Mateus 28

Mateus 28

Morgan - BORROW From this Verse - Mt 28:16-20 “On Those Words I Staked Everything” As David Livingstone, the great missionary and explorer, journeyed down the Zambezi River, searching for the ultimate entrance into Central Africa from the Eastern Coast, he was wide-eyed. The country teemed with elephants, buffalo, and all kinds of wildlife. A thousand dangers encompassed him, from snakes to fevers to savages. He gradually left friendlier areas and pressed on toward uncharted regions filled with hostile tribes. His guides were nervous, nerves taut, motions quick. Reports filtered in of warriors and headhunters massing against them, ready to massacre his whole party. Livingstone pulled his Bible from his baggage, opened it, and ran his finger again across his favorite passage, Matthew 28:20, and his courage revived like the rising sun. In his journal that evening, January 14, 1856, he wrote: Felt much turmoil of spirit in prospect of having all my plans for the welfare of this great region and this teeming population knocked on the head. But I read that Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor, so there’s an end of it! I feel quite calm now, thank God! The next morning, he pressed on. Nothing earthly shall make me give up my work in despair. I encourage myself in the Lord my God, and go forward. Later, having returned to Scotland and England on furlough, Livingstone was considered a national hero. When Glasgow University arranged a well-publicized ceremony honoring him, Livingstone spoke freely of his determination to soon return to Africa: But I return without misgiving and with great gladness. For would you like me to tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude toward me was often hostile? It was this: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” On those words I staked everything, and they never failed. Comfort For Today Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:20 Today's Scripture : John 11:17-27 Over the last 50 years I have often reminded bereaved people of the wonderful truth that a glorious resurrection awaits all who believe on Jesus Christ. But sometimes grieving people are so overwhelmed with their loss that they cannot rejoice in the prospect of a far-off-in-the-future reunion. In John 11, we read about Martha’s struggle between her feelings and what she knew to be true. She was grieving because her brother Lazarus had died. When Jesus spoke with her, she told Him that she believed in a future day of resurrection. But then Jesus took her a step further and helped her to find comfort by focusing on Him rather than just on a future event. He declared, “I am the resurrection and the life” (v.25). This led her to confess her faith in Him (v.27). Her new focus on Him must have helped her because she then went to her sister Mary and told her to come to Jesus (v.28). I've been through the valley of weeping, The valley of sorrow and pain; But the God of all comfort was with me, At hand to uphold and sustain. —Anon. The coming King is our present companion. Another, Walking Beside Us! TODAY’S READING: Matthew 28:16–20 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. -Matthew 28:20 In 1922, American poet T. S. Eliot wrote the poem “What the Thunder Said” about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Who is the third who walks always beside you? When I count, there are only you and I together But when I look ahead up the white road There is always another one walking beside you. Eliot notes, “These lines were stimulated by the account of one of the Antarctic expeditions . . . it was related that the party of explorers, at the extremity of their strength, had the constant delusion that there was one more member than could actually be counted.” There is indeed another walking beside us. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). What a magnificent promise. His presence accompanies us just as He accompanied the disciples during the days He walked this earth. He is with us in every circumstance of life, a fact that gives us courage when we have no other encouragement but His love. How might it help to take a moment to envision Jesus alongside you right now? How does that affect the way you approach the challenges you face? I’m thankful that You’re always by my side, Jesus. He Is Here Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." —Luke 24:36 Today's Scripture : Luke 24:36-45 Surprise! Surprise! The eleven apostles had gathered together on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. They were discussing the strange happenings of the past few days, and had just listened to a report from two men who said they had seen Jesus. Suddenly He was there! Then the Savior said, “Peace to you” (Luke 24:36). I wonder if we realize when we meet together—at church, in our home, in our prayer meetings, in our gatherings with friends—that Jesus is also there. He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Do we really believe He is with us and listens to every word we say, and that He sees all we do? Some scholars were discussing the great authors of the past. One asked, “What if Milton should suddenly enter the room?” “Ah!” replied another. “We would honor him and compensate him for the little recognition he received in his day.” A third man commented, “What if Shakespeare entered? Would we not all stand and proclaim him King of the Poets?” Then someone ventured, “And if Jesus Christ should enter?” There was a long silence, until finally one said: “But gentlemen, He is here!” Although we cannot see our Lord, We know that He is here; His promise is dependable: He always will be near. —Hess Our greatest privilege is to enjoy Christ's presence. In All Kinds Of Weather Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:20 Today's Scripture : Acts 18:9-11 When Jesus sent His disciples out, He gave them this promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Literally, the word always means “all the days,” according to Greek scholars Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown. Jesus didn’t simply say, “always,” but “all the days.” That takes into account all our various activities, the good and bad circumstances surrounding us, the varied responsibilities we have through the course of our days, the storm clouds and the sunshine. Our Lord is present with us no matter what each day brings. It may be a day of joy or of sadness, of sickness or of health, of success or of failure. No matter what happens to us today, our Lord is walking beside us, strengthening us, loving us, filling us with faith, hope, and love. As He envelops us with quiet serenity and security, our foes, fears, afflictions, and doubts begin to recede. We can bear up in any setting and circumstance because we know the Lord is at hand, just as He told Paul in Acts 18:10, “I am with you.” God’s unseen presence comforts me, I know He’s always near; And when life’s storms besiege my soul, He says, “My child, I’m here.” —D. De Haan Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. —Isaiah 55:6 Ever-Present Presence Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 Today's Scripture & Insight : Matthew 28:16–20 During the 2018 World Cup, Colombian forward Radamel Falcao scored in the seventieth minute against Poland, securing a victory. The dramatic goal was Falcao’s thirtieth in international play, earning him the distinction of scoring the most goals by a Colombian player in international competition. Falcao has often used his success on the soccer pitch to share his faith, frequently lifting his jersey after a score to reveal a shirt with the words, Con Jesus nunca estara solo: “With Jesus you’ll never be alone.” Falcao’s statement points us to the reassuring promise from Jesus, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Knowing He was about to return to heaven, Jesus comforted His disciples by assuring them He’d always be with them, through the presence of His Spirit (v. 20; John 14:16–18). Christ’s Spirit would comfort, guide, protect, and empower them as they took the message of Jesus to cities both near and far. And when they experienced periods of intense loneliness in unfamiliar places, Christ’s words would likely echo in their ears, a reminder of His presence with them. How does the assurance that Jesus is always with you provide comfort? How has He comforted you when you felt alone? Jesus, thank You that I’m never alone because You’re with me. Jesus Is Here [Teach] them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 Today's Scripture & Insight : Matthew 28:16–20 My elderly great aunt lay on her sickbed with a smile on her face. Her gray hair was pushed back from her face and wrinkles covered her cheeks. She didn’t speak much, but I still recall the few words she said when my father, mother, and I visited her. She whispered, “I don’t get lonely. Jesus is here with me.” As a single woman at the time, I marveled at my aunt’s proclamation. Her husband had died several years earlier, and her children lived far away. Nearing her ninetieth year of life, she was alone, in her bed, barely able to move. Yet she was able to say she wasn’t lonely. My aunt took Jesus’ words to the disciples literally, as we all should: “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). She knew that Christ’s Spirit was with her, as He promised when He instructed the disciples to go out into the world and share His message with others (v. 19). Jesus said the Holy Spirit would “be with” the disciples and us (John 14:16–17). I’m certain my aunt experienced the reality of that promise. The Spirit was within her as she lay on her bed. And the Spirit used her to share His truth with me—a young niece who needed to hear those words and take them to heart. By: Katara Patton https://www.preceptaustin.org/practice_page How are you encouraged by the reality that Jesus is with you today? How have you experienced the comfort of the Holy Spirit? Thank You, Jesus, for sending Your Spirit as my comfort and companion. Remind me of Your presence throughout this day. Not Remote Control I am with you always, even to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:20 Today's Scripture : Matthew 28:16-20 Years ago television didn’t have remote controls. To turn the TV on or off, to change the channels, or to adjust the volume, you had to leave your chair, go to the set, and get personally involved. Now, through remote controls, your favorite chair is like a distant throne from which you can make your TV do your bidding. Some people think of Jesus sitting on His heavenly throne and directing His earthly servants from afar. But before He ascended He said to His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). After commissioning them to go and make disciples of all nations, He assured them, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (v.20). British scholar F. F. Bruce puts it this way: “He accompanies His agents. He does not energize them by remote control; He is present with them by His Spirit. They work for Him, but He works in them.” The Holy Spirit gives us power To witness far and wide, Equipping us to do God's work And changing us inside. —Sper God works in you so He can work through you. QUESTION - What is the significance of Jesus saying, “I am with you always even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)? ANSWER - The final verses of Matthew 28 contain what we refer to as the Great Commission. Jesus gave believers their mission—to make disciples—as they live under His authority and as His representatives on earth. This mission will continue to the end of the age. Christians have the assurance that God is with us, no matter what happens, even “to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). As Jesus’ time on earth neared its end, He often told His disciples of what was to come, including what would happen at the end of the age. The “end of the age” or “the end of the world” (KJV) means the end of this present era and the commencement of the next dispensation. At the end of the church age, the end-times events will occur, God will judge the wicked, and Christ will return again to establish His kingdom (Matthew 24). Jesus had told His disciples that He would be killed but would rise again (Matthew 16:21). He intentionally gave them specific ways to recognize that the end was near (Matthew 24:4–14). Although Jesus did not give the disciples all the details of the end of the age, knowing they would not fully understand, His warnings came with assurances that would sustain them. Each time He warned them or gave them a command, He also gave them hope. For example, when He forewarned His followers that they would have trouble in this world, He also assured them, saying, “‘Take heart. I have overcome the world’” (John 16:33). Jesus’ warnings and commands to His own are never found apart from His assurances. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He instructed His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). This promise that He would be with His disciples even to the end of the age still holds true for believers today. We are not yet to the end of the age. In His promise to be with His disciples always, even to the end of the age, Jesus did not mean He would physically be with them. God is with us always through His Spirit. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised His disciples that He would send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to them (John 14:26). Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwells all believers from the moment they are saved. He guards and guarantees our salvation (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30), leads us into righteousness (Galatians 5:16–18), reminds us of what is true (John 14:26), and gives us godly wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:10–11). Through the Holy Spirit, we have assurance that God is in control and that He is with us always, even to the end of the age. Just as God promised Joshua that He would never leave him or forsake him (Deuteronomy 31:6), so Jesus told His disciples, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (NKJV). This promise sustains us as we seek to make disciples and live as God’s representatives on earth, no matter what trials or difficulties come our way. Related Resource: What does it mean that Jesus is God with us QUESTION - What does the Bible mean when it refers to the end of the age? ANSWER - The end of the age (“end of the world” in the KJV) refers to the end of this present era and the commencement of the next dispensation. It is the period that precedes the second coming of the Son of Man as the Righteous Judge. The end of the age includes the rapture, the tribulation, the second coming, and the judgment of the nations, all of which help usher in the age to come. Jesus refers to “the end of the age” a couple times in Matthew 13, as He explains the meaning of some parables. In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus warns of a judgment to come in which “the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire” (Matthew 13:40). This will happen, Jesus says, “at the end of the age” (Mt 13:39–40). Later, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a dragnet that brings up all sorts of fish. Then the sorting comes: “They sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age” (Mt 13:48–49). In both parables, the end of the age is associated with a separation, a sorting, and a burning fire (Mt 13:40 and 50). Jesus used the phrase the end of the age to refer to that time in the future when the kingdom of God is established, true justice reigns, and the wicked are judged. In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples come to Him with a question about the end of the age: “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3+). What follows is the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ summary of end times’ events as they relate to Israel. The disciples thus understood the end of the age to mean “the final judgment that accompanies Jesus’ second coming.” The end of the age will be a great calamity for those who persist in their rejection of Christ. Judgment will fall swiftly and with finality. For the children of God alive during that time, the end of the age will be a time of salvation and fulfilled hope. One “age” or era leads to another. Jesus spoke of both “this age” and “the age to come” (Matthew 12:32). The current age, the one in which we live, is the age of grace, which we also call the church age. In this dispensation, all mankind is called to repent of their sin and turn to Christ for salvation. This age has lasted for 2,000 years because God “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). But this age must eventually come to an end. At the end of the age (literally, the consummation of the age), the age of grace will be complete, and a far more glorious age will be ushered in. Until then, “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2)—repentance should not be delayed. Christians have the Lord’s promise that He will never forsake us in this world, no matter what happens: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Related Resources: What does the Bible say about the end of the world? What are the signs of the end times? What is the battle of Armageddon? How can I overcome my fear of the end of days? Does Bible prophecy predict that there will be a World War 3 (III, three) before the end times? RELATED HYMNS All Hail, Ador­èd Tri­ni­ty Always with Us Art Thou Watch­ing o’er Me? As Each Hap­py Christ­mas As the Sun’s En­liv­en­ing Eye Be Pre­sent, Ho­ly Tri­ni­ty Blest Sav­ior, Near to Thee Bright Glo­ry Beams Bring the East­er Li­lies Christ My Help­er Close to Us All Come, Fa­ther, Son, and Ho­ly Ghost Come, Ho­ly Ghost, Who Ev­er One Come, Ho­ly Ghost, with God the Son Companionship with Je­sus Constantly Abid­ing Dear Jesus, Ev­er at My Side Eternal Fa­ther, When to Thee Father, Let Thy Smil­ing Face Father Most Ho­ly, Mer­ci­ful, and Lov­ing Father Most Ho­ly, Mer­ci­ful and Ten­der Fear Not, I Am with Thee Forth from Their Fa­ther­land Get Close to Je­sus Glory to God the Fa­ther’s Name Glory to God the Tri­ni­ty Go, Her­alds of Sal­va­tion, Forth Go, Said the Voice of Hea­ven­ly Love God Be with You Till We Meet Again God Is with Me (Clark­son) God Is with Us God the Fa­ther, God the Son Grow Like Je­sus Hail, Co-es­sen­tial Three Hail! Fa­ther, Son and Ho­ly Ghost Hail Fa­ther, Son and Spir­it Great Hand in Hand with Je­sus He Goes with Me He Is Not Far Away He Is with Thee He Nev­er Has Left Me Alone He Will Not Leave Me Alone Heavenly Fa­ther, All Cre­ation He’s with Me All the Time His Pro­mise to Me Holy Tri­ni­ty, Thanks and Praise to Thee Hour of Part­ing I Be­lieve in God the Fa­ther I Can­not Drift Be­yond Thy Love I Dared Not Hope I Have Christ in My Heart I Take Thy Pro­mise, Lord If the Sav­ior Jour­ney with Me I’ll Be with You I’ll Go with Thee! I’m Hap­py in Je­sus To­day I’m Not Alone Jesus Him­self Jesus, I’ll Go Through with Thee Jesus Nev­er Fails Jesus, the Help­er Jesus, with Thy Church Abide Just Where Thou Art Leave Me Not, O Gen­tle Sav­ior Light Be­yond the Sha­dows Little Mis­sion Band Lo! I Am with You Lo! I Am with You Al­way Lord, Let Us Feel That Thou Art Near Mighty Fa­ther, Bless­èd Son Moment by Mo­ment Music of God’s Word, The Music of the Soul, The My Sav­ior Jour­neys by My Side My Sav­ior Walks Be­side Me Never Alone (Pic­kett) Never Alone (Pin­fold) Never Alone (White) No Dist­ant Lord Have I O Bless­èd Ho­ly Tri­ni­ty O Je­sus, Friend Un­fail­ing O Let Him Whose Sor­row O Lord, with Toil Our Days Are Filled O Son of Man, Who Walked Each Day Oft When the Day Is Drea­ry Onward Will We Go Praise to the Tri­ni­ty Praise Ye the Tri­une God Savior with Me, The Somebody Cares (Bil­horn) Sovereign Lord There’ll Be No Dark Riv­er There Three in One and One in Three To Know That He Knows To Thee, O Dear, Dear Sav­ior! We Be­lieve in God the Fa­ther We Bless the Tri­une God of Might We Leave Thy House, but Leave Not Thee Whenever I Think of Him Wheresoe’er I Roam Wise Men Seek­ing Je­sus With Me All the Way Wonderful Je­sus Your Best Friend Is Al­ways Near