April 17 - Congrats, Now Go!

Matthew 28:16-20

Maybe it’s because we’re about to enter graduation season (whatever that may look like this year), but when I read the Great Commission this time, I thought of students donning caps and gowns and preparing for the next chapter of their lives.  For years they’ve been learning best practices from teachers and professors.  Some may have served as interns or apprentices and now they’re given a chance to put what they’ve learned into action - on their own.

The Great Commission is like Jesus’ commencement speech.  He’s telling the disciples that they’ve been given the tools they need to be successful in the world, it’s now time to “Go” and do what they’ve been taught to do.  But he assures them they will not be alone.  He’ll always be with them.

Stepping into a new way of life after graduation can be scary.  Those who were students, become the teachers.  It’s their turn to pass on their knowledge to others.  That was the point of Jesus coming to earth, wasn’t it?  He wasn’t meant to only touch the lives of a few, but through his instruction and example, he mentored 12+ who would go out and continue his mission - creating a chain of reaction that would last for centuries.

Jesus, thank you for the instruction you provided and thank you to all those who shared your lessons.  Each day we are called to pass on what we’ve learned from you.  May we always remember the importance of our mission and rest in the comfort of knowing that when life gets scary, you’ll always be with us.  Amen

Graduation Day

Matthew 28:16-20

These five verses are the cornerstone of every church that proclaims discipleship as part of its mission.  And in this season of graduation, the Great Commission feels like Jesus’ commencement speech – telling his students to go and used what they’ve learned to make the world a better place. How incredibly cool would it be to have Jesus as your graduation speaker?!?  I imagine the disciples listening intently to his every word, soaking up his wisdom before they're tossed into reality.

Let me jump back a bit to verse 17 which makes reference to some of the disciples doubting.  It’s no secret in my family that I’m a pessimist who can find the negative in any situation.  And these days it’s easier and easier to live in that place of negativity.  As I was reading the passage, I underlined the following words… all, everything and always.  Counselors are taught to be on the lookout for these words because people often say things like, “All of them hate me” or “Everything went wrong” or “I always screw things up.”  When used as generalities, these words can distort our view and trap us in negativity.

If I were present at the Great Commission - as cool as it would be - I’m pretty sure I’d be sitting there thinking to myself, “Oh no, he wants me to go out there and tell all nations to obey everything. How am I going to do that?  I can’t do that!  I’m not going to be any good at it.”  Panic would set in before the words even left his mouth.

But then his parting verse (v. 20) would hit my ears, “And surely I am with you ALWAYS, to the very end of the age.”  Here is my breathe moment.

“Hey, wait… maybe I CAN do this with HIS help.”  So each day when I’m tossed into reality I repeat to myself, “He is always with me. He is always with me.”  And I begin, along with my fellow disciples, to use what I've been taught to go and fulfill his great call.