1. the Disciples back into Galilee

From Easter and Pentecost we still continue meditations on those two events for 5 months, in seeking to understand how the disciples acted after the descent of the Holy Spirit. The theme is strongly related to our own way of living in this secular world. Today we read Matthew 28:16-20 as a guiding text of our reflection. The passage narrates the reappearance of Jesus after the Cross. He came back to his disciples to encourage and commanded them to preach over the world.

Whereas the four Gospels give almost the same story about Jesus’ death on the Cross, descriptions of the Resurrection lack unity among them. Though Luke and John wrote the resurrection had happened in Jerusalem Mark and Matthew Matthew situated the venue in Galilee, not in Jerusalem. We can presume that there were two patterns of transmission concerning the Resurrection as Jerusalem and Galilee types. However the incoherence of contents doesn’t deny the Resurrection itself. Divergence of details must came from the nature of the event. It means the Resurrection should be understood spiritually, not historically. Disciples experienced and witnessed it through their faith. So much so each witness could give different description, so did Gospel writers. Purely spiritual experience is individual.

At first we see Paul’s witness ;-For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.(1 Corinthians 15:3-16)

What we understand from Paul’s words is that numerous persons witnessed the Resurrection. Nonetheless Many refused to acknowledge that the man whom they saw was the Lord, once died on the Cross. Because resurrected Lord remained invisible to those who didn’t have the authentic faith.

We can not prove the Resurrection scientifically or historically. But we can’t reject the fact that the disciples, believing in it, started and continued preaching regardless of risk of prosecutions, even that of execution. And it is true the church was founded on such a faith.

Matthew reported the words of Jesus before the crucifixion ;- Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ” ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."(Matthew 26:31-32)

Jesus also gave the instruction after the Resurrection to his female followers ;-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.” (Matthew 28:7)

Those two portions above tell that the disciples gat back to Galilee few days after the execution of Jesus. It seems natural conduct because Galilee was their homeland and the first venue of Jesus’ ministries.

In their country though they still felt lost, without Jesus to whom they trusted their whole lives. They had conscience of guilt due to their cowardly behavior at the moment of Jesus’ arrest. Even one of them killed himself pushed by that remorse. In such situations they went up to the mountain, the place where Jesus prayed and met God. ;- Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (Matthew 28:16 )

They followed the words and have there a spiritual experience, in short they met resurrected Jesus.

2. the preaching mission

Even among the disciples there were some who could not grasp the fact through faith;- When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.(Matthew 28:17)
Luke too recorded another similar reaction ;- While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you. They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.(Luke 24:36-37)

The two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus also couldn’t identify the Lord (see Luke 24:13) Those who went up to the mountain in Galilee also could not acknowledged the fact. The Resurrection is so difficult for us as humans to understand. But those reports give us rather hope than confusion. Because it allow us to feel as if the Twelve were not far from us in degree of the faith. When sufferings and pains continue to depress us we commence doubting God’s love and mercy. Our faith is always oscillating between believe and skepticism. Nonetheless Jesus should come to us regardless of unstable attitude as he did so to the disciples. ;- 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, (Matthew 28:19-20)

The disciples were chosen to be preachers despite their untrustworthy behavior and skepticism. They were given the great mission in precise instructions, which are noted in the last verse of the portion above.

“To Baptize” came from “baptizo” in Greek, which means to immerge in water. (go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism) They were ordered to immerge people in water “in the name of the Father, and of the Son , and of the Holy Spirit” That is the origin of today’s baptism of our denomination. We receive baptism in order to enter in the relationship with the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We can keep on the way to the authentic faith. Because we need being guided by the trinity through believers’ relationship in the church. Without that our weakness might divert us from the right way. We learn there interactively to practice Jesus’ golden command “Love each other”.

3 from observer to participant

Todays’ invocation verse is Matthew 18:20 ;- For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

After giving them the preaching mission Jesus encouraged his Apostles, ;- And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

“With you always” is the very meaning of the name ” Immanuel”, given to Jesus by God (see Matthew 1:23). Then Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit too, who must guide all of his followers. Todays’ invocation verse tells when we must feel the presence of Jesus.

For example at the time of observing Sunday services or pray together during the weekly meeting Jesus is among us. When we break bread and drink wine as the Lord’s communion we must aware of the pain endured by Jesus on the Cross. The Bible tells us Jesus is always present beside us when we listen to preaching words or share the Communion. Nonetheless we, as ordinary human beings, can not recognize his presence physically. Even we are sometimes distracted during the worship service. Because we lack in something, active faith.

I watched recently a TV documentary show which broadcasted the record of certain charitable activities carried through in a refugee camps of Kenya. A Japanese folk- duo gave a musical tour there which was supported by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The project’s name is ” Wonderful world project.” Kitagawa, the leader of the band, has been interested in refugee problems and raised donating money for planting trees in Africa.

In 2008 April, before his visit in Kenya he wrote a song “Wonderful world” for that purpose and its lyric pointed out incredibly different life conditions between Japanese and African children. In peaceful Japan children are well protected and perfectly fed whereas in Africa they live in very harsh conditions due to continuous civil wars.

Besides little boys are often abducted to be trained as solders. Kitagawa sings in that song ” God, don’t you do nothing against such an absurdity ?” We feel and understand his desperate anger through the lyric.

But his writing tone changes in the camp. He met there a little girl and she sang a song for him.
The experience impressed him so strongly that he wrote another song , “Haruka ( Far away).” In contrast to the previous one its poem sing serene and calming phrases : “When I look up the sky in the evening glow I feel your glance which share with eyes the same beautiful view.” Hearing that I had the impression that his anger was replaced by the hope of “Immanuel” through magnificence of the nature. He doesn’t any more accuse external world which remain indifferent to sufferings of people in misery. I thought he wished then becoming someone’s “Immanuel”

It should be an authentic stance of faith. As long as we merely read the Bible our understanding remains degree intelligence. And such a passive faith can not change our way of living. To be faithful in real sense we must become active. Kitagawa did. He met Jesus in Africa. Jesus’ disciples met the resurrected Lord and were empowered to engaged in preaching acts. The event pushed them to set to Jerusalem again. At that moment they stopped complaining absence of Jesus and decided to take his role. It was exactly Jesus’ command.

Matthew wrote this way;- 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.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

“To obey Jesus’ command” is to act. The hero of the novel “Shiokaritougue” by Ayako Miura** decided, when he was baptized, to spend his whole to love others. The decision was taken in accordance with the verse John 15:12 ;- My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. The decision changed his way of living.

We too can choose only one of God’s commands to begin practice of faith. For example ;- “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times(Matthew 18:22).

And Whatever happens we make efforts to stay in calm towards our children or colleagues. We strain to remain tranquil regardless of their talking. If we keep in our mind such a decision for one year our conduts might be different from the past. Or it might be the command in Malachi ;- Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.(Malachi 3:10)

Many of you might think the tithe in literal meaning is too much to offer. As a matter of fact, we need to do enormous efforts to respect perfectly the commands. However it is also true that as long as we keep passive stance towards others our belief can not grow our faith. So please become active believers in any means. Once you arrive to that phase you understand what is exactly your given mission so that you will find peace and joy in you soul.
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* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5algHGqVRs
** Ayako Miura http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayako_Miura