soul in service to this cause.
Let us rise then, prepared to go wherever He may send, willing to do whatever as He may guide, by His grace, in His strength, for His glory, encouraged by this promise in Scripture - that those who live for His glory in this present imperfect age will share His resurrection glory in the age that is to come!
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