RECKLESS ABANDON CONT.

RECKLESS ABANDON CONT.

BLOG HOST, 10-6-2010

HOST:  JAY MARTIN

Matthew 26-28

            I have enjoyed reading through the Book of Matthew with you.  I have been challenged and stirred by Jesus’ Words.  In the first blog I hosted, from our first reading, I shared with you that Jesus’ words showed His reckless abandon to God’s will.  As I have read those words fresh and new, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I saw with clarity just how extreme some of His words are.

            But Jesus does more than teach others, and more than talk.  He separates Himself from the religious leaders in so many ways, but in our passage today we see Him separating Himself in the ultimate way.  Jesus’ reckless abandon to God’s will for His life was carried out in words and in His deeds.

            Jesus struggled with the “cup” he had been given to drink.  We see the humanity of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, as He agonized with the Father over His assignment.  Yet, He comes to the conclusion that the only way to fulfill the Father’s will is to carry out the assignment, which would involve His crucifixion.

            I was struck today in the reading by just how alone Jesus was at this critical time in His life.  His best friends, those closest to him, Peter, James and John, slept while He agonized.  He needed them awake to fight through prayer and intercession this spiritual battle with Him, and yet, they did spiritually here what they would soon do actually—they abandoned Him when He needed them most.

            Matthew’s gospel doesn’t reveal the name, but John’s gospel does—Peter tries to be the hero.  When the religious leaders come with Judas, it is Peter that tries to defeat them with a sword.  While he has poor aim, he has worse timing.  The battle Jesus needed him to help fight was the spiritual battle.  Jesus had angels that could fight any physical battle.  But Jesus was surrendered to God’s will for His life.

            Then, for most of us, we have the familiar passage of the Lord’s sham trial both before the religious leaders, then the Roman government and finally the crucifixion.  Jesus’ words are few but powerful—He says that He is the King of the Jews.  He says that He will be seated at the right hand of God.  And, oh, by the way, the next time He comes, He won’t be born in a stable obscurely.  Every eye will see Him as He returns to earth riding on a cloud. 

            We see earlier, that even though His humanity cried out, His reckless abandon to God’s purpose won out.  We see here, that in the midst of betrayal and abandonment, He remains recklessly abandoned to God’s purpose.

            I was struck by Matthew 26:56(b):  “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.”  Then, Peter disowns Him three times.  Finally, as He is dying on the cross, even the Father breaks company with Him.  For the first time in all of eternity past and present, God the Father and Son are separated.  Jesus felt the way we do when our sin separates us from God.  Jesus cries out:  verse 46:  "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

            Now, truly all alone, Jesus dies.  But He doesn’t stay dead.  Instead, He comes back to life in three days, and after gathering His disciples, He gives them an important message—it is where the gospel of Matthew ends.  We call it the Great Commission:

            Matthew 28:18-20:  "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

            Reckless abandon has its rewards—now our Risen Lord has all authority in heaven and on earth.  His obedience to the point of death ripped authority over death, hell and the grave from the enemy.  No longer would satan be in charge of earth.  Now, Jesus has all authority.

            Because Jesus is now in charge, earth is ripe for salvation.  Jesus commissions His disciples to make disciples.  Don’t just go and gain converts, but make disciples.  It would cost them having the same reckless abandon that Jesus exhibited.  It would require the same reckless abandon to be a disciple of those who would be reached.  Yet, Jesus set the pattern.

            He also promises His followers to never to do them what they did to Him.  He will be with them always.  To the very end, we are assured of Jesus’ presence.  What a wonderful thought!

            Jesus accomplished the mission of salvation through His suffering—and we see that His reckless abandon won the day.  The enemy who had a front-row seat at the crucifixion had to realize that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are more committed to our salvation than he is to our destruction. What a glorious thought! 

Thanks, Jesus for the price You willingly paid.  Help me to fight the correct battle, which is a spiritual and not a physical battle, and help me live my life to see the Great Commission fulfilled, as I recklessly abandon my life to You.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.