17 day plan

Jesus. All About Life

Day 14 of 17

CEV

Matthew 28:18-20

18Jesus came to them and said:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19 Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

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.

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

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Matthew 28:1-20

Jesus Is Alive

(Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-12; John 20.1-10)

1The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord's angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.

5The angel said to the women, “Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. 6He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. 7Now hurry! Tell his disciples he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. This is what I came to tell you.”

8The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said, “Don't be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”

Report of the Guard

11While the women were on their way, some soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12So the chief priests met with the leaders and decided to bribe the soldiers with a lot of money. 13They said to the soldiers, “Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep. 14If the governor hears about this, we will talk to him. You won't have anything to worry about.” 15The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. The people of Judea still tell each other this story.

What Jesus' Followers Must Do

(Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49; John 20.19-23; Acts 1.6-8)

16 Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. 17They saw him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.

18Jesus came to them and said:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19 Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.