Because I Am … Go!

Because I Am … Go! Matthew 28.16-20

33. Knowing I was to finish the gospel of Matthew this day, with the Messiah ascending from the mountain and into the Heavens, I was thinking about Jesus, just 33 years of age. Who do you know who is 33 years old? Huh, I have a 33-year-old son and it is easy to see mental snapshots of him at various ages—riding his little bike, dribbling a basketball, singing or dancing to the radio, almost always quick to give me a hug and a kiss, and as a young man, cordially extend himself with a smile to a stranger.

Similarly, I can turn through the pages of Matthew and see snapshots of Jesus in my mind, starting with his miraculous birth to the virgin Mary, foretold some 700 years earlier. Crazy, if not true. We watched Jesus from the banks of the Jordan River as John baptized him, the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, and the voice of the Father announcing his love and pleasure1. There was his testing in the desert2, the calling of his disciples3, the greatest sermon ever preached4, teaching such as never been heard, compassionate, miraculous healings, and so much more!

It is hard to believe it has been almost two years since we started studying Matthew’s gospel together; yes, more than 225 Morning Briefings and accompanying podcasts on the life of our Lord Jesus! [Archived athttp://pastorwoman.com/FTBAll.aspx…] But just as God sent Jesus to be born at just the right time5, so too the Father ordained just the right time6 when Jesus would die—also foretold by Isaiah7. The Jewish leaders, the Roman officers did not catch God off guard when they arrested, tried and crucified Jesus; Jesus was our sacrificial Lamb.

But as you know, the two Mary’s went to Jesus’ tomb on Sunday morning and found it empty. Here’s the rest of the story--pay attention to the word “Go”:

“The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message [go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you]. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”8

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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.”9

Did you see it? Go, go, go. The angel told the women to go tell the disciples about the empty tomb—tell them he had risen from the grave. Next they encountered Jesus who told them to go tell them to meet him in Galilee. And finally, when they were all together on the familiar Mount of Olives, Jesus’ final instructions were: go, tell others about me—give them what you have. And remember, I am with you always.

But wait—did you see what Matthew recorded? “…Some of them doubted!” Oh yes, John recorded Thomas’ doubting in his gospel when he said, “Unless I see the nail prints in His hands, and put my finger in the nail prints, and put my hand in His side, I will not believe.”10 Unflappable as always, Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand here and place it in My side. Do not be faithless, but believing.”11 Jesus is not afraid of our doubts or questions; just as he did with Thomas, he invites us to step closer and examine the evidence.

Our Lord does not expect or demand blind faith. Dozens of messianic prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ alone. Three and a half years of teaching, miraculous wonders and a transparent life invite careful scrutiny of the claims of Jesus that he was the Son of God and our Savior. And once convinced and following in the steps of the Rabbi, we are to Go and tell others of the great news of life in Jesus—the hope, the love, the assurance, the promise.

Thank you, Matthew, for recording all of this for us.

Christine

PastorWoman.com

1 – Matthew 3.13-17
2 – Matthew 4.1-11
3 – Matthew 4.18-22
4 - Matthew 5, 6, 7
5 – Galatians 4.4, NLT
6 – Romans 5.6
7 - Isaiah 53.12
8 – Matthew 28.8-10
9 – Matthew 28.18-20
10-John 20.27