“Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20

We tend to focus on the words of Jesus that are often called, The Great Commission. It is certainly an important part of these verses and the Bible. However, I would like to focus on the final words or Jesus who says, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

It is comforting to hear these words that Jesus will be with us until He returns at the end of this age. However, I think that theses words mean more to us during the most difficult of times. As I was thinking about this concept, I remembered a conversation I had about eight years ago with one of the amazing musicians Nicholas brings to us for our special music services.

Mihail Iliev came once a year for many years to play the bassoon in worship. The bassoon in not the first, or perhaps even the second or third, instrument one thinks about as a special instrument one would hear in a duet with a piano. However Mihail made the bassoon sound amazing and together with Nicholas the music was truly uplifting and always appropriate for worship.

One Sunday Mihail and I had a little extra time to talk either before or after Worship. He shared with me that his great uncle had been the leader of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Spending a few minutes talking, Mihail shared with me the dark days of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church during the time of communist rule by the Soviet Union. His great uncle led a forbidden church with people who faced persecution every day.

Through those dark days, the church continued and most importantly, Jesus was with them! I remember growing up that people worried the church in these nations would be extinguished…but Jesus was with them! Others worried that Christianity itself would cease to exist as the Marxist ideology wanted…but Jesus was with them! Now we see new mission work in these countries and the existing churches growing again.

If you read the headlines, some of the paint a very grim picture in our own country. Recently I read an article predicting how many churches will close their buildings and/or ministry in the next ten years. It was a rather depressing article, although I know there were some inaccurate assumptions that drove the numbers higher. I am thankful we can rely on the words of Jesus, “I am with you always to the end of the age”.

On last thought – the words “And remember…” used to be translated, “And lo…” Both are trying to convey the meaning of a Greek word which really means, “Look here, this is important and should not be forgotten.” Other places in the Bible where the word is used are always important moments. In other words, through all the ups and downs of life we should notice Jesus is with us. Through all of the trials and joys, Jesus is with us. Jesus is with us every day and in every way.

God’s Peace,
Pastor Jon