Matthew 28 and 2 Corinthians 4-5

Faithful Christianity or honest Atheism are the two worldview systems with the most complete philosophical consistency and intellectual integrity. Atheism says we are here by chance and life is meaningless. Christianity claims there is a creator and a savior in the person of Jesus–and it all hinges on the physical resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter morning. Is it plausible that Jesus rose from the dead? And if he did what difference does it make? The resurrection of Jesus offers us: 1) an identity that is not performance based, 2) a joy that is not fleeting, and 3) the courage to face anything (suffering, injustice, and death).

Before he was handed over to the Romans, Jesus knew who would betray him. Yet, rather than call out Judas by name, he gives him a chance to repent and gives the disciples a valuable opportunity for self-reflection. While he does say one person in particular will betray him, Jesus tells the disciples that they will all fall away. Every one of the disciples in that room fell away after Jesus’ death, and Jesus welcomed them back anyway. If Jesus welcomed Peter back and reconciled him after his denials, how much more will he willingly receive those who turn their backs on their sin to be reconciled with Christ?

In Matthew 19, Jesus encounters a Rich Young Man who wants to know what he must do to have eternal life just after he has rebuked the disciples for hindering little children from being brought to him. Jesus challenges this man: you don’t get eternal life like a possession, you enter eternal life like a journey–follow me. Have faith like a child, be willing to give up everything, and follow me.

In Matthew 15, Jesus has an unusual interaction with a Canaanite woman. She calls on Him for help, and He seems to ignore her. She asks again, and this time he seems rude. What is going on here? Where is the Jesus who loves the forgotten, who listens to the neglected? Jesus, in his behavior, demonstrates the way society expected a good rabbi to treat a Gentile woman. As the story ends, Jesus reveals his true nature to her and challenges the status quo that culture expected him to fulfill.

[ Unfortunately, our usual means of recording weren’t available this week, so the audio is taken from the Facebook livestream. Apologies for the inconvenience! ]

The pursuit of the kingdom is not a waste of time. Being godly can be criticized by more modern cultures as being foolish, or not worthwhile. Jesus makes it clear for us through his parables in Matthew 13 that anyone who truly believes what he says about the kingdom should already be rejoicing in it. The promises are so full and so certain that, in the parables, people are willing to sell all of what they have for the Kingdom. To the rest of the world, the pearl might look just like a pearl, but we know that it is the secret to joy and peace.

After witnessing Jesus with his own eyes, John the Baptist is sent to prison, and from prison asks Jesus if he really is the Christ. After seeing God pour down from heaven, Elijah is pursued by Jezebel’s armies and asks God to end him. Many churches can treat doubt like a sin, but many heroes of the faith went through doubting periods of their own. The Psalms are full of cries of despair. Luckily, serve a God who loves us despite our doubts. When John was searching for a sign, Jesus reminded him of his faithfulness.

In Matthew 8 and 9, we see Jesus in the early phases of his ministry demonstrating authority over creation to calm not only the sea but also his disciple’s fears. We see him calling the most outcast and hated of people, a tax collector named Levi (Matthew), to new life in him. And we see him offering compassion, healing, and transformation to a woman who was “unclean” for 12 years because of her illness.