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16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 NIV)
This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday, when the Christian Church affirms our belief in God as Three in One; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The scriptures for this week will all center on that faith that we have that God is three persons in one. This is the lesson from the gospels and we will immediately see why.
The Lord instructed the disciples to return back to Galilee, to the mountain where He had told them to go. When they arrived they found Him there, and they worshiped Him, and a key phrase of this verse, "some doubted." We must remember the Bible is a completely honest book. The truth is that even today, in all churches there are those who doubt. Most go to church for valid reasons yet have not fully come to faith, and even all Christians will have times or periods of doubt. Doubt is not bad in and of itself, and sometimes it is healthy. Doubt should be but a stop in our journey of faith. The way I see it is that this whole thing of the resurrection and the appearance and visit of the Risen Christ was more than their limited minds could take. Some were capable of worship, and some were not; yet we do not judge this as the place they stayed. The best thing was they were there, for Jesus shared with them power and authority in this way, "All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me." Jesus had received this from His Father and with it, He is able to say, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." This is what is known as The Great Commission, giving the disciples the permission to go and do that which would grow the kingdom. The first command is to go, meaning get up and go to where this can take place. The second part is to make disciples of ALL nations, no exceptions. Once these new disciples are reached, they are to be baptized, in other word, received into the Body of Christ by having their sins washed away and receiving the authority to reject evil in all the forms in which it is presented. And, here is the key for us on this special Sunday, this baptism is to be done in the name of "the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Jesus spoke of this happening in the name of the Trinity. Jesus also says we are to teach them those things they are to obey, and then the promise of Jesus always being with us always, even to the very end of the age.
What a scene and what a reallity. Worship and doubt, commision and mission, baptism and education, challenge and promise; what we encounter in our lives. The day in and day out challenge of life and the commitment we have to have faith and to be faithful; some days easier than the other even when some days seem impossible. And all this on the day that Jesus would leave them as they watched Him asend into the clouds to regain His proper place at the right hand of God. They had been chosen by Jesus to carry out what others may have seen as an impossible task, but His presence and power led them through the three years of preparation, and now even with Him not visibly present, His word and HIs promise was more than enough. And the idea of God being in three triples the promise, for God is truly with us, facing whatever we face, and God will see us through.
PRAYER: God of the ages, God of today, You better than anyone know what we face and You know the task still ahead of us. Lord, help us accept the commission to do the mission. May our time with You in worship and doubt make us stronger, and may it guide us to victory; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Praise and believe in the God of Three in One today in ways that invite others to join us.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
If you need an awesome study Bible, can I recommend this Parallel Bible? Click on this link for more information: https://bit.ly/3qi68cU
