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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28: 19-20).
Jesus' final declaration here, known as the Great Commission, and the subsequent events of Pentecost, mark the new beginning of the Church!
And this new beginning gives us our marching orders as Jesus followers. Baptize others into the Jesus Way, teach the Jesus Way, and trust that Jesus is with us! Boom!
The final piece here is the most important. It is through the living Jesus who is still with us through the gift of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, that we find our strength to preach, teach, baptize, and serve this world in the name of Jesus. We cannot do this without the Spirit of Jesus. It is the fuel source for faithfulness.
As we live into the new beginnings of our lives, in whatever form they take, we have this promise from the living Jesus. His promised presence, called the Advocate in the Gospel of John, is the power for hope and strength amidst our new beginnings. And how wonderful is this!
This allows us to risk new beginnings, to seek new beginnings, and to embrace new beginnings brought upon us. All because of this promise, "I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Loving Jesus, you commit to us so that we can dare new beginnings. Thank you. Amen.
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