Doubting and Blessing
A reading for Thursday, April 16, 2020: Matthew 28:16-20
It's always amazed me. In these last few verses of Matthew's account of Jesus. After everything that has happened, all the stories of Jesus and his miracles. The profound teaching. The healing and compassion extended across every imaginable boundary. Even at the last when the risen Jesus stands before his beloved disciples in the final victory of God over sin and death, Matthew tells us that some worshipped... but even then, some doubted. Some doubted?
That some doubted is amazing in and of itself, but not the most amazing thing in the story for me. The most amazing thing is the reaction of Jesus. Jesus still doesn't condemn. Our Lord doesn't separate the believers from the non-believers. He doesn't get angry or yell at them. Even then, Jesus would not withhold his blessing even for the doubters. He offers it to ALL of them:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Amazing Grace!
It's always amazed me. In these last few verses of Matthew's account of Jesus. After everything that has happened, all the stories of Jesus and his miracles. The profound teaching. The healing and compassion extended across every imaginable boundary. Even at the last when the risen Jesus stands before his beloved disciples in the final victory of God over sin and death, Matthew tells us that some worshipped... but even then, some doubted. Some doubted?
That some doubted is amazing in and of itself, but not the most amazing thing in the story for me. The most amazing thing is the reaction of Jesus. Jesus still doesn't condemn. Our Lord doesn't separate the believers from the non-believers. He doesn't get angry or yell at them. Even then, Jesus would not withhold his blessing even for the doubters. He offers it to ALL of them:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Amazing Grace!
Comments
Post a Comment