Sunday, May 31, 2026
Sunday Reflection: Teaching, not conquering
In Matthew 20, Jesus encounters the Apostles after his resurrection:
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
I prefer the version of this story we find at the very end of John, where Jesus makes breakfast for the Apostles on the shore, but let's deal with this one a little.
He tells the Apostles to do three things:
(1) Make disciples everywhere
(2) Baptize them
(3) Teach them.
I've always wondered about the order of this. When I was young, I viewed it as sequential (that is, we are to do things in that order- make disciples, baptize them, teach them), and it did not make sense-- how can you make a disciple, or baptize someone, if you haven't yet taught them about the faith?
Of course sometimes it does work that way, in that order. People are drawn to the faith and accept it before they have learned much about it.
But now I think it is just a list of three interdependent things, not an ordering of events, and of course teaching is primary.
I'm also struck by how this is different than conquering other cultures. It is talking to people, building relationships, and deep human connection. Of course, much of our history does not reflect that view, sadly....
