"I am with you always, even to the end of the age"

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

- Matthew 28:11-20

In yesterday's reading, we read about the events at the tomb on the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. There was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards were terrified. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." The women ran with great joy to tell the disciples, but on the way Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. The Gospel tells us once again about truth and manipulation, a life based around appearances versus the acceptance of truth. Whatever we may say about this story, it serves once again as an example of what Jesus condemned the most: the hypocrisy of living through manipulation of appearances, and the lawlessness that lives in anyone who "loves and makes a lie," who cannot love truth.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." My study bible says, "This is the terminology of exaltation and glorification. It manifests the power of His resurrection, and the authority to bring human beings back to life." Jesus is now the Risen Christ, the almighty. This is the fruit of the "grain of wheat fallen into the ground." It is a universal fruit, a yield of cosmic proportion.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." My study bible tells us here that "if we observe this context for the Lord's command to make disciples of all the nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we see that making disciples cannot be done in the strength of man, but only in the power of God. The reality of the Resurrection refers not only to its historicity, apostolic witness, and necessity for faith, but also to its power in our Christian life and mission. The resurrected Son of God, living in us and energizing us, makes possible the salvation of all." In this message, Christ teaches His disciples what they must now do. It's the time in which we await His return, and we have a job to do if we are His disciples. There's really no limit to this teaching, this commandment that Jesus gives. There's no limitation on "make disciples of all nations." There's also no limit on "all things" -- Jesus' words and teachings can't really be taken out of context. We can't have the message of one command or another, one teaching or another, without the full context of His messages of love and comfort, and of His sacrifice nor His Resurrection. All are a part of the package we inherit, and we learn, in which we all share. Lest we doubt, the power that is behind all these things and these commands the disciples are given isn't limited to the ministry alone, but consists of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In this baptism, which immerses us in a spiritual death and Resurrection, we are claimed for the cosmic powers that rule this Kingdom: Father, Son and Spirit.

"And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Here's the promise, the personal promise Jesus gives them and us. My study bible teaches us: "By saying He is with you always, Jesus means His Resurrection is neither of the past, nor of the future. It is always present in our lives through the Holy Spirit. We know Him directly, here and now, in the present, as our Savior and our Friend. To the end of the age does not by any means imply that we are to be separated from Him after that great consummation. He is with us now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen."

So we end the Gospel of Matthew. It began with a genealogy, giving us a picture of the history of Israel. All hope is in this Messiah. But He comes to us as a Messiah not only for Israel but for all the world, for the "people of God." Here His command teaches us what that means, that there is no limit on discipleship nor on ministry, that all the cosmic powers of heaven are within this ministry and this baptism of those who would be God's people, that all things He taught and commanded are a part of discipleship. Jesus is risen to a cosmic reality, the fullness of a Kingdom, within which we live and work and have life, within which there is ministry and discipleship -- and there is no limit to this discipleship nor this ministry. That's really simple, isn't it? There is no limit to this ministry of what we might do, where we might go, what we might learn of His commandments and teachings for ourselves and for our lives. So, if you look about today for what it is that you are called to do, remember this: that in this teaching is all the power of Father and Son and Spirit, and in the fullness of this Kingdom is all authority in heaven and on earth. When you turn to Christ, who is with us always, even unto the end of the age, remember what and to Whom you turn. You turn to that which is unlimited, to that which unblocks every path, sets all who would be free out of every spiritual prison, claims for itself all the disciples of every nation who would be part of the Kingdom of God. When you ask, "What do I do?" remember the Power you are asking, the unlimited power at work in the answer you may be given. "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." His love is always with us.