Resurrection Road pt 5

Title: Resurrection Road pt5

Text: Matthew 28:16-20

D.T The great commission evolves over time. Are we learning? Are we listening?

Introduction: Language is a fascinating concept. In many ways the words in our language have united our generations. Our English speaking ancestors would have used the same words, and maybe even same phrases over time. However the meaning and our understanding of words and phrases may change over time. Did you know that in the nineteenth century the word “cute” would mean shrewd and clever. Politician Thomas Chandler Haliburton would use the word to describe a shandy lawyer. If we were to read his journal or correspondence and he used the word “cute” as he understood, we might get an entirely different idea from what he intended. Today the word “silly” means foolish or far-fetched. The original use of the word described someone who was innocent of a crime. In modern day the word “Assassin” refers to someone who kills a high profiled individual. However the older term refers to someone who partakes in Hashish, an arabic hemp plant. The word hashishin would eventually become “assassin.” So the assassins of old would be potheads, rather than ruthless killers.

Today we continue our series “resurrection road” . The point of this series is to look at the encounters Jesus had with people. Today we are going to focus on the great commission, one of the last encounters Jesus had with people before ascending back into heaven. So let’s read the account of the great commission in Matthew chapter 28

READ Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The words of the great commission are well known. They have been a staple in our faith since Jesus gave these words “When I talk about the great commission I always like to include Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

I had a professor in college who suggested a requirement for graduation from a Christian college would be to recite the great commission from memory. These words hold high importance for our faith. However like the words and phrases we began with, our understanding of the great commission is growing, the words mean more now.

So how is our understanding of the great commission growing? Our understanding expands in three areas.

Where: When Jesus told the disciples to “go into all the world and preach gospel” they would have understood that command as “all the nations within the expanse of the Roman Empire” because the Romans during Pax Romana conquered the known world. However years later we understood the world to be a much bigger place. The great commission suddenly became bigger, our understanding grew, because there were new people groups who needed the good news.

When: Shortly after the great commission the disciples would preach the message whenever they arrived at a new place, However the amount of time needed for travel took much longer. It took the Apostle Paul years to travel the Mediterranean. Paul struggled to reach Rome. What took the apostle Paul years to cover would now take us days and weeks. The “when” we are able to proclaim the commission has grown because of our ability to travel.

How Before the last couple months, who would have thought of Mobility carts as a need for people. Specifically, who would have thought of mobility carts as a possible means to proclaim the gospel? Yet examples of this exist all over the place. The ways and means we are able to care for God’s people, and preach the good news to them is growing. Twenty years ago, who would have thought we could have church live at home using social media? Our understanding of how we live the great commission is growing daily.

The words of the great commission have remained the same, and they will for many more years until Christ returns. However it should be clear by now that our understanding of these words is growing rapidly. Today’s presentation should serve as a great reminder of just how much our understanding of the great commission has expanded. The great commission has grown and evolved over time.The question is this: Are we listening? Are we learning?