Reflection: New life in Christ
When I was in Malawi recently, I was privileged to meet a young man who had turned to Jesus the night before. I asked him to describe what it was like to wake up that morning, a changed person whose life is now in Christ Jesus. He explained that it felt like the first morning after his wedding. He awoke with a sense of uncertainty because he didn’t have a clear full picture of what life was going to look like, but he knew without a doubt in his heart that he’d fully committed to this new life. That’s how he compared coming to faith in Christ Jesus: he will never turn back.
In this passage we see the disciples meeting with Jesus – Jesus, who had died and yet, as promised, had conquered death, been resurrected, and overcame the grave. Whilst many disciples worshipped Jesus, some doubted. I can only imagine that they doubted, because they could not clearly understand what had happened, were confused and trying to come to terms with what they had seen and experienced and what following Jesus – life on this side of the cross – now meant.
Despite some doubting, Jesus gives all the disciples the same instruction with the same authority – the Great Commission. And he promises, even to those who doubt, that he will be with them.
Prayer:
Father we pray that when doubt creeps in as we share the good news of Jesus and live as Christians in a fallen world that you will help us to look up to you and not away from you, to know that all authority in heaven and on earth is with you, you’re worth trusting and you’re with us to the very end of the age. In your name we pray, Amen.