5 by 5

5 by 5?

They use the phrase “5 by 5” in commercial radiotelegraph communication to relay the answer to two questions. The first question is known as QRK, “How do you receive me?” The second is known as QSA, “What is the strength of my signal?” The answer to these two questions is a numerical value on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the lowest value indicating the worst score, and 5 being the highest value indicating the best score. Therefore, the response, “5 by 5” to the QRK (receiving) / QSA (strength) question indicates the ideal.

Chapter 28 of Matthew’s gospel begins with a scene of violent sensory overload! In the midst of the supernatural earthquake, an angel of the LORD explodes from heaven with the blinding appearance of lightning! Understandably, the most seasoned, hardened, and trustworthy guards quaked in their boots (and soiled loin cloths) as they looked on in absolute terror and bewilderment! All this vanishes from consciousness like a drop of dew in the Sahara when the most profound and reality shattering event in history is heralded by this angelic being, “He is not here, for He has risen.”

Place yourself there in that violent scene of unprecedented magnitude. Earthquake - check. Angelic being rocketing from heaven - check. Blinded by something akin to lightning - check. Jesus’ tomb open - check. Battle-tested veteran soldiers wetting themselves and calling out to mommy - check. Empty tomb - check. Now ponder that statement for a moment. “He has risen.”

Now you’re (understandably) sprinting from the scene under the duress of sensory, psychological, and spiritual overload - contemplating, befuddled, and overwhelmed - when Jesus, the risen one, appears before you and says, “Greetings.” Take the index finger of your dominant hand and push your lower until it snaps shut. Scripture communicates the immediate response; “they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.” The tidal wave of emotions and questions ends abruptly as He speaks, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” A few short verses later we read, “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.”

In the violent emotional, psychological, and spiritual calamity of the resurrection - amid all our questions, fears, and awe - Jesus does not sit down to play Q&A with us. “Hey Jesus, what about people in jungles and remote places who have never heard of you?” Matthew’s gospel communicates that, in light of the resurrection, the only appropriate response is knee-bending, foot-kissing worship unto obedience.

We’re told “the eleven remaining disciples went to Galilee… as Jesus had directed them.” When they saw the Risen One “they worshiped Him,” but we also find out “some doubted.” Jesus, Christ incarnate, our crucified Savior was anticipated from Genesis 1:1, “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” He was foreshadowed in Eden, the ark, the Law, the Exodus, at Sinai, the priesthood, the kingship, the prophets, the miracles, the tabernacle, the temple, and countless prophecies. His birth was anticipated by Scripture, announced by creation, and heralded by shepherds. His identity was confirmed by John the Baptist, and more importantly the Father and Spirit, at His baptism. He demonstrated authority over demons and the supernatural, over storms, disease, sickness, and death. He taught, preached, laughed, loved, and cried with us - not from within sanitized palatial wall, but rather from the pits, trenches, cesspools, and dung heaps. Beaten, ridiculed, mocked, scorned, and utterly rejected, He carried our cross outside the city walls and allowed Himself - Heaven’s Glory - to become sin and shame. Minute after excruciating minute, hour after unbearable hour, He stayed nailed there, parched, heaving, and laboring to breathe… until it was finished. Three days later as they approached His tomb… earthquake, lightning… “He is not here. He is risen.”

Yet, “some doubted.”

At the end of Matthew’s gospel Jesus issues a sort of QRK/QSA survey to His disciples - frequently referred to as “The Great Commission.” In light of who we are as broken, misguided, and corrupted humanity, and in light of who Jesus is as the risen LORD, the first question Jesus asks is, “How do you receive Me?” Do we receive Him as a moral teacher, a fictional character, a religious icon, or as Matthew announced, “Jesus, Christ (Messiah / Anointed One / King), the son of David, the son of Abraham”?

Then Jesus asks the second question, “What is the strength of My signal?” or more appropriately, “What’s the signal of My strength?” How do we receive Him? Is it with rejection, with superficial and polite religion, skepticism and doubt, or authentically as the Christ?

The gauge of how we receive Him is indicated exclusively by the signal of His strength in our lives through worship unto obedience. This is seen in how we respond to His imperative command, “disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” (Matt 28:19). How we respond to The Great Commission is our response to Jesus’ QRK/QSA. There is no sliding 1-5 scale.

Jesus asks, “How do you receive Me?”

Then He asks, “What is the signal of My strength?”

Is your honest answer “5 by 5?”

Thank you for reading, liking, and sharing!

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com