17 day plan

Jesus. All About Life

Day 14 of 17

NIV

Matthew 28:18-20

18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Reflection from Ben Stephenson:

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You might look at the Church in Australia, on the back edge of 70 years in decline, and be—rightly—concerned about her future. But there is a growing remnant of people—practitioners and not just theorists—of disciple-making Jesus followers. Jesus gives the mission: As you are going, make disciples. Baptising and teaching obedience. And Jesus’ final words here are our assurance of our future hope as God’s people ‘I AM WITH YOU to the end of the age’.

We can read this as ‘Jesus continues to be present with us’, as we know that he sends the Holy Spirit to be our guide and advocate. But it is more than that. Jesus saying, I AM WITH YOU and Matthew including this statement here in his final chapter, is connecting it back to ‘God with us’, the Isaiah quote, that Matthew works into Chapter 1:22-23. ‘A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and call his name Immanuel, which means God with us’.

That Isaiah 7:14 quote is a good one—of God’s loyal love and deliverance of the nation of Israel. He promised that his people had a future, and a king that would rule forever, and they have, and they will. Isaiah wasn’t shy about it either, he says to the opposing nations ‘come against us, you will lose. Make your strategy, it will be thwarted. Give your orders, they will not be executed. For GOD IS WITH US.’ ‘God with us’ is more than a comforting companion, it is victory, success and strength!

Jesus’ commissioning to his disciples and to us, is to play our personal part, in teaching others of God’s commands, and baptising them into the family, and remembering— “MY PEOPLE WILL NOT FAIL. I am loyal to them and WILL preserve them. I am with you.”

‘What’s the best that could happen?’ Don’t be afraid this Easter! In our obedience, our victorious God is with us and will deliver his people and his church. Prepare room for God’s victory in your relationships and the people in your life.

Prayer:  Jesus, thank you that you have guaranteed your protection and the deliverance of your people, so we need not fear. Call us again this Easter into your victorious mission to teach, baptise and make disciples as we are going. Thank you for your presence – YOU ARE WITH US – and for calling us your own. Amen.

 

Author bio:  Ben Stephenson lives in Melbourne and works at a church called Crossway Baptist Church, where he’s part of a big, committed team, seeking to multiply disciples in the teenagers of Melbourne. This is Jesus, all about life.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

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Matthew 28:1-20

Jesus Has Risen

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.