Sermon Tone Analysis

Beyond Easter

We’re now looking at Matthew’s account of after the resurrection.

The eleven remaining disciples have been sent to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had directed them.

Even after everything that has happened the disciples continue to do what Jesus has commanded them to do.

Last week were on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, this time Jesus has told them to go to the mountain.

Jesus says go, they go - why? They’re disciples.

Let’s keep reading.

Some…doubted?

Does that mean they didn’t worship him?

No.

They worship him, but some are still doubting.

Some still are reeling from the experience of the death of their messiah, and then the resurrection.

Why?

Their reeling from the death of their theology.

They were expecting:

a King as their Messiah - that somehow Rome would be removed from power over Israel

What they got is Jesus showing (in the words of Darrell Bock):

What Jesus does is to show that the battle is not a political battle with Rome but rather that the battle is a larger battle with Satan and with spiritual forces—with forces that oppress humanity, not in a social way so much, although it manifests itself sometimes socially, but ultimately from the human heart itself

“that the battle is not a political battle with Rome but rather that the battle is a larger battle with Satan and with spiritual forces—with forces that oppress humanity, not in a social way so much, although it manifests itself sometimes socially, but ultimately from the human heart itself.”

Bock, D. L. (2014).

NT211 Introducing the Gospels and Acts: Their Background, Nature, and Purpose.

Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

All that is to say that they understood that Jesus was Lord, they understood that he was the Messiah, but they’re still learning, still gaining in their understanding of exactly what that means.

This is a great relief for us.

It answers the question, “can I worship Jesus if I still have doubts?”

and if you can worship Jesus, you certainly can follow Jesus.

And here’s the truth:

We all live in a state of belief and unbelief.

I love the FACT that some of the disciples doubted.

Still, they worshiped him.

Matt 28:

Still, they worshiped him.

And Jesus, who knows all things, knows their thoughts and still he calls them to a higher call, and since we benefit from the ability to see what happens later in Scripture we know that these 11 were all used in the furthering of the Gospel:

ALL AUTHORITY - all of it, not a certain portion of it, but ALL of the authority.

GO - Notice that he is not say “those of you without doubt”, he addresses all of them.

MAKE DISCIPLES - what is a disciples?

It’s one who follows JESUS.

BAPTIZING - this was an initial statement of faith, but is also highly symbolic of being washed/cleansed both inside and out.

TEACHING - this is the circular part of this command that is so often missed.

The disciples are commanded to go an teach disciples to observe all that Jesus has commanded.

What was the last thing Jesus commanded?

(Hint, we’re studying it right now).

I’ve always found that interesting that we freak out about the idea of “sharing our faith” but Jesus is not calling us to make converts, he’s calling us to make disciples.

And he’s asking us to not just make disciples, but make disciples who can make disciples.

Disciples of ALL NATIONS:

Baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

We are called to commit to Jesus as master and Lord - THIS IS OUR CALL! It’s more than flying in and getting people to make some sort of commitment and then flying out again.

It’s why it’s important for the body of believers to give people opportunities to hear the Gospel and then continue to support those same people to learn all that the Gospel means.

It’s why you and i need to build ourselves into other’s lives.

As Albert Edward Day wrote:

“We avoid as much as possible the unpleasant…We give our charities but we do not give ourselves.

We build our charitable institutions but we do not build ourselves into other’s lives.”

It’s no secret that the verses we just read have been used about evangelism for centuries.

It’s also no secret that for most of us when we think of sharing our faith, suddenly our knees go weak, our eyes glaze over, our thoughts become muddled and we want to object as Moses did “I’d rather not!”

It’s no secret that the verses we just read have been used about evangelism for centuries.

It’s also no secret that for most of us when we think of sharing our faith, suddenly our knees go weak, our eyes glaze over, our thoughts become muddled and we want to object as Moses did “I’d rather not!”

What if...

I told you there will be no more evangelism, that as of this moment no more people can be saved, that Jesus’ forgiveness and grace has reached it’s limit and from this moment on anyone who is not already accepted the free gift of salvation is doomed, separated from God’s presence and banished to hell?

At first we might breathe a sigh of relief - the requirement of sharing our faith and telling people about Jesus is complete.

But then…we might begin to think about what heaven will be like.

We might begin to think about the neighbor we love, or the family member that we never got up the courage to share our faith with, or that co-worker, boss, student…fill in the blank.

Will they be in heaven?

One of my mentors used to pray, “Lord Jesus, come quickly, but not yet.”

Let’s take some pause and look at it again:

Let’s Observe what’s happening here:

WHO: Who is Jesus speaking to? - The disciples

WHAT: What is Jesus asking them to do? - Make disciples

WHEN: It’s an imperative, present - now!

WHERE: Everywhere, Wherever

HOW: Baptizing - (making converts), Teaching - (Discipling)

WHY: That is a key question.

This is perhaps the most important question for us to ask.

Make disciples - baptizing them, that is the conversion.

Teaching them, to do what?

To observe all that I have commanded.

This is what makes them disciples - doing and following what Jesus asks them to do.

Committing to Jesus as Master and LORD.

We are disciples…so if we’re not “observing all that Jesus commanded,” can we say he’s our master and LORD?

Discipleship is observing all that Jesus commands.