How do you think Jesus feels when you let Him down? Do you think you have to earn your way back into His good books?
In Matthew 28 we see the risen Jesus speaking to men who had totally let Him down, they had abandoned Him when He needed them most, Peter had denied even knowing Him. How would Jesus respond?
Amazingly, He calls them “brothers” (Matthew 28:10). What grace, but the truth is we don’t get into Jesus’ good books or stay in His good books by our performance, but by His performance. He is able to call them brothers because He has just paid the price for their sin, even their sin of denial and betrayal. Jesus has died in their place for every single sin they commit. And so He is able to call them brothers. He calls them that even before He has met them. How gracious of Him to tell the first eye witnesses, Mary and Mary to go and tell His “brothers” the good news. As the women head off to tell them, the disciples don’t need to fear meeting Jesus, He has already called them brothers. How reassuring. And it’s true for anyone who belongs to Jesus, or will turn to Jesus, we get to join Jesus’ family.
Their response to seeing Jesus is worship. They have understood, that Jesus is the Son of God who died in their place and conquered death. But some doubted – why?! Well first of all, isn’t it encouraging that Matthew includes that. If we were making this up, we wouldn’t say “some doubted”, but Matthew tells us the truth. And it’s reassuring that even men who had spent 3 years with Jesus, and see Him standing in front of them could have doubts. It’s unlikely they were doubting that He had risen from the dead, given He’s standing before them, it’s more likely that they are doubting that they should worship Him as God. These are Jewish men, who have only ever worshipped one God, it’s not surprising that they are hesitant to worship, but they will come to understand Jesus is the eternal Son of God who is worthy of their worship.
Jesus does not stop them from worshipping Him, Jehovah’s Witnesses still deny Jesus is God, but here we see Jesus accepting worship and then commissioning the disciples.
Imagine someone had just rescued you from drowning, and as you came around, they said, “I’ve got something I’d like you to do.” How would you respond? You’re not likely to say ‘no’ given what they have just done for you. Jesus has just rescued His disciples from eternal hell and given them eternal life, and now He says, I’ve got a job for you. This is not for them in anyway to pay Jesus back, we can’t do that, but Jesus is saying, I want you to be involved in changing the world! One life at a time. There is a lost world, full of people heading to eternal hell, people who don’t know who they are and who God is, and they need to hear. Jesus says, Go and tell them about me. Go and make disciples. The disciples are to become disciple-making disciples. Telling others what Jesus has done, anyone who listens to their message and turns from going their own way is to be baptised as a sign of their sins being washed away. They are to be baptised into the name of the trinitarian God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Another confirmation of the divinity of Jesus. And they are to teach others all that Jesus has taught, Jesus words are still relevant to every generation. Times may change, but Jesus’ words do not.
This was a message not just for the first disciples, but for us today as well, all who follow Christ have a duty to help others to follow Him. This is an amazing privilege, but perhaps a little frightening as well! Well Jesus knows us so well. Look what He says at the end of the gospel “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus promised to be with His disciples to the end! He’s with us by His Holy Spirit, helping us in our witness, giving us courage and the words to say. Who could you seek to help to follow Jesus? Why not pray for His help to do this?
Light and Momentary Troubles 
Leave a comment