May 1, 2022
Morning Service

Our journey with Jesus through the Gospel of Matthew concludes today after over a year of placing ourselves as the 13^th apostle.  There is not a lot written in any of the four gospels about the time between Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension. I want to touch on what John wrote about this time before we finish up with our study in Matthew.   He wrote the most, about 1 ½ chapters, telling of His appearance to all the disciples except Thomas (if you miss church you miss something).  This is followed by another appearance described in chapter 20:

Joh 20:26-29 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"  (27)  Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."  (28)  And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"  (29)  Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

            Thomas felt he had to see Jesus to be able to believe and did so by confessing His faith saying; “My Lord and My God!”  Jesus then speaks of our generation who have not seen, yet still believe being “blessed.”  We do not have the blessing of seeing Jesus in person, but we are not alone.  We are blessed to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to teach and to guide us along our journey.  We are blessed to have the very Words of God in a Book as our road map to salvation and to living a pleasing life for our Lord.

            Also in John’s gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples as they are fishing and eats with them on the shore.  It is here that He restores Peter reaffirming his calling despite his failures.  Notice how many times Jesus asks Peter the same question.

 

Joh 21:15-17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."  (16)  He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."  (17)  He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.”

            I am sure it is intentional that Jesus asks Peter three times “Do you love Me” to mirror the three times he denied Him.  After each affirmative answer, Jesus directs Peter to assume the leadership role that he has been chosen for.  We know he does do that through our study of the Book of Acts.  It is Peter that steps forward and preaches the first sermon upon the giving of the Holy Spirit in the upper room (Acts 2).  I also want to look at how the questioning conversation continued between Jesus and Peter.

 

Joh 21:18-23 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."  (19)  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."  (20)  Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"  (21)  Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"  (22)  Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remains till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."  (23)  Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remains till I come, what is that to you?"

            There are important and practical points made here to us through this conversation with Peter.  First, we see Jesus is very transparent with us that He is not calling us to a life of ease, comfort, and wealth.  Persecution, trials, and heartaches will be a part of each of our journey with Jesus.  I believe as time goes these things will increase for those who are truly committed to following.  Secondly, Jesus makes it very clear for us to keep our eyes upon Him; “Follow Me!”  Each of our journeys are unique to us.  Jesus had plans for Peter and plans for John that were different.  Jesus directs us here to not ever compare our journey to the journey of others.  This is the principle again that He is the Potter and we are the clay.  What authority do have to dictate to God what He has planned for us.  We are called to follow regardless of which path God chooses for us to take.  It may not be the one we would choose, but again He is leading and we are following.  Trust Him to lead you down the path He has chosen knowing that He is with you.  Now as we finish Matthew we receive our mission statement on what our main focus should be.

 

Mat 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.  (17)  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.  (18)  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

            For the disciples, this is the last words on this earth that we hear Jesus say.  His final words are short and powerful.  With His death, burial and resurrection all things have been made new and now “all authority has been given to Him in heaven and earth.”  He has invested greatly in each one of us and now commands us to go in His authority and make new disciples of all nations.  We are commanded to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The task does not end there as we are called then to teach these just as we have been taught.  Teach not only the knowledge of the scriptures, but the application as well.  “Teach them to observe all things I have commanded you.”  We are to be doers not hearers only!  This is the referred to often as the “Great Commission.”  Commission refers not only to the command to perform a task, but also infers the giving of the authority to do so.  The Apostles now go out in full authority speaking and acting in the authority of Jesus, the Son of God.  It is so fitting that we are studying the Book of Acts on Sunday evenings as we now see how they fulfilled this commission.  They established local churches and empowered the leadership there handing over to them this same authority.  We here at the Bride of Christ Fellowship have been given this same commission and authority.  Everything we do must be run through this mission statement; make new disciples, baptize them into the faith, and teach them to know and observe the commandments of our Lord and Savior.  Each part of our ministry here at the Bride must line up with this commission.  Everything we do must be about winning souls to the Lord, and bringing glory to the One who gave His all for us.

 Our new journey begins now as we seek to be the church God wants us to be.  How do we get there?  We will begin to study some of the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the churches he helped establish and apply that knowledge to our fellowship here in Mitchell Indiana.  As we study together, we will grow together.  Grow into the disciples that God has designed us to be; full of love and good works striving to fulfill our commission well. We embark on this exciting journey together empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.  There are exciting things ahead and Jesus has promised; “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

 

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of salvation that came at a great cost with the DBR of Jesus our Savior.  Thank You for calling each one of us to follow You.  Thank you for bringing all of us together here at the Bride to make this journey together.  Grant to us the wisdom, courage, and faithfulness to fulfill this commission well.  Use each one of us to do our part exhorting and loving one another as brothers and sisters.

 

For anyone who is spiritually minded we know that we are living in a perilous time period.  Satan’s time is running short and he is “as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”  He has come to steal, kill and destroy and he is good at his job.  To know we may be in the last times should not be a reason for us to be afraid or scared, but to be excited.  We may be alive to see our Lord return in the Eastern skies.  It is now more important than ever to be drawing closer to God.  Part of the end times is that many will be deceived.  The more we study and live out the scriptures the harder it will be for us to be deceived.  The Hebrew writer encouraged us in this way”

 

Hebrews 10:22-25 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  (24)  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.