“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” Matthew 28:20.
The resurrected Jesus had instructed His eleven disciples to go to a certain mountain in Galilee where He Himself would come and meet with them. When He arrived at the mountain, some of them fell down and worshiped Him; however, some still had doubts. They had difficulty believing that Jesus who had been crucified was indeed alive! What would bring about a change in their thinking?
A change would be worked through His Word. Standing before them as a true human being, He assured them that He also is the Son of God. He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,” Matthew 28:18. He is the almighty, everywhere-present Son of God. The disciples did not have any difficulty with Jesus’ humanity; He stood in their presence as a true Man. But they had difficulty believing that He also is true God.
Today, there are people who also doubt that Jesus is both true Man and true God in one Person. It calls for faith which is worked in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Scripture reports, “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit,” 1 Corinthians 12:3. What is the means that the Holy Spirit uses to bring us to faith in Jesus as the Son of Man and Son of God? This question is answered by the apostle Paul in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, where he writes, “He called you by our Gospel,” 2 Thessalonians 2:14.
The Gospel is the Good News that touches the heart of each sinner: “God loves you!” “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3:16. In the Gospel, God comes calling, “Sinner, stop running away! Jesus took all your sins upon Himself, and with His holy, precious blood, He washed all your sins away! Fear not! There is no need to run!” That message touches the heart and moves the sorrowing sinner to turn around and behold the face of our forgiving Father!
Now, our loving Savior wants us to share this message with other sinners. “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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you,” Matthew 28:19. This is the great commission given to the Holy Christian Church – that is, to all believers and only believers in Jesus as the Son of God and our Savior. How is it possible for us to carry out this great responsibility? We have the Savior’s promise, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age!” We have the Savior’s promise that He will bless our witnessing unto the end of time. Trust Him! He will not let you down!
“Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee,
Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head,
With the shadow of Thy wing.” Amen.