What more can He do

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Having given the disciples the command to share the good news of salvation with others, Jesus also gave them a promise that He would always be with them whether in life or in death.

[Author and speaker Brennan Manning has an amazing story about how he got the name "Brennan." While growing up, his best friend was Ray. The two of them did everything together: bought a car together as teenagers, double-dated together, went to school together and so forth. They even enlisted in the Army together, went to boot camp together and fought on the frontlines together. One night while sitting in a foxhole, Brennan was reminiscing about the old days in Brooklyn while Ray listened and ate a chocolate bar. Suddenly a live grenade came into the foxhole. Ray looked at Brennan, smiled, dropped his chocolate bar and threw himself on the live grenade. It exploded, killing Ray, but Brennan's life was spared.

When Brennan became a priest he was instructed to take on the name of a saint. He thought of his friend, Ray Brennan. So he took on the name "Brennan." Years later he went to visit Ray's mother in Brooklyn. They sat up late one night having tea when Brennan asked her, "Do you think Ray loved me?" Mrs. Brennan got up off the couch, shook her finger in front of Brennan's face and shouted, "What more could he have done for you?" Brennan said that at that moment he experienced an epiphany. He imagined himself standing before the cross of Jesus wondering, Does God really love me? And Jesus' mother Mary pointing to her son, saying, "What more could he have done for you?"

The cross of Jesus is God's way of doing all he could do for us. And yet we often wonder, Does god really love me? Am I important to God? Does god care about me? [adapted from James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful God (IVP, 2009), p. 142]]

The starting lyrics to the song What More Can He Do say:

What more can he do, Tell me what more can he do? He sent loving arms down from the sky, 'Cuz he cares so much for you and I.  

Never in my imagination, Did I ever see so clearly, Someone who has a concern for my life,

 'Til your love came and found me. You loved me when I didn't even love myself, A love that will be there when there's nobody else. So with my voice I'll sing this little song of praise, 'Cuz when I think of what he's done all I can say….. What more can he do, Tell me what more can he do? He sent loving arms down from the sky, 'Cuz he cares so much for you and I.  

Praise God, Praise Jesus, Praise the Holy Spirit for the love that has been shown to us!