After Rejection—Resurrection

MEMORY SELECTION: “Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [age].” —Matthew 28:19-20

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28

AND the angel of the Lord said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who had gone to Jesus’ sepulcher, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”—28:5,6

Jesus’ faith had been rewarded, and God had indeed raised him on the third day. Pilate, no doubt, had thought that the whole affair concerning Jesus was over. The temple priests also probably thought that they were rid of our Lord. And the disciples were shocked and in despair, believing and hoping as they did, that Jesus had come to save Israel. There were numerous perplexing questions in the hearts and minds of many on that most momentous occasion in the history of the world.

Our Lord was indeed born (of the) Spirit, and he manifested himself in various ways to show that he was no longer a human being. He had sacrificed his life and body of flesh so that he could successfully pay the price for the sins of the whole world. He had, in fact, proclaimed to his disciples that “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”—vs. 18

Time was required to prove that he had been resurrected and that he was no longer dead; and time was needed to show that he was no longer the man Christ Jesus, whom they all knew in the flesh, but that he had been raised a spirit being.

But the commission to the disciples was to go and teach all nations, and to baptize them in the name of the Heavenly Father, and of his Son, our Lord Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit. The word “ghost” as it appears in conjunction with the word “Holy,” in the King James Bible, is an improper translation of the word “Spirit.” The Revised text renders the passage “Holy Spirit.” In any event, the thought in the passage is for the Lord’s people to be active in seeking out those who have an ear to hear the glorious message of the kingdom. There is no suggestion that they go and convert the world. That has not been the commission of the church during the present Gospel Age. During this time, only those who are willing to leave the allurements of this world are invited to take up their cross and follow the Master. The world in general will have their opportunity to gain everlasting life on the earthly plane of existence during the times of restitution which will follow the completion of the body of Christ.

The emphasis was on teaching those whose heart attitude was in harmony with the commandments of the Lord. The word “disciple” carries with it the thought of “pupil,” the thought being, that his followers become pupils in the school of Christ. As the pupil makes progress in the things pertaining to truth and righteousness, then consecration and baptism into Christ will follow. God’s acceptance of this commitment is manifested by justification and spirit begettal. Thus, his sins having been covered by the robe of Christ’s righteousness and he himself being “justified by faith,” the child of God learns to walk in newness of life. These are reconciled to the Heavenly Father through faith in the blood of their Master; and they, in turn, become disciples of Christ as joint-heirs with him in his millennial kingdom if they are faithful even unto death.

And, as our memory text says, our Lord has promised to be with his footstep followers throughout the entire Gospel Age—yes, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit abides with us even unto the end of the age. We believe that we are nearing the end of that age as we witness the various events of his second presence. However, we know that the commission to “go and teach all nations” was not given to the apostles alone, but includes even those who still respond to the invitation to become disciples of Christ. There is still work to be done, not only in spreading the message of the kingdom, but also the work of developing our characters in the likeness of our Master. To this end have we been called.

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