Matthew 28:11-20
Reflect
Today, we will reflect on this passage using two quotes from Frederick Dale Bruner’s commentary on Matthew:
“When the Lord launches his resurrection mission, mysteriously his enemies mount a counter-mission. Thus at the resurrection two missions begin simultaneously: that of the women to the church (Matt 28:1-10) and that of the soldiers to the Sanhedrin – one to advance the gospel, the other to arrest it.” We should not be surprised that the enemy is also at work, but clumsily so. How would sleeping soldiers (who would be severely punished for sleeping on the job) know what happened? The concocted story is rather ridiculous.
Do you feel like the enemy is on a counter-mission around you? Declare out loud the truth over your circumstances that the power of the resurrection of Jesus is far greater. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
“Significantly, those now commissioned are not called leaders, church officers, or even apostles, but simply disciples.” The Great Commission was not given to qualified leaders in the religious structure of the day. Instead, the Mission was given to ordinary people to share Jesus, inviting others to become baptized believers, and teaching through lives lived together the commands and principles that Jesus taught.
Jesus is still giving His mission instructions to us today. Is it your life’s mission? How are you engaging in it in your everyday life?
Pastor Melissa
Pray
- Pray through the prayer section in our program.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Mike Bartusek and his family.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth and Worship Pastor and Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Associate.