The Great Commission Matt 28_16_20

Orientate Scripture: The eleven remaining disciples traveled to Galilee at Jesus’ command, climbed mount Tabor to worship the risen Lord in spite of some remaining unbelief.

There Jesus gave them the great commission or instruction to advance His Kingdom on earth.

CPS: We are not left desperately alone in our task commanded by the Lord Jesus, He gives us a fact, a command, and a promise that by His grace and the sweat from our brow the world can be reached for His glory.

The Fact (Vs.18)

The earthly ministry of Jesus

While beginning His earthly ministry Jesus is set apart by His father for the purpose of His ministry, that is redemptive work.

He is announced by the Prophet John the Baptist heralding the King is coming, repent and be baptized (Mk.1:4)

He is anointed at His Baptism, God the Father declaring this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased (Matt. 3:17)

He is approved in the wilderness as He overcomes the temptations of the adversary as He rebukes Satan using the Scriptures.

In the barren Judean wilderness Satan shows Jesus the Kingdoms of the World and offers them to Him as one having the authority on earth.

But, now on the top of Mount Tabor Jesus proclaimed that He had all authority and that Satan had been defeated.

Authority always belongs to Jesus, yet for a little while He laid down His glory, stepping off His throne and turning the stars into a staircase, He came down becoming the Son of humility.

At the cross sin was defeated once and for all breaking the bondage of that which ensnares mankind so tightly.

Buried in a borrowed tomb then rising from the dead the Son of Power and God has given all authority into His hands.

The heavenly ministry of Jesus

These eleven men have seen the authority of Jesus over life as He gave life to whom He desired.

His power over death as He arose from the tomb, now this power (ĕxŏusia) is set forth in ministry.

Illustration: The power of Jesus is not just some magical force as you see in the movies and equal to it is an evil force.

You have seen Star Wars, I like the Revenge of the Sith.

You see the dark Sith Lord, Darth Sidious in the council area and in walks Yota with his cane and they collide, dark verses evil, Darth Sidious uses the dark side of the force and throws a council chamber at Master Yota who catches it using the good side of the force and spins it around and around and tosses it back at the evil lord.

No, the authority (power) of Jesus is Total, there is none like it.

No equal that can oppose it, it is extreme and supreme just as the One who wields it.

But it is also Universal.

It is the supreme power in all of the creation, the heavens and earth.

Everything was created by Jesus and for Jesus (Col. 1:16-17), yet all we can see is the environment around u,s but creation is much larger than earth and what we can see in outer space.

According to the best estimates of astronomers there are at least one hundred billion galaxies in the observable universe and the power of Jesus dominates each and every one and beyond.

Application: This power is unyielding and will set forth what Jesus Desires to be accomplished.

The only thing that limits it, is Jesus’ use of it and that is at His own desecration.

Transition: The fact is, that all authority has been given to Jesus and He has set forth His plan.

The Command (Vs.19-20 a)

In this verse we see two important verbs “Go” and “Make” let’s look at these two actions

Jesus sets forth the first part of His plan, He tells the disciples they must go to all nations.

This is different from when Jesus first sends them out, they are told to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Mt 10:6)

This is not a contradiction but a revelation of Jesus’ unfolding plan of redemption.

He did not come to redeem only Israel but all the nations, they are commanded to tell the world about what Jesus has done for them.

Often times we see this command to go as meaning go somewhere else and that is true but in the context of Jesus’ teaching He is saying as you are going.

Perhaps a better way to put it is, as you are doing life be intentional as I was, with you.

Tell the people you know and those who you will come in contact with of me, my power, and what I have done for them.

They can be saved from looming destruction in the form of the wrath of God.

Jesus commands the disciples to tell people to believe in Him and have them outwardly show their faith by participating in His life, death, burial, and resurrection by baptism.

Make

The mission minded often focus on this first verb “go” as the main verb, however important going to the uttermost ends of the world is, it is secondary to what you must do as you are going.

Jesus commands to us to “MAKE” disciples of all nations.

What is a disciple you ask?

Follower of Jesus Christ, it’s basic meaning is “learner” or “pupil.”

Evangelism alone is not the command of the great commission but it is to teach others how to be totally dependent upon Jesus in all aspects of life.

Jesus invested in people, you who Jesus has invested in should invest in others.

Billy Graham once said “In spite of God calling me to the crusades, preaching in front of millions of people, the great commission can never be accomplished this way. But what will accomplish it is the 2 Timothy 2:2 principle.”

Paul the greatest missionary to ever live said to young Timothy

“the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

2 Tim 2:2

Illustration: There is an old Chinese proverb that says, you take a man a fish, he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish he will eat for a life time.

Making a disciple is investing in one whom Jesus loves.

Do you want to know what is wrong with the church?

We lead people to Christ then we leave them hanging and many never grow in faith.

They never see maturity in Christ and they never invest in someone else.

Application: Go and make disciples!

As you live life invest in others as Jesus invested in His twelve disciples.

They should be baptized, which suggests a local church fellowship.

They should also be taught, which suggests the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.

Bringing people into Christian fellowship, and building them up in the faith.

While, we thank God for every Christian ministry that is true to the Lord and His Word, whatever is done should be tied to the local church.

Transition: Teach them, feed them, love them, and turn them lose to do the same.

The Promise (Vs.20b)

Jesus gives us a promise and we know from the sacred Scriptures that Jesus is God in the Flesh and we know that God keeps his promises.

Jesus does not lie (Titus 1), exaggerate, nor Falsely propagate.

A promise from God is as having the title deed in your hand. He will keep it!

His presence

Jesus promises the disciple that his presence is with him where ever he goes.

You believer, you cannot get away from the presence of Jesus if you wanted to.

You could dive to the bottom of the Marian trench, 6.83 miles under the surface of the Pacific Ocean and Jesus would be with you.

You can travel in space to the outer banks of the universe and you couldn’t escape Jesus.

That should teach us something about our Christian living.

Jesus is always with us and always watching and there is nothing you can do that will escape His watchful eye, so you will be accountable for the works you do good or bad while in the body (2 Cor. 5:10).

But this presence promised is for the comfort of his servant.

If you take Christ’s task to heart you will find difficulties in life, all but one of these disciples gathered on Mount Tabor died a martyr’s death.

The one who died of natural causes did not scathe life untouched, the apostle John was boiled alive in tar and exiled to the Island of Patomas.

Yes, as you go and make disciples you will face hardship but the presence of Christ is your partner hence the term “great co-mmission.”

He will never leave you nor forsake you and you will find peace in the process because One who is greater than a friend is with you and He will be with the believer until the end of the age.

His empowerment

The presence of Jesus has empowered you for the task.

The willing servant in nothing more than a piece of conduit in which Jesus uses to reach the lost with the gospel.

He empowers you to speak truth boldly and to stand firm in the presence of opposition.

He is the Logos of God, the Gospel is not only His message but it IS HIM and He has bestowed upon you the name of ambassador “one who speaks with the authority of Him who sent you.”

He will work through you as you teach and proclaim all that He has commanded you.

So, rebuke sin lovingly but with the authority of Jesus and let no one disregard you as a simple push over.

The authority that belongs to Jesus has empowered you and that is a promise from our risen Lord.

Illustration: There are approximately 8,810 promises in the entire Bible.

In the Old Testament there are 7,706 and in the New Testament there are 1,104 wonderful promises of God.

The Lord has kept every single one of them or will keep every single one of them

“We’re sitting on the promises of God when we ought to be standing on the promises of God!”

Application: Why the great commission?

Because God promises that by grace through faith we will be delivered from the wrath of God due to the rebellious and hostile actions of mankind against Him.

The world needs to know of this promise of deliverance so they too can be saved and live a life more abundant.

It’s been two thousand years since this assignment has been given to the believer and the whole word has yet to be reached.

I want to ask you this question, are you an active participant in the mission with Christ? Or are you one of the estimated 95% of Christians who have never led anyone to the Lord?

Conclusion: The Lord of Glory, the resurrected Lord Jesus has told us a fact, right here in the pages of Scripture, ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM.

The all-powerful Lord of Life has given us a command, GO AND MAKE DISICPLES,

and the Faithful Lord of salvation has made us a promise, I AM WITH YOU EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.

Christian, what is your excuse?

Whatever it is, it’s not valid.

There are two types of people in this word, yet the Lord desires for there to be only one.

Related Media

Related Sermons