Holy Trinity Sunday

Article for May 31, 2026

Matthew 28:16 16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

Matthew tells us that two Marys had gone to the grave of Jesus.  Jesus spoke to both Marys as they were on their way to tell the apostles what they had seen.  Jesus was telling them to tell His disciples to go to Galilee.  (Matthew 28:10).  We assume that the eleven disciples in this case are the remaining eleven apostles as Judas had committed suicide after betraying Jesus. 

This is another time the apostles were together to witness Jesus resurrected.  Jesus had not finished teaching the apostles everything they need to know and what God the Father’s will is for them.  Jesus was about to give them the “Great Commission” the will of God that will spread God’s word beyond the ascension of Jesus Christ to sit at the right hand of the Father.

With all the commotion of Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection the apostles’ heads must have been spinning as they tried to make sense of all that took place before their eyes.  Jesus, whom they saw crucified and now alive again and not just walking but asking to be fed and eating. (Luke 24:41-42).  They were seeing it, believing it, but the question in their mind had to be whether they were all having the same dream or this is as real as it gets, pinch me please.

Matthew 28:17 17And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

Of course, the apostles will go to Galilee as this is another chance to be with their Lord Jesus and see Him yet again.  By now, whatever Jesus asks the apostles will resolve to do.  This is the risen Lord; this is Jesus Christ whom they had followed for three years.  The time with Jesus must have felt like yesterday and yet so long ago if that could make any sense. 

Now if the apostles came, we can be sure that other disciples came too.  After all, there were many converts even before Jesus was crucified.  Some came believing and some came wanting to believe but doubting.  It’s not like we see a resurrection every day or even every few years.  This was something new and something hard to grasp.  Jesus is the first born through resurrection.

Hey, we have many who doubt even today because the world wants to fog our judgment.  We even have Denominations who doubt the Holy Scriptures because they have fallen to the traps of this world.  But our faith is in the hands of God and though we have times of doubt, God brings us back through His true and inspired word.  For some they will harden their heart towards God’s word, but for true believers we will embrace it.

Matthew 28:18 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

The world fails to see who is in control.  Some think they control their destiny, others think they control their wealth, and there are others who think they can control the world.  Many so-called Christians think they can remold God into their image or an image that serves their desires.  Mankind has no true authority because mankind does not know everything as they may pretend to. 

We fool ourselves with false science; don’t get me wrong this is not that confusing as there is real science which God also created.  But many try to prove there is no God so they can justify our desires to do unethical acts.  If you follow science, and I do, they are constantly finding what they thought, they knew, they don’t really know because they can’t and they find themselves rewriting science every day.

In the end the authority belongs to Jesus Christ as He says in heaven and on earth.  That means whatever authority the world thinks it has it does not, unless we succumb to it, and that is on us at that point.  Jesus is the authority that we should always pay close attention to.  He is our Lord, our King, Jesus is our God, not to mention Jesus is our Savior.

Matthew 28:19 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Jesus in His authority commissions His apostles, disciples, and even us as we too are disciples, to make disciples of “all” nations.  Regardless of one’s race, color, or even creed if you think about it.  Whatever one’s creed is beyond believing in Jesus Christ has gotten them lost.  We have been commissioned to help them get found.  So, Jesus has commissioned all who believe to go out and make disciples by the word of the gospel and then baptizing all nations, that is, all peoples.

Matthew 28:20 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Now that you have them baptized and hopefully with a sponsor, is the time to really teach them of their salvation through Jesus Christ.  It does not say teach them, make them accept, and then baptize them.  It says make a disciple, baptizing them in the name, (in the will), of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  And then teach them that Jesus gave us the great commands to love God and to love one another as God loves us as He died for our sins to give us eternal life resurrected as He was resurrected for our salvation and relationship to Him forever and ever.

Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May