According to this passage, in the kingdom of God the standard of judgment is pretty straightforward: It is our treatment of the least of these. It is not personal piety, doctrinal orthodoxy, or effective evangelism. It is service. You either do things for the least of these, or you don’t.
But this passage also points out that this sort of action begins with who we see when we look at each other. Chances are, we are not looking for Jesus in the least of these; we are not looking for Jesus in the people we would rather not see at all. But our Savior hides himself in those who suffer. The Bread of Life lives in the hungry. The Living Water dwells in the thirsty. Christ the King lives in the prisoner. He is a king who celebrates not the victorious but the least of these. He is a king who identifies with his people in all of the mess, pain, and confusion that life brings. He is a king who walks with the homeless and understands poverty.
Who are these people for you? They are out there; people who actually are without food or drink, clothes or shelter, people in both literal prisons and prisons of their own making, people who suffer the indignity of racism, poverty, inadequate health care, and exclusion. Who are these people for you? And what do you have to give? Who are the people you would rather not see at all? What does your feeding, welcoming, and caring for these people look like? Evidently, quite a lot hinges on how you answer those questions.
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”