The Life of Christ: His Great Commission

Big Idea

Tension: How did Jesus respond when while worshipping him, some of his disciples doubted him?

Resolution: By promising them that he would be with them in his mission.

Exegetical Idea: Jesus responded to the doubts of his disciples that he would be with his disciples on their mission.

Theological Idea: The church only proceeds in her disciplemaking mission by the presence of Jesus.

Homiletical Idea: When we are not sure if we can make disciples, Jesus promises to carry his mission out through them.

Big Idea: We can be confident that Christ will go with us to make disciples.

Introduction:

We can be confident

Disciples went back to Galilee: So it seems like a long time ago that we started this series. We were starting all the way back at the beginning of Matthew, and we noted how Jesus started out in Nazareth of Galilee. That was kind of where the story of Jesus started. And it seems like he kept coming back to Galilee, even though he was born in Bethlehem. He came back to Galilee after his baptism and preached his first sermon there. So it is likely that when Jesus sends the disciples back on mission, he sends them to the same mountain that he had preached his first sermon. So much has changed. They had come to follow Jesus, now they will help others follow Jesus. They thought they knew everything, but really knew very little then. Now, they know much more, but feel like they know very little. This chapter, is over, but the next chapter is just beginning. The seed of the kingdom has been planted, and at the hands of these faithful men, it would grow and grow and grow until it was a mighty plant. Here, on this mountain, back at the beginning, they would continue what had started so long before.

They worshipped Jesus: So it is no mistake, that when they see Jesus here, they worship him. They have been growing in awareness of who he is. He is Jesus and Messiah. he is the one who was crucified before their eyes. And he is the one who rose from the dead. He is the one who did all those miracles. he is the one who preached all those sermons. He is the one who walked on the water. He is the one who was transfigured before their eyes. Jesus is the Messiah, he is the Son of Man, he is the Son of God, he is very God of God.

Some doubted: But, and this might be very encouraging for you. Some doubted. I mean, here they are, and they see the risen Christ and they have been witneses to some of the most fantastic things that have ever happened on earth. And they still doubt. Now, why do they doubt, and what do they doubt? Well, a theme throughout the gospel of Matthew is that the disciples are called to preach the gospel of Christ. In fact, that has been the dominant theme throughout this chapter. After the first disciples see the risen Christ, they are called to preach the gospel. Here’s what I think they are doubting. They’re not totally dumb, they know that Christ is gonna tell them to share the gospel. They know what’s coming out of Christ’s mouth next. What they are doubting is that it is possible. They are seeing the obstacles ahead, and they are saying, “Jesus, do you know how hard this is going to be?”

We often doubt that we can carry out the mission of the church. Right. I mean, when we look at the people in our lives who do not know Jesus, they look so lost. They look like they couldn’t possibly change. They look like it’s so impossible. I mean, my brother, my sister, my mother, my father, my neighbors, have you met those guys? Do you know what comes out of their mouth? Do you know what they do for fun? These are not church people, and they never will be. And we doubt that they could possibly be saved at some point. It seems so desperate. It seems so impossible. It seems so unrealistic.

How can we have confidence? And whatever Jesus says next, whatever he says before he goes back to heaven, whatever words come out of his mouth is going to address this. I mean, if Jesus is really going to minister to the disciples at this point, he had better do something about this. Because this is not a problem that is going away. And we need hope and we need confidence that Jesus is bigger than our dobuts. If we’re going to pick up our cross and follow him, if we’re going to risk our friendships, if we’re going to take this step of faith, we need to have confidence that it is worth it.

that Christ will go with us

to make disciples.