Matthew 28: Risen! (7)
Pray Psalm 22.29.
All the prosperous of the earthShall eat and worship;All those who go down to the dustShall bow before Him,Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
Sing Psalm 22.29.
Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth
All the prosp’rous of the earth shall before His mercy fall;
bending low before His worth, hear them humbly on Him call.
Even those low in the grave He will by His mercy save.
Read and meditate on Matthew 28.1-20.
What is Jesus saying to you?
Prepare.
1. Why is this chapter so important?
2. What is the Great Commission?
Meditate.In Matthew 2, the world came to Jesus, to worship and adore Him. In chapter 28, Jesus sent His disciples into the world with the Good News of the Kingdom of God. In between those chapters, Jesus fulfilled His earthly calling to bring near the Kingdom of God, take away the sins of the world, and open the door to eternal fellowship with the Father.
No lies of the devil, powers of demons, schemes of men, or force of arms could keep Jesus from fulfilling His calling. And none of these can keep His love from us, or us from fulfilling what He has appointed us to do. In his gospel, Matthew has fulfilled a portion of what the Lord assigned him—to teach all things whatsoever Jesus taught, so that the Good News might come down to us today. We are the link between Jesus, Matthew, and generations of faithful witnesses to the generations that will succeed us. We must not fail to take up our calling.
The women who saw Jesus alive from the dead were faithful to their appointed task. The disciples who met with Him in Galilee proved faithful in theirs. Matthew’s gospel ends like a gauntlet thrown down at our feet. Or better, an invitation to full and abundant life, following Jesus and obeying His will to make all the nations disciples. Jesus Who issued the Great Commission is watching us. But even more, He is with us always. He will grant us everything we need to be faithful in our generation.
But we must embrace making disciples as the “as-you-are-going” aim of our lives. The world may despise or mock us, but the world needs what only Christians can offer through Christ—forgiveness, eternal life, unshakeable hope, and a calling laden with eternal significance here and now. As we conclude our study of Matthew’s gospel, we encourage you to embrace your calling all over again in prayer, and commit yourself day by day to seeking the Kingdom in an as-you-are-going life of making disciples and glorifying God.
And enjoy the company of Him Who is with us always, even to the end of the age.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it” (Matt. 28.2).
When Saul’s son Jonathan, and his armor bearer, were wreaking havoc on the Philistines (just the two of them) there was such a commotion that all stopped to take note. “And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling” (1 Sam. 14.15).
Great rumblings should surround the people of God as we are going out into our Personal Mission Fields to wreak havoc on the hold Satan has on our culture and acquaintances. When we roll back the stone from the door and say, “Come, see the place where He lay. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (Matt. 28.6) we are doing God’s work. We are doing what we have been called to do. And then when we teach others to observe all the things that God has commanded His followers to do, we are “making disciples” (Matt. 28.19, 20).
When we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6.33) we are being His disciples.
We are His disciples—not because we expect it to be fun, or amusing, entertaining or self-serving—but because it is right. And obedient. When you live in the Kingdom you follow the King.
Our King is the One Who died for us. He is the Son of the God Who loves. He is worthy of all worship.
All obedience. All loyalty. All love. All respect and fear. All our thoughts and intents of our heart.
He is All in all. And He will be with us always even to the end of the age (Matt. 28.20).
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See, from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
(Isaac Watts, 1707)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” (Eph. 1.3, 4) to make a rumble as we are going.
Reflect.
1. How do you expect your Christian life to impact your world today?
2. Who will benefit from your discipleship today, as the grace of God flows to and through you?
3. What’s the most important lesson you take away from our study of the gospel of Matthew?
Even so, Lord Jesus, be Thou with us and all Thy people; cause Thy face to shine upon us, that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 28.18-20
Pray Psalm 22.30, 31.
Prepare in prayer for opportunities to talk about Jesus today. Encourage your fellow believers, serve the lost, and look to Jesus to be with you as you are going.
Sing Psalm 22.30, 31.
Psalm 22.30, 31 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Let the generations all witness to His saving grace;
let them to all nations call, “Bow before His holy face!”
Let the children of the earth hear of Jesus’ saving worth!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Men, check out the fall schedule of reading and study groups. Lots of opportunities here to grow and make some new friends. And look over the books in our clearance sale at The Ailbe Bookstore.
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast features excerpts from the book, Patrick: A Devotional History. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column continues our study of “Everyday Christianity”. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
