Tag Archives: disciples

What part of “and he will be raised on the third day” do I not understand?

By joynwonder on | Leave a comment

If only Jesus would speak clearly and directly to me, then I would understand. Oh really?

Matthew 20: 17-19 ESV

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Jesus clearly stated his agenda, and still they didn’t comprehend.

What part of “and he will be raised on the third day.” did I miss?

I hear what I am ready and able to hear. Later on I might be able to hear and remember: “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6

Posted in: Lent 2014 | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Waiting for Advent – I came, I saw, I worshiped but I doubted

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I came, I saw, I worshiped but I doubted
I wonder what the Latin would be? (Veni, vidi, venerari, dubitari, vadi)?

Matthew 28:16-18
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and [spoke] to them…

They worshiped him – and doubted. It was hard for them to believe.  Here, just a short time after the Resurrection, when they saw Jesus, risen from the dead, they worshiped him, but some doubted. When they saw Jesus, some doubted.

Then Jesus came and spoke to them. Presumably, even to the doubters.  We know that He addressed at least one man’s doubts (Thomas).  It was not: ‘Okay, you doubters, stand over here while I talk to the righteous, real disciples…’ No! Jesus came and said to them:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If it was difficult to believe then, we need not be surprised when we doubt.  Doubt does not mean we cannot believe. We still need to go to Jesus, worship him, listen to him.  If Thomas had stayed away because of doubt, he would not have heard Jesus say “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (john 20:29)

It was the eleven disciples who went, no doubt at various stages of belief, faith and doubt, but they went together.  I think this is part of what it means to be the church.  We gather, we see Jesus, we worship, and we hear Jesus.  Then we go and do what he tells us to do.

Posted in: Advent | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,