Therefore, Go - Matthew 28:18-20

TEXT:

VISION SERIES

-21

What does going look like for a stay-at-home mom?

TEXT:

18 And Jesus came and said to them, h“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 jGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them min2 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that pI have commanded you. And behold, qI am with you always, to the end of the age.” ()

What about someone who is sick? — Susannah Spurgeon

This week, and the next five weeks, we will be looking at Jesus’ commission to the disciples. The Great Commission. These are the marching orders to the Church. This is what Jesus expects of us. And it is indeed a Great Commission. Not only in its scope - to disciple all the nations, but often overlooked is the Greatness, or Goodness, of the endeavor. We aren’t randomly existing creatures with no ambition; we aren’t slaves to unworthy ambitious pursuits to unsatisfactory idols; we are redeemed into a Grand Adventure - A Great Commission.

Again, this is what Jesus expects of us. Some churches tend to get lost in their aim. We become brands that try to do Christianity in a new or unique way. Some strategize in an effort to be the cool church, or the smart church, or the church that does the most community service projects, and while those can all be good things, we must remember that our orders are clear. And we must see that our orders can be measured - we can look and see if we are being faithful to God’s commands, and if we feel that we are aimless or confused about what we should be doing, we can look at the Great Commission to align ourselves to God’s will.

To Summarize:

- The objectives of what the Church (our church) should be doing are clear

- The objectives are measurable

The Great Commission’s Verbs as Vision Reminder: Magnets and Stickers Coming

Let’s look at our text:

- Jesus has died and been raised

- He stands before the 11 disciples to give them the commission

Therefore Go:

18 And Jesus came and said to them, h“All authority iin heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 jGo therefore

Jesus’ command is for us to GO

We are not to be static. We must be intentional about going, and we must be decisive about going.

We will look at how we go in just a second, but take another look at the text. It says, THEREFORE GO.

Jesus qualifies our going. It’s not simply “go”, it’s “therefore go”. What does this mean?

Let’s look:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore

Jesus is declaring His credentials. I mean, can you imagine standing before a man whom you saw slaughtered with whips and thorns and nails standing before you after being in the grave for 3 days? I’d certainly hope you would acknowledge His authority.

, foreseeing this picture of Jesus from the Old Testament puts it this way:

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and obehold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the cAncient of Days (Glorious Picture!)

and was presented before him.

14 pAnd to him was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

that all qpeoples, nations, and languages

should serve him;

rhis dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

that shall not be destroyed.

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

if any ask by what authority he doeth it...Hereby he asserts his universal dominion as Mediator, which is the great foundation of the Christian religion. He has all power. Observe, (1.) Whence he hath this power. He did not assume it, or usurp it, but it was given him, he was legally entitled to it, and invested in it, by a grant from him who is the Fountain of all being, and consequently of all power. God set him King (), inaugurated and enthroned him, . As God, equal with the Father, all power was originally and essentially his; but as Mediator, as God-man, all power was given him; partly in recompence of his work (because he humbled himself, therefore God thus exalted him), and partly in pursuance of his design; he had this power given him over all flesh, that he might give eternal life to as many as were given him (), for the more effectual carrying on and completing our salvation. This power he was now more signally invested in, upon his resurrection, . He had power before, power to forgive sins (ch. 9:6); but now all power is given him. He is now going to receive for himself a kingdom (), to sit down at the right hand, . Having purchased it, nothing remains but to take possession; it is his own for ever. (2.) Where he has this power; in heaven and earth, comprehending the universe. Christ is the sole universal Monarch, he is Lord of all, . He has all power in heaven. He has power of dominion over the angels, they are all his humble servants, , . He has power of intercession with his Father, in the virtue of his satisfaction and atonement; he intercedes, not as a suppliant, but as a demandant; Father, I will. He has all power on earth too; having prevailed with God, by the sacrifice of atonement, he prevails with men, and deals with them as one having authority, by the ministry of reconciliation. He is indeed, in all causes and over all persons, supreme Moderator and Governor. By him kings reign. All souls are his, and to him every heart and knee must bow, and every tongue confess him to be the Lord. This our Lord Jesus tells them, not only to satisfy them of the authority he had to commission them, and to bring them out in the execution of their commission, but to take off the offence of the cross; they had no reason to be ashamed of Christ crucified, when they saw him thus glorified”

Jesus has authority!

ἐξουσία (exousia). n. fem. authority. This noun refers to the power or ability to do something, but can also describe the right to exercise authority or rule. Also, the right to decide.

If we look around and see that we live in a world that is dark, Jesus is the light of the world.

If we look around and see that we live in a world that is broken, unjust and unrighteous, Jesus is Holy, Holy, Holy. If we look around and see that there are storms that rage, Jesus can calm the storm.

If there is fear, worry and anxiety, Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

If across the world there is Holocaust, war, genocide and corrupt government, Jesus is the liberator of the captive an the King of Kings.

If there is sickness and cancer and HIV, Jesus is the Resurrection and The Life.

If there is death that will catch up to every living soul across the globe, Jesus has gone before us and is victorious over the grave.

If there is sin that lies on the lips and limbs of men, then Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

If man is in desperate to stand before the throne of God - to be reconciled to his Creator, then Jesus is our great Mediator and Advocate.

If there is a problem, He is the solution.

If there is war, He is the Victor.

Jesus has authority.

So the command for the Church is to go, but we cannot forget that it is “therefore go”.

We don’t go because He is weak; we go because He is strong.

We go because Jesus has all authority - in all nations and neighborhoods at all time.

We go because that list of needs I just read aren’t just 21st century American needs, they are universal needs and Jesus alone is the fulfillment of the worlds needs.

What does that authority mean?

As we obey Christ and go into the world Jesus has power and the right to work decisively and effectively.

When we share the gospel, Jesus has power to change the hardest heart.

When the world faces oppression and injustice [like the slave trade, wars, sex-trafficking, etc.], Jesus has authority to work.

He doesn’t need permission from a government. He doesn’t need permission from an individual. He has a search warrant authorizing Him to go into ever nation to bring deliver His children authenticated by His death, burial and resurrection.

To Go:

πορεύομαι (poreuomai). vb. to go, proceed. Refers to the act of going in a particular direction. Figuratively, it refers to taking a particular course of action.

Intentionality. We don’t set up shop as a church and call the world to come to us - we go to them.

The opposite of intentionality, of course, is to be unplanned and haphazard.

We are on mission. We will flesh out what we are doing on this mission over the next few weeks, but suffice it to say today that we are living ambassadors for Christ in this world. We bring Good News!

Remember, it is not only a great task, but a good task - a fulfilling task. A life well lived.

What Does Going Look Like?

We are to bring good news to nations, neighbors, work, school, kids, church, grocery store, etc.

The NT is a long look at what it means to GO into the world and make disciples.

There are people who travel and there are people who set up camp and remain faithful where they live.

There are singles and there are families.

There are kings and there are prisoners.

What does it look like for a stay-at-home mom? — Being faithful at home with the kids - engaging and loving neighbors.

What does it look like for someone who is sick? — Susannah Spurgeon sending books from her bed.

The key is obedience and intentionality.

One way of interpreting the word go translates to dying:

22 For the Son of Man goes pas it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” ()

As we go we not only tell about Jesus, we live like Jesus.

[Matthew Henry] “They must not take state, and issue out summons to the nations to attend upon them; but they must go, and bring the gospel to their doors, Go ye”

So, what should The Gathering Church take away from this Great Commission?

Obedience and intentionality

We would GO in Decatur and Stone Mtn. and Lilburn, etc.

We would Go to Emory

We would Go to our neighbors

We would Go to the nations and bring the Good News of Jesus’ Lordship and redemption.

But that we would Therefore God

We would go knowing that Jesus has authority

We would go willingly and joyfully as gatekeepers of joy for the nations - we are not salesmen!

We would go knowing that God will change hearts and governments and laws and cultures.

Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him ()

and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them min2 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that pI have commanded you. And behold, qI am with you always, to the end of the age.”