This is not an inconsistency of facts, but a difference in the message that Matthew wishes to emphasize in his gospel. For Matthew, Jesus already "ascended" from the shame of his inglorious death when Jesus resurrected. The key messages at the end of his gospel are now the following:
1. Jesus comes TO his church - he is no longer present physically, and rather than emphasize His "going up to heaven", Matthew reassures the disciples that Jesus will continue to be present until the end of ages.
2. The disciples must continue the mission - Jesus commands them to GO, but also provides them the resources because "all the power in heaven and on earth" are now behind this command.
3. The mission consists of three things:
- it is to "all nations", not just to Jews and Israel;
- it is through the "baptism of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit", not through the Jewish circumcision;
- it is based on the "commands" of Jesus, and not just literally following the Mosaic laws (which the Pharisees have used to reduce righteousness to simply following rules and practices).
Other Trivia:
It is interesting that Matthew does not mention the mountain where Jesus meets his disciples for the last time. The biblical "mountain" represents God's presence and revelation: it is in the mountain where Jesus conquers Satan during the temptation, where He preaches the sermon on the mount, and where He feeds the 5,000.
Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), pp. 256-258.
-----
Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
No comments:
Post a Comment