Jesus’ Last Words

Introduction

Leaving to go to New Orleans

Exciting opportunity. . . but saddened to say goodbye. . . not leaving yet. . . be here through Summer Camp.

This was not something we were looking for. . . God put it in our laps and shaped our hearts

Ever since we took this position. . . we have been ALL IN

Not only to share the gospel with you. . . but our very lives.

I want you all to know that.

So, with us making the transition to New Orleans in the next two months, after tonight, we will have some guest speakers giving the message.

Therefore, In the opportunities I have left to speak to you, I want to share with you some of the most important things that I believe you need to hear as you seek to follow Jesus.

Tonight, I want to share with you the final words of Jesus that he gave to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. . .

These words are known as “The Great Commission,” as they were Jesus’ last marching orders to his followers to go and make disciples of all the nations.

This is a common verse that all of you are probably familiar with. . . but oftentimes, I think we miss two key promises of Jesus that make all the difference in the world.

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Did you catch what Matthew says in verse 17. . . read it again. . . “And when the eleven disciples saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted.”

These men had seen the resurrected messiah in the flesh. . . they had heard of the predictions of his resurrection, they had touched him, they had ate with him, they had spent 40 days after his resurrection listening to his teaching on the Kingdom of God. . . yet some of them still doubted that what they were seeing was real!

This is important for some of you to hear tonight. . . it is OK to doubt and be unsure about some things.

Doubt arises, not from unbelief, but from belief.

You can’t doubt something you don’t believe in.

When you have doubts, you need to ask honest questions and seek honest answers from the Scriptures.

But here is the wonderful thing about our Savior. . . he knows when we struggle in our faith. . . and he comes near to us to reassure us and help us in our doubts.

Look at what verse 18 says. . . “And Jesus came to them.”

I like how the CSB puts it: Jesus came near to them.

The Greek verb “came” means to approach and draw near.

In the moment of the disciples’ doubts, Jesus draws near to them to comfort them and reassure them that he has really risen from the dead.

Jesus knows he is about to give his disciples a challenging command and commission to go and make disciples of all the nations.

Jesus knows his disciples are weak, prone to doubt, and often fickle in their faith.

Jesus knows he needs to reassure them with some promises to propel them forward to fulfill his mission.

Jesus knows. . .

You see, Jesus, in Matthew 28:16-20 gives what we call today, an “inside out Oreo.”

Inside Out Oreo

Key Point: Through Jesus’ promises of His power and his presence we can be propelled by the Spirit to Proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.

Two Promises that Propel Us to Proclaim The Gospel. . .

1. Power

Jesus’ first promises is that he assures us of his power.

He says in verse 18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Jesus, being the divine Son of Man from Daniel 7:13-14 has all ruling power over every sphere in the cosmos

Daniel 7:14 ESV

14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

There is not one square inch in any galaxy where the Lord Jesus does not have dominion and all authority as King of the universe.

Here is why this is important: Jesus is telling us that as his disciples, when he sends us out to make disciples in his name. . . he sends us out with his power.

Matthew 10:1 ESV

1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

having the seal of the president that represents his power and authority.

Peter healed the sick by Jesus’ authority.

Paul casted out demons with Jesus’ authority.

When we go out to proclaim the gospel, we are sent with Jesus’ authority

We don’t have to doubt or be afraid to proclaim the gospel because we have been sent with the authority of Jesus and have his Spirit dwelling within us.

We don’t have to worry about the strength or proficiency of our words or knowledge because we go, speak, and teach in the authority of King Jesus.

Jesus’ power is the cure for our feelings of inadequacy and weakness.

So, the first promise to propel us to proclaim the gospel is that we are sent by the all encompassing power of Jesus.

2. Presence

The second promise Jesus gives to propel us to proclaim the gospel is the promise of his continual presence.

Presence makes all the difference

Harry Potter in the Deathly Hollows Pt. 2.

Harry walks into the forbidden forest to face Voldemart. . . knowing he must die.

He is scared, shaken, and alone.

But he remembers the resurrection stone and grasps hold of it and sees that he is in the presence of his mom, dad, Serius Black, and Remus Lupin.

They tell him they have always been with him, and they promise to never leave him as he walks to his death.

The presence of his friends and family makes all the difference. He overcomes his fear and walks courageously to complete his mission.

Look again at the end of verse 20: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

I love the phrase “and behold.” Jesus is saying. . . hey, this command and commission is hard, but don’t forget this promise. . . I. . . AM. . . . WITH. . . . YOU. . . ALWAYS.

How long is always? To “the very end of the age!”

In other words. . . FOREVER!

Beginning of the Gospel: Jesus’ name is Immanuel. . . God with us. . . . Matthew then ends this gospel with the same bookend. . . Jesus will be with us always.

When Jesus sends us out to make disciples, he does simply leave us to ourselves and throw us into the fire, but he is with us in the flames.

The presence of Christ is not only with us, but Jesus is in us by the Holy Spirit. . . which is the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead.

Jesus’ promise of presence helps us overcome fear and anxiety.

3. Proclamation

Now that we have have the assurance of Jesus’ power and his presence, we can obey his command to go and make disciples of all the nations.

The main command is to make disciples. . . but what is involved in making disciples?

Three things: Go, baptize, teach.

Go

This verse should not be understood as “make disciples as you are going” implying that you just need to make disciples wherever you are.

The participle “Go” is what is known in the Greek as a participle of attendant circumstance. It assumes the command of the main verb “make disciples.”

The phrase, “All nations,” serves not only as the direct object of the main verb “make disciples,” but also implicitly as the destination to which the disciples must go. . . in other words. . . the disciples must go to the places where these nations can be found.

Today, due to globalization, the nations are everywhere and are here in Cleveland, TN. Also, Americans are a “nation” just as the Jews were a nation the disciples needed to reach. So this does not mean we should neglect making disciples of fellow Americans who are lost.

Thus, we must seek to reach these nations in our city where we live, but also must consider the opportunities we have to go to unreached and unegaged places that do not have access to the gospel. . . for how will they believe if they cannot hear. . . and how will they hear if no one ever is sent to tell them?

Baptize

Implies repentance and confession of Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior.

Baptized in the name of the only Name of God. . . in the Father and in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit.

Teach

All that Jesus has commanded.

Making disciples means not only teaching knowledge of God’s commands, but also obedience.

So, to summarize, Jesus’ promises of His power and his presence we can be propelled by the Spirit to Proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.

Response

Two Questions:

Are you a disciple of Jesus?

If you are, will you obey?

Don’t forget, Jesus’ power and presence make all the difference.