Who is the first person you turn to when you walk through difficult times? Maybe you turn to a family member or a friend. Each one of us wants support and comfort from loved ones when we face difficulties and disappointments in life. We often forget, however, that there is One far greater than any person we could turn to on this earth, and that is Jesus. In fact, during the weekend message, we were reminded that Jesus is the only one who can see us through our pain that we face in this life.
The last words recorded in the book of Matthew are words of comfort from Jesus to His disciples. So much had happened in the lives of Jesus’ disciples over the last three years. They received invitations of a lifetime from Jesus to follow Him, bravely left everything to accept His invitations to follow Him, learned from Jesus, saw Him perform remarkable miracles all around Him, faced backlash from religious leaders who did not approve of or believe in Jesus, saw Jesus arrested and brutally killed on a cross, and, finally, saw Him miraculously resurrected from the dead. Needless to say, they had likely experienced profound joy along with deep sorrow over the last three years. In Matthew 28, we read about some of Jesus’ final moments with these disciples whom He had walked with and taught over the last three years before He returned to heaven. Here is what He said to them: "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you" (verses 18-20). Now that He was leaving, they were tasked with carrying on His ministry by making more disciples of Jesus. Jesus certainly knew the danger, hardship, and persecution that awaited them as they made Him known to everyone around them. He ended His instruction to them with these words of comfort: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (verse 20). Through all of the difficulties, heartbreaks, and challenges they would face, Jesus would still be with them, even if they could not see Him physically anymore. Because He would be with them, they could find comfort and courage in the most difficult times.
What was true for Jesus’ disciples is true for us today. He is with us through every high and low we face in life. He is with us in our moments of joy and our moments of sorrow. One thing I know for sure, my friend, is that He will always see us through our pain.
What pain, struggle, or disappointment are you facing today? Whatever you are facing, turn to Jesus. Instead of coming to Him and telling Him what to do, come to Him just to be with Him. Share how you are feeling, and let Him bring you comfort and hope. He will always walk with you through everything you face.
1Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
The Report of the Guard
11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
