Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 16-20
It was the Great Commission. Jesus was sending His disciples out into a hostile world where
they would face many of the same issues that He faced as He basically turned the world
upside down. He wasn't what the messiah was supposed to be like. He didn't overthrow the
enemies of the people of Israel and act the part of the King that He was. They failed to
recognize Him and, in fact, gave Him up to be crucified.
But these disciples were armed with the Holy Spirit of God and had the privilege to have
witnessed the walk of Jesus during which He taught with words and with actions. He would
never have said, "Do as I say and not as I do." He wouldn't have passed out WWJD jewelry
to his disciples so that they would know what He wanted them to do and say. They had
lived the earthly ministry with its great miracles and its major disappointments. His death
had brought a horrible end in their eyes and they scattered and hid for fear of their lives.
Yet, He rose from the dead and came back to them.
Perhaps the most amazing look at the modeling of Jesus came in the upper room during
the Passover Meal, the Last Supper. Here Jesus would kneel before these men who He
knew would react just as they did. The King of Kings knelt before them and washed and
dried their feet, a true example of the love and humility that he expected of them. He
washed the very feet of those who would deny Him, offer Him up to be crucified and
refuse to believe that He had risen again. It was the unselfish, loving example of serving
others that went on display before them; it was a lesson in caring for and loving others.
it was the type of thing that brought glory to His father and expressed His love and
compassion for His followers who would begin the great task of spreading the good news
to the entire world.
No one was like Jesus. No one could ever be. Our goal is to allow the Spirit within
us to work at transforming us into creatures more like his image. What a glorious
image that is; what a truly great God He is.
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