13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the gov- ernor's ears, we will persuade him and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught ; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him : but some doubted.
18 Aiad Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All j)ower is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ;
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
These verses form the conclusion of the Grospel of St. Matthew. They begin by shewing ns what absurdities blind prejudice will believe, rather than believe the truth. They go on to shew us what weakness there is in the hearts of some disciples, and how slow they are to believe. They finish by telling us some of the last words spoken by our Lord upon earth, — words so remarkable that they- demand and deserve all our attention.
Let us observe, in the first place, the honor which Ood has put on our Lord Jesus Christ Our Lord says, " all power is given unto me, in heaven and earth.''
This is a truth which is declared by St. Paul to the Philippians, " God hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name." (Phil. ii. 9.) It is a truth which in nowise takes away fi-om the true no- tion of Christ's divinity, as some have ignorantly supposed. It is simply a declaration, that, in the counsels of the eternal Trinity, Jesus, as Son of man, is appointed heir of aU things, — that He is the Mediator between God and man, — that the salvation of aU who are saved is laid upon Him, — and that He is the great fountain of mercy, grace, life, and peace. It was for this ^'joy set before Him that He endured the cross." (Heb. xii. 2.)
Let us embrace this truth reverently, and cling to it firmly. Christ is He who has the keys of death and
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hell. Christ is the anointed Priest, who alone can ab- solve sinners. Christ is the fountain of living waters, in whom alone we can be cleansed. Christ is the Prince and Saviour, who alone can give repentance and remission of sins. In Him all fulness dwells. He is the way, the door, the light, the life, the Shepherd, the altar of refuge. He that hath the Son hath life, — and he that hath not the Son hath not life. May we all strive to understand this. No doubt men may easily think too little of God the Father, and God the Spirit, but no man ever thought too much of Christ.
Let us observe, in the second place, the duty which Jesus lays on His discijyies. He bids them " go and teach all nations." They were not to confine their knowledge to themselves, but communicate it to others. They were not to suppose that salvation was revealed only to the Jews, but to make it known to all the world. They were to strive to make disciples of all nations, and to tell the whole earth that Christ had died for sinners.
Let us never forget that this solemn injunction is still in full force. It is still the bounden duty of every disciple of Christ to do all he can in person, and by prayer, to make others acquainted with Jesus. Where is our faith, if we neglect this duty ? Where is our charity ? It may well be questioned whether a man knows the value of the Gospel himself, if he does not desire to make it known to all the world.
Let us observe, in the third place, the public profession which Jesus requires of those who believe His Gospel. He tells His apostles to " baptize" those whom they received as disciples.
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