Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Thursday, April 25, 2013 I Commissioned My Disciples & Ascended to My Father

Page 331-335         Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:8c, 14a, 15-28, 20;

Luke 24:44-49; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-53

All four Gospels (and the Book of Acts) include a final commissioning command from Jesus. Our reading for today blends the accounts in Mark, Matthew and Luke.

The passages from Mark are known as the extra endings. These additions to Mark first appeared in the late second or third century when those assigned the task of copying scripture began inserting the extra material. Even though these endings were not written by Mark, they do provide insight into how the early Christian community sought to live out the Gospel.

The emphasis on signs and wonders is not consistent with the rest of Mark’s teaching in his Gospel. I believe Mark would have expected the disciples to go into the world with faith in the resurrection, because they shouldn’t need anything else. However, the addition of this material does show how difficult it is to live by faith. The natural inclination of the flesh is to want Jesus to continually reaffirm his presence with miracles.

Our world certainly needs to hear the Good News. Yet, still today the greatest problem in the Christian church is the hesitancy of the followers of Christ to share with others the Good News. The scriptures teach us that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12). While world events can make a person feel hopeless, God has made it possible for us to be a people of hope. “Our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people” (1 Timothy 4:10). I believe Jesus is the hope of the nations. “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14).

God has given the followers of Jesus hope, but too many of his followers choose to keep him to themselves. Too many read today’s text and somehow reach the conclusion that Jesus is not speaking to them. He must be speaking to others. Certainly, they think, he cannot expect that ALL of those who call on him for salvation would obey his command to go and tell others the Good News.

When we accept his command and embrace his life as our life, and accept our responsibility within the church, we become a part of God’s solution for the problems of the world. When we ignore the command of Jesus, we become part of the problem.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20.

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The second edition of my book, First Think – Then Pray has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGQL5JC

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Friday, April 26, 2013   Concluding Thoughts