Evening Scripture

Matthew, Chapter 28 

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Evening Reflection 

The Spirit of God is a sending spirit. Think of a spaceship sitting on a launchpad. What a waste to have it sit there indefinitely. Its entire purpose is to be launched up and out. God enters the story of humanity time and again to bring transformation and good change. The Lord encountered Abraham and sent him to wander a land his descendants would one day inherit. God delivers the Israelites from slavery to a land of promise. God so loved the world that he sent his Son to teach, save, and reconcile us back to himself. What else could the Son of God do but send his disciples out to do the same? It’s the nature of the Spirit he gave them, to go out into all the world and preach the same Gospel Christ did. 

In Matthew 28, the writer shares what we call the Great Commission, Jesus sending out his disciples to continue the Kingdom mission he began. In John 20:21, Jesus says, “As the Father sent me, so I send you,” and he breathes on them the Holy Spirit, as he received from the Father before his ministry after baptism. We haven’t been given the Spirit to sit in pews but to go and bring hope to others. Could be across the street or around the world. But you have the same sending Spirit to empower you with the Gospel of Peace. Where’s your mission field?

Evening Prayer 

Heavenly Father,
You have given me your Spirit, a sending Spirit, and I choose to go. Don’t let me grow comfortable or still when you call me out. Fill me with courage to carry the Gospel into the places you led, across the street or across the world