Heading to Kenya!

I love a good movie!  Not only do I love a good movie, I do not discriminate too much between the different genres.  Whether it is action, horror, sci-fi, or movies based on historical events, I can only name a few that I have not enjoyed.  I love a good comedy, even certain romantic comedies with my wife, and I especially love all of the super-hero movies from Marvel Studios.  Aside from the messianic themes that run throughout each of the films with a hero rising up as the savior, what I particularly love is how they end the majority of them.  There is always an epic battle between the young hero and the villain that is promising doom for the realm the hero is vowed to protect (or even the hero himself/herself).  Then, after the battle when the hero stands victorious, it ends on a happy note with a massive cliffhanger telling us that this hero’s tale is not finished but only just begun.

This is how I see Matthew’s account of the “Good News.”  Matthew tells of a hero that rises from meager beginnings as a carpenter’s son.  A hero that comes from a humble unpretentious beginning in a lowly manger.  As Matthew tells the story, he takes great care to ensure his Jewish audience that this hero is without a doubt the hero that the Prophets had spoken of from the house and line of David.  As the story unfolds, however, Matthew also shows us that while this hero is the foretold Messiah, he is very different than what was expected.  This hero was a game changer!  This hero boldly challenges the religious authorities of the time, thinks and acts in a completely different way than anybody else, and spends a great deal of his time building and cultivating relationships with those that society have turned away.  For Matthew, the hero of his story is one who embodies the love, mercy, and grace of God rather than the judgment and wrath.

Matthew’s story, however, does take quite a different turn than the heroes in the Marvel movies.  In Matthew’s story, rather than rising up to fight the impending threat, the hero does the complete opposite and surrenders.  If the story stops at the hero’s death, what kind of story would that be?  Fortunately, our writer doesn’t leave us there.  Then comes the twist.  The hero that we watched die at the hands of the evil villain of the story rises from the dead and wins a sweeping victory!  The cliffhanger that comes at the end of all of the great super-hero movies involves not only the hero of our story, but us.  This is where the story gets interesting.

As Matthew is wrapping up his story of the Messiah, he ends it in Chapter 28, vs 19-20 with Jesus’ final words:

“I have received all authority in heave and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Song and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you.  Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”

The cliffhanger of the story that tells us that the hero’s story is not over and that we can expect an exhilarating sequel is actually our story.  In fact, this is where Matthew’s story differs greatly from the Marvel super-hero films.  In the Marvel films, the story centers around the hero.  In Matthew’s Gospel, the story that he tells of Jesus and Jesus’ life is not really about Jesus…it is about us.  Matthew’s Gospel is a part in a much larger narrative of the immense love that
 our Creator has for us and the lengths that God will go to just for us to know that great love.

This is why we do it!  We go out to the world around us, and even to the opposite corner of the world to be the Body of Christ.  Today 13 of us from various churches in the West District of the Cental Texas Conference are hopping on a plane and heading to Kenya so that we may serve as the “hands and feet.”  Although it is not without its anxieties or apprehensions.  For me....I think the plane ride will take us about a month just to get there.  As we embark on this journey, I invite you to join in ministry with us to the people of Maua, Kenya.  Pray for us!  In addition to the prayers, I invite you to follow this blog.  I will (attempt to) update it daily photos and some events from the day.  To all of you that are already supporting me and the rest of our team... Thank You!!!!

Bwana Asafiwe (means God is good!)