Behold Immanuel

Behold Immanuel!

In light of what those 11 men had been brought through during their three years together with Jesus, which had culminated in this moment standing before the RISEN CHRIST; Jesus then issues His imperative command, “disciple all the peoples..."

Jesus then sheds light on what “disciple all the peoples” looks like, i.e. “...baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The verb form is not “baptize,” but “baptizing.” This is significant because baptize it is not the primary/central verb. The emphasis is still on “disciple.” Baptizing does not refer primarily to water baptism (as most people believe), but instead (as a present active participle) it should be understood as an ongoing process.

We certainly are called to participate in a one-time water baptism as a public symbol of our ongoing intimate unity with Christ in His death (see my previous blog DEATH BY SYMBOL). But baptizing must be perpetually present and active - AND - “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” So what exactly does that mean? Are those just words the pastor recite as part of the ceremony during our one-time water baptism - or is there a profound meaning there?

Throughout the Bible God is always Elohim - the eternal God of commUNITY as Holy Trinity. God the Father always represents authority & will; God the Son always represents simple obedience; and the Holy Spirit always represents power and presence.

So when Jesus continues, “...baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” He is NOT telling us words to memorize as part of a one-time aquatic religious ceremony. He’s telling us that the MANNER (attitude) with which we are to DISCIPLE (central verb) is in “baptizing,” i.e. total immersion in the authority of the Father, the obedience of the Son, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

MANNER is very general as our attitude - while METHOD refers to a specific technique or way of doing something. So when Jesus continues, “...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you,” He is telling us that the METHOD (way/technique) we are to use for baptizing in order to fulfill His command “disciple” in light of “having been brought through” (insert your testimony of what God has brought you through) is TEACHING.

Preaching isn’t discipleship - teaching is. Preaching is heralding a message. Teaching involves dialogue - questions and discussions as we walk through life together. Jesus preached a few sermons, but the VAST MAJORITY of His discipleship process was teaching His friends what baptizing/immersing yourself in the authority/will, obedience, and power/presence of God looks like... Jesus. Putting others first, dying to self, being one in spirit and purpose, and the Cross.

We Christians love the idea of being united with Christ in His resurrection, but we deny, resist, fight, complain, grumble, and avoid being united with Him in His death (Rom 6:5). When God tries to bring us through something to refine our character... we crumble like a toddler being told it’s bedtime - completely blind that our Father wants what is best for us and in obedience the Holy Spirit’s power and presence will carry us through. We like the idea of a one-time magical baptism, but we cringe at the idea of dying to self daily and picking up our cross to follow after Him.

The prerequisite of having been brought through by God puts us in a place where we are able to fulfill Jesus’ imperative command “disciple.” The MANNER of discipleship is “baptizing” - an ongoing process (for self and others) of living in community as God intended - under the authority of the Father, in the simple obedience of the Son, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The METHOD of discipleship is “teaching,” which requires intimate involvement, getting dirty in doing life together, confessing our sin, exposing our weaknesses, and wiping away the facade of having it all together, etc.

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As this passage closes Jesus says to these 11 ordinary men, “...and behold, I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

The Greek language uses the imperative verb (disciple!) as the central/primary verb of this passage. Then at the end Jesus uses the indicative mood, which is the presentation of certainty, to say “I am with you always to the very end.” See, when we’ve been brought through (whatever God has brought us through) and we use that for His fame and glory to DISCIPLE others by baptizing/immersing ourselves in the authority/will of the Father, simple obedience of the Son, and the power/presence of the Holy Spirit... Then we truly are “teaching” them to obey everything Jesus commanded in the way we live our lives.

When we live like that we truly are fulfilling Jesus’ imperative command “disciple all the peoples,” and in doing so His response to us is “Behold! I am with you always to the very end.”

Pretty amazing that God Almighty brings us through, invites us to participate, and in our participating - baptizing - associating - identifying with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Jesus then says, I am (YAHWH - the LORD) with you (Immanuel - God with us) to the very end.

Every day we choose to live like THAT - Jesus’ advent is adorned and truly made manifest in our lives. Then we become like those shepherds on the first Christmas morning who ran through the streets joyfully heralding “Today a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

So what has God brought you through in life?

How are you using that to disciple others?

Are you doing it in community as God created you?

Are you under the authority and will of the Father, the simple obedience of the Son, and through the power and presence of the Spirit?

Are you using it to teach others to obey everything Jesus commanded - not rules and regulations, but to experience community, eternal life, and authentic love?

If so, then Jesus says to you, “and behold, I am with you always to the very end!”

Blessings,

-Kevin