The Great Commission

Introduction

Today we turn our attention to what is know as the Great Commission. It is Jesus’ final words of instruction to His disciples. Today’s text is found in Matthew 28:16-20 but it is also found in Mark 16:14-20 and I believe Luke’s account can be found in Acts 1:1-9.

Acts 1:3 tells us that after his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God. Vs. 4 says “on one occasion”, I believe his last occasion, he not only told them about the promise of the Holy Spirit, but also commissioned them to “go” into all the world and make disciples (teaching them to obey) and preach the Gospel (Mark).

Let me set the scene for today’s text: The Jews thought they were successful in killing Jesus but we know Jesus had risen.  As stories of his resurrection began to circulate over a course of forty day, the Jews who had killed Jesus were equally ready to do away with His disciples.  

The Roman empire was a strict ruler that didn't like people causing any problems.  The ruler of the land was Herod.  There was a great tension between the Jewish community and the Roman power system.  The Jews wanted to be free from Roman rule.  The Romans wanted this small strange country called Israel to be peaceful. The disciples were hiding in fear of their own lives.

And... it was into this world, that Jesus commissioned the disciples. It was difficult then and still difficult today, but it was and is POSSIBLE!

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mountain were places of great significance in scripture (mentioned over 500 x’s). They were thought of as places of significance because they were thought to be closer to God who was in the heavens.

Mount Ararat where Noah’s ark rested after the flood (Genesis 8:1-5).

Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments, a symbol of God’s covenant with Israel (Exodus 19).

Mount Zion where David captures the area and it becomes the “City of David” and later the location of Solomon’s temple (2 Samuel 5, 1 Kings 8).

Mount Carmel where Elijah calls upon God to burn up the sacrifice in order to prove to Israel and the prophets of Baal that He is the one true God (1 Kings 18).

Not only were mountains a place of revelation and communion with God but they continued to be significant in Jesus’ life and ministry. Matthews records many significant mountain moments (here are a few):

Jesus’ temptation (Matthew 4:8).

The sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5).

A number of healings (Matthew 15).

Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17).

Matthew 28:16 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

This mountain was also a familiar place for the disciples. It was a place where they met with him, they were taught by him, and learned from him.

Have you found your mountain? I’m not talking about the “mountain top experience,” I’m talking about that place of solitude with Jesus!

Matthew 28:17 NIV

17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Certainly worship is the appropriate response (Providing proof of his resurrection), (It proves that Jesus was who He said He was, It proves that he has the power to forgive sins, It proves that he has power over death and life), YES, WORSHIP IS THE APPROPRIATE THING!) but what about doubt?!

May I suggest that they were not still doubting his resurrection but rather perhaps his lordship.

Matthew 1. The Disciples Meet Jesus at Galilee (16–17)

“When they recognized him, it was natural that they worshipped him, but the whole experience was so mysterious and overwhelming that some doubted … The verb distazo does not denote a settled unbelief, but a state of uncertainty and hesitation.” (France)

Life Application Bible Commentary, Matthew Jesus Gives the Great Commission / 28:16–20 / 248

No Christian grows in faith without some doubt. The five-year-olds who took in every Bible story will become the fifteen-year-olds who want to know how, what, why, when, and where. And they will grow, too, and press for deeper answers along the way.

When you doubt, don’t be discouraged. It’s not a sin nor a failure. It’s a normal part of spiritual growth. Keep talking with thoughtful Christian friends and teachers, keep studying and praying, keep serving the Lord, and keep asking questions and looking for answers. God gave you a mind to discover his truth.

Today we are going to look at 3 keys to living out the “Great Commission!”

A Great Authority (vs. 18)

Matthew 28:18 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

This is one of the most crucial statements that Jesus ever made. He wants us to understand the He alone has all the authority... in heaven and on earth.

Authority to forgive sins (Luke 5:20; 7:48).

Authority to mediate to the Father (1 Tim. 2:5).

Authority to send the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26).

Authority to open the hearts and minds of His people (Luke 24:45).

Authority to reveal the Father (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22).

Authority to give eternal life to whom He chooses (John 10:27-28).

Authority to raise us up on the last day (John 6:40).

A natural tendency would be to question authority

Three questions come to mind when we think about this AUTHORITY:

1) Who gave Jesus this authority which he has today? 2) How much authority is included in “all authority in heaven and earth”? 3) What does this confidence in Christ’s total authority unleash in the lives those who really believe this?

(1) Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me.” By whom?

The answer is: God the Father gave it to him.

Matthew 11:27 NIV

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

(2) How much authority is included in “all authority in heaven and earth”?

The risen, reigning, King of kings and Lord of lords reigns over this world and over his mission with absolute sovereignty. Nothing is outside his sovereign will. If he is met with resistance, he either allows it for his purposes, or he overcomes it for his purposes. His sovereign purposes are never thwarted.

Isaiah 46:9–10 NIV

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

I pray that we might stand in amazement and full of faith and unshakeable boldness at the authority of Jesus Christ over the world, and at his unstoppable mission!

(3) What does this confidence unleash in the lives those who really believe this?

I hope that it unleashes a torrent of hope-filled prayer to God through Christ to do what only he can do!!

My prayer is for each of us to be in awe of Jesus’ absolute authority and sovereignty! That we would be so grounded in the fact that He alone is in control over ALL THINGS!! That not only his plan for our lives but his plan for the salvation of anyone who believes will be accomplished.

Philippians 1:6 NIV

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I hope that it unleashes in us a hope-filled, bold and joyful life of evangelism. Because nothing is too hard for God. No human heart is beyond the power of God to break. We are called to join God in doing what only God can do.

With a better understanding of his authority, Jesus is now passing the torch to His followers which leads us to our second point:

A Great Command (vs. 19-20a)

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We are called by Jesus to go out into the world and make disciples of all people, teaching them to obey his commands as we are obeying his commands.

Jesus commanded us to “Go,” but many of his disciples are content to just stay.

This command applies to all his followers of every generation. Many think this is some sort of call to “Full time ministry.” They might say that they’re not called to “preach” so this doesn’t apply to them.

“Go” could be translated “as you are going” this is not a call to an evangelistic event or activity, but a daily journey!

Mark 16:15 NIV

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Preaching the Gospel is central to who we are and what we do. The Gospel is centered on “repentance and forgiveness of sins.”

Luke 24:47–49 NIV

47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Matthew 28:19 NIV

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

D.L. Moody and once spoke with a woman who didn’t like his method of evangelism. "I don’t really like mine all that much either. What’s yours?" She replied that she didn’t have one. Moody said, "Then I like mine better than yours."

This was primary to Christ’s mission, the making of disciples. It began with 12 misfit disciples who dared to follow a homeless man from Galilee.

“Make disciples” first of all, they should be familiar with what this means (1) learners (2) follow his commands (3) continually growing in relationship with him.

Fire Bible:

Many people talk about the Great Commission as a call to evangelism. But Christ’s word here are really a commission to the deeper aspect of discipleship which goes beyond evangelism and on to solid teaching and continual spiritual nurturing that produces growth and progress … Christ does not intend for his followers to simply make converts to Christianity; he wants them to train and mentor (teaching by example) other people who will faithfully follow Christ and lead other to him as well.

Jesus said, “Go” to some very imperfect disciples. “Who is to go out of that first band of disciples? It is Peter, the rash and the headstrong. It is John, who sometimes wishes to call fire from heaven to destroy men. It is Philip, with whom the Savior has been so long, and yet he has not known him. It is Thomas, who must put his finger into the print of the nails, or he will not believe him. Yet the Master says to them, ‘Go ye; all power is given unto me, therefore go ye. You are as good for my purpose as anybody else would be. There is no power in you, I know, but then all power is in me, therefore go ye.’ ” (Spurgeon)

A Great Promise (vs. 20b)

This promise stands on the foundation already established in scripture. The concept of God being with his people is threaded all throughout scripture:

Moses spoke this to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Two verses later Moses spoke this over Joshua

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

I always caution my children about using “always” and “never” because honestly we are totally incapable of keeping such promises, but when God the Father promises “always” and “never” he can be fully trusted to honor his word!

Numbers 23:19 NIV

19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Promises like these is what prompted the writer of Hebrews who draws many comparisons to the Old Testament yet stands strong upon the premise that “Jesus is Greater!”

Hebrews 13:5 NIV

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

For quite some time Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure and in doing so would fulfill this great promise.

John 14:16–17 NIV

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Acts 1:4–8 NIV

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Conclusion

Possible example: Me having fun with Isaac’s Time Machine Goggles … The problem we have is that we are looking at life through distorted lenses … This is God’s story, not our story!!

As you journey through life, gain an education, get married, raise a family, work in your career field be sure to live out your faith everyday. As you strive to be like Jesus in true humility, know that not only has he promised the infilling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but He has promised that He will never leave you!