Monday, July 8 ~ Day 2

 

“ONE Mission”

 

Matthew 28:16-20

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you.

–Matthew 28:19-20

 

It was only days after Jesus’ resurrection.  The disciples were gathered at a mountain in Galilee.  Days before, the resurrected Jesus told Mary Magdalene and another Mary to tell the disciples to meet him there.  And they did as they were told.  But some doubted.  They had survived a trying few days – Jesus’ arrest, trial, and death.  Everything the disciples had hoped in – Jesus’ future – was squelched within a day.  And now – this.  This waiting to see if Jesus was actually alive.  Could it be?  What would this mean for their future?  What would Jesus tell them to do next?

And then Jesus appeared.  Resurrected, he came in power.  “I have received all authority in heaven and on earth,” he told them (v. 18).   His mission was not over.  Jesus is the Lord of all.  He is the hope of the world.  And he would now trust his disciples to carry on his work.  “Go and make disciples” (v. 19).  Go.  Go and tell people the hope of the gospel – of salvation and resurrection and healing.  Go and make a difference in this world so people can know the love and power of God.  Go.

Jesus trusts us to carry on this work of going and making disciples.  The mission statement of the United Methodist Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”  Christians all over the world are united in this one mission. We are to go into the world and make disciples through our words and actions.  We are to invite people to know God’s love.  We are to witness to the might of God’s power.  We are to be living examples of God’s faithfulness.  We are to go and help people walk as followers of Jesus. 

After their encounter with the resurrected Jesus, the disciples were so convinced in the hope of Jesus that they traveled throughout the world to make disciples.  They healed people, they taught people, they loved people, they helped people.  These people who were once afraid and foolish became walking witnesses of Jesus and forever changed the world.

We often fear this mission.  We don’t know how to make disciples.  We don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.  We feel like we are still figuring out how to be a disciple ourselves.  How then can we go and make disciples?  

The disciples learned the secret of continuing Jesus’ work – they weren’t doing it alone.  Jesus promised them, “I myself will be with you every day” (v. 20).  The Holy Spirit, Jesus’ presence with us, empowered them.  In spite of themselves, the Holy Spirit worked through their words and actions so people saw Christ in them.  May we take comfort in this promise: this is Jesus’ mission.  Jesus is working in and through us as individuals and as a community as we go and make disciples.  Thanks be to God.

Rev. Laura Johnson