The Great Commisson | Matthew 28:11-20
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· 20 viewsSeries: The Passion of Christ
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Introduction
Introduction
Open your Bibles to Matthew 28
If you don’t have a bible of your own, please take the bible in front of you in the pews home. It’s our gift to you because we want the powerful, life changing word of God in your life.
As you are getting to Mathew 28, Let me catch us up on where we are in the story.
A few days ago, Jesus went to the capital, Jerusalem, in order to be put to death by the religious leaders and the roman governor. There, he was nailed to a cross and left to die.
Jesus said this would happen. That it was supposed to happen. That this is the reason He came to earth in the first place.
He said that His suffering and death would pay the price for everyone’s sins.
But Jesus also said that after His death, He would be raised again! And that’s exactly what happened!
Three days later, Jesus’ tomb was empty and He appeared to His disciples. Jesus is alive, He has conquered death and brought life to His people.
And now, as we get to the last verses of Matthew’s Gospel, we see that that Jesus has big plans for His disciples and His Kingdom.
Text
Text
While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
Remember, these are the guards that were put in place to make sure no one stole Jesus’ body and claimed a resurrection.
Well, guess what. No one stole the body. Jesus is risen! But, at the end of the day, He is not in that tomb.
So if you are a guard, and your ONE job was to make sure that body stay in there, you are in big trouble.
So, with no other options, they report this to the religious leaders whose idea it was to post them there in the first place.
And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
So the Religious leaders have an Idea:
Listen, we know the governor himself told you to guard that tomb. So let’s do this:
You tell everyone the body was stolen, and we’ll make sure that you don’t get in trouble.
And this way, everyone gets what they need. The leaders did not want rumors of a resurrection and the guard jut wanted to live.
So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
These religious leaders had hardened their hearts against Jesus. It wasn’t that they couldn’t see. It’s that they refused to see. The resurrection is not going to change that.
Jesus and His resurrection are simply inconvenient to those who seek their own power, status, and comfort.
So they fought against it during Jesus’ ministry and continue to now.
When John the baptist was beheaded, Jesus spoke to this:
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
There will always be opposition to Jesus and His Kingdom. And though it may cause damage, it will never win over His people, the church.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
although the gates of hell will not ultimately prevail against the church still, out of those gates will pour hostile forces and ideas. Opposition, and persecution. The Church will face all of these as long as it exists.
But at the same time, they cannot stop the Church, and the Kingdom of God will advance powerfully as God brings it to the world through His disciples.
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.
Jesus Told His disciples over and over again that He would die, and be raised again, and even see them again after! In fact, He said this to them right before His arrest!
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
And even though they all abandoned Him, He is going to meet them to forgive and restore them.
They fell into unbelief. But Jesus is now going to make them His faithful messengers. They are the ones He’s chosen.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
That’s quite in introduction. But Jesus makes it clear, as if it weren’t before, that He is the one!
He is God Himself. He is the savior. He is risen. He is victorious. He is powerful. He is the beginning and the end. He is everything they couldn’t even imagine.
And as Jesus tells His disciples that He is the Powerful God of all creation, with all authority, He tells them two things.
Who they are: And they are defined by their relationship with Him. They are His people, loved so much that He died and rose again for them.
Their purpose: They will be sent into the world to make more disciples of Jesus.
Jesus has a desire and a mission to bring all people to Himself. For all people to have faith in Him and be saved. And He has chosen to work through the people of His church to carry it out.
And He gives us the chief ways to do that:
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.”
Baptism is actually the topic of next week’s message!
But for now, what we need to know is that baptism initiates people into the family of God. We are forgiven, we are cleansed, and we become children of God in baptism. So the disciples are called to baptise the people of the world. All nations. That includes people of all countries, people of all languages, people of all cultures, people of all ages, people of all skin colors, people of all levels of ability or disability. Everyone!
And as a church, we do just that!
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He commands His church to not only baptize, but also to teach those we baptize Everything He has commanded us.
Which means that baptism is not an entry ticket to heaven, but it’s the beginning of a lifelong Journey of following Jesus, learning from Him, being shaped by Him, and being part of His Church.
That’s why our church is so committed to what we call “word and sacrament” ministry. We administer the sacraments, including baptism, and we teach the Word of God. We have always done these and will always do these. They are the most important things we do!
And then Jesus gives them a final note of encouragement.
In the first part of our scripture, we got to see that just as Jesus was giving this great commission, there were still those who were plotting and scheming. Lying and sabotaging. And it will only get worse from here.
the disciples will be persecuted, they will be shamed, they will be exiled, they will be put to death, all because of Jesus. It will be scary, it will be difficult.
But they will never be alone. Jesus reminds them that this is His Church, His Gospel, His mission, and He is going to be the one doing it all.
Though He uses His disciples, He is going to be the one working. His presence, His power, and His authority will go before them. And though they may lose everything for His sake, they will win their lives. Because He has the ultimate victory as the risen King. And His people will share in it all.
Application
Application
I want to mention a few important takeaways from this scripture that i think will really help us put things into perspective. So that we don’t lose sight of the mission:
even though there is opposition to the Gospel and to the Church, We are not sent to the world to be enemies and wage war.
We do not hate those who oppose us. We are not called to wage war. We are not called to practice violence, even if we suffer it.
We are here as those under Jesus’ authority. And We are called to wage war by baptizing and teaching. This is how the kingdom advances. This is what Jesus orders.
That means that we don’t get to be antagonistic, hate the world around us, and separate ourselves.
All we are called to do is to advance the Kingdom of God in the meantime. Not through fighting or hatred, but by baptising and teaching.
So, above all, We should have a desire to baptize those who aren’t and teach those who are.
Jesus had compassion on the people around Him because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And as we are sent to them, we are an extension of His compassion. So we should eagerly desire, each one of us, to make more disciples.
In the same way, we should desire to be baptised and to learn all that Jesus has taught.
Which means that one hour a week is not enough.
We should not dread our time in church, nor should we avoid Bible study, or be too important for church community.
But we should eagerly aspire to learn, grow, and be shaped by Jesus at every stage of life.
trust me, you will never run out of things to learn!
The other thing I want to Highlight is that not everyone can be a pastor.
More people should, that’s for sure.
But people are often confused by what Jesus is calling them to do in the great commission.
Is He calling you to baptize? are you supposed to be teaching a class?
We want to remember that the great commission is given to the Church, which includes all people.
But not all people have the same gifts, training, and abilities.
Pastors are given the responsibility of shepherding the congregation and leading them to fulfill this commission together. They are equipped to preach and teach, and to administer the sacraments. But pastors are not the church.
On the other hand, many people cannot teach, and shouldn’t preach. But they have all sorts of gifts that a pastor might not.
And so God has made us all with our own unique gifts, talents, resources, and abilities so that we can come together and fulfill the mission as a church.
I can teach, but I can’t teach three classes at the same time.
I can talk to people about Jesus, but 100 people can talk to more.
I could spend my time administrating, fundraising, maintaining the property, handling finances, and many more. But many people are way more gifted in that area. and they free me up to preach and teach and baptize. Without them, I wouldn’t have the time. It takes all of us.
So, ultimately, I’m mentioning this for two reasons:
You don’t have to be a pastor to take part in the great commission.
But you also can’t do nothing.
So no need to beat yourself up over having baptized zero people yourself. he church baptizes.
But also realize, that God has equipped and called you to fulfill a role in the church only you can fulfill.
and sure, it may add stress and take time, it may result in you being persecuted, it may cost you something .
But remember, Jesus is with us, the risen one with all power and authority, until the very end of the age!
Reading
Reading
While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. 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.”
Transition Slowly for the camera
Confession
Confession
