Pentecost

Devotions to Pentecost. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “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 28:16-20.

Even with God’s physical revelation of the risen Jesus, some still have doubts. In this encounter with Jesus, seeing is not necessarily believing. How could they witness the divine miracle of the risen Jesus and still have doubts? We see that there is no guarantee that we will receive the blessing of belief, with or without physical proof.

Some of the eleven still have doubts because they cannot see Jesus with their hearts. Faith is kept from them. What might be keeping us from faith? How might the Lord soften our hearts today?

Jesus gives them his authority to baptize in the name of the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Without this command and power, they will have no authority to forgive and baptize. Even in our weaknesses and doubts, God invites His people to join Him in His will for the world, in His mission of reconciliation and salvation for His people.

Jesus’ holy command is all-inclusive: the disciples must share the gospel with all peoples, all nations, with all authority from above, and with the constant presence of Jesus. Jesus is our advocate with the Father, our forgiveness and justification before God, and our hope to the end of the age.

God is calling us to be a part of His mission of salvation for His creation. Are we ready to leave our plans behind and follow Him today? 

Devotions to Pentecost: Do Not Be Afraid (Mat 28:1-10)

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, “Greetings,” He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Women are the first witnesses to the resurrected Jesus, the first to proclaim the good news. They see the living Lord, fall to His feet, and worship Him. At His feet, Jesus commissions the women to tell the disciples all they have seen and heard – to testify to the truth of the resurrection.

From a posture of worship they move into mission, trembling with fear and stumbling over one another in joy. There is no pause in their actions. They do not stand around wondering if they should trust their vision. They do not take time to discuss how best to share this news. The Lord calls them to be His messengers and their response is reflexive and immediate. Their witness to the disciples becomes the witness to the world.

The women at the tomb did not hesitate to tell the good news of the risen Lord. May the Holy Spirit help us today – to take away whatever may impede our response to tell the good news of Jesus Christ.

Devotions to Pentecost: Their Eyes Were Opened (Luke 24:13-31)

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 

“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, Jesus took break, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

These disciples do not recognize the risen Jesus because he is not what they are expecting.  All that Jesus can offer them in and through his resurrection is beyond their imagining.  In this encounter, Jesus continues to care for his community – teaching them, breaking bread with them.  He shows them that the Word of God is alive – it breathes life into us and allows us to move forward in our witness. He takes them back to the beginning of scripture and all that he taught them during his life. They do not understand the fulfillment of God’s Word so their eyes are kept from recognizing him.

It is in the midst of fellowship and communion that their eyes are opened. Each time our church shares in the breaking of bread together, Jesus is made known to us. We see Jesus for who he is: his body broken that our broken lives and broken world may be made whole again.