Jesus Commands Us to Make Disciples

Introduction

So, there I was, in 1984 20 years old and recently deployed to Sembach Air Base, Germany. As I cop I worked grave shift, and it was around 10 in the morning on a Saturday, and I was getting ready for bed, when I was startled by a pounding on my door. I opened it ,and there was this guy bouncing a soccer ball off wall with a big smile on his face. He said that base Chaplin had given my name and he was there to invite me to play soccer with their group. Not impressed with my desire to sleep he simply said “aw, you can sleep anytime.” With that logic, I was up and out and had a wonderful time meeting new people and getting some exercise. Afterward, we all got together at the pizza pub, and the leader of the group (a young 2nd Lt. named Brad) started sharing the Gospel. He broke out a napkin, and proceeded to draw a lines & bible verses - showing a cavern between us and God, and that it was sin that had caused this cavern and that nothing I could do could get to over to God. You see, while I was already a believer, I had never seen such a simple yet elegant method of sharing the Gospel, so I waited until all the other people left and it was just the two of us, and I asked him if he was teach me to share the gospel the way he just did. Brad said yes, but it would cost me. He said, John, it will not cost you any money, though it might. It won’t cost you your time, thought it might, but it will cost you your life. I had not realized it at the time, but I had just been introduced to the Navigator, and my discipler. And, yes, he was right that day. I am standing here Today to tell you that discipleship has a cost, and indeed the costs your life. And so today, I will challenge you to count the cost of discipleship.

Today, were considering Matthew 28:16-20. The Apostle’s theme in this book is presenting Jesus, to his Jewish readers as the Jewish Nation’s Messiah and King . And so it is fitting that the Apostle ends his Gospel with Jesus engaged in Kingly leadership by setting a vision, delegating the task, and securing the means to accomplish the vision. And while that would make a great 3-point sermon, this morning, we are going to take a different tact. We will first survey of the whole passage looking to see that the Great Commission is all about Jesus, and then secondly, we will narrow in on Jesus’ call to action for us to make disciples. So, let’s get started. Please read the passage with me

The Great Commission is all about Jesus

As we read through these 4 verses Jesus is speaking, or referenced to no less than (8).

v16. The passage starts with the Disciples following Jesus directions for them from vs 7 in this chapter to travel to Galilee, to a mountain where they will see him

v17. When they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

Notice that Jesus is the focus. The went to meet with him, they saw him and worshiped Him. I wonder how quickly we are to rush into a meeting with Jesus without taking the proper step to, stop humble ourselves and worship Him first.

The passage seemingly suggests that some of the 11 disciples, doubted that Jesus had resurrected from the dead. At first glance this seems problematic.

Some try to resolve it by adding 500 more disciples. I disagree with this because the scripture is silent to when and where the appearance to the 500+ brothers took place. There is nothing in the context to suggest that that appearance happened here and the only reason to do so is the doubting issue. And the plain simply reading of the text says that it was the 11 disciples who were there. I think the issue is a bit of mistaken identity.

The Greek word for Doubted is Dis-tad-zo which means to waiver between two options.

The days immediate preceeding this event has Jesus making several disguised post resurrection appearances:

Mary Magdalen thinks his is a Gardner.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Jesus for hours, but did not recognize him.

In his 3rd appearance to the 11, in John 21:12, Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord

So back to verse 17, After they worship Him, it says, “and Jesus came,” the CSB version says Jesus came near, the ASV says Jesus came to them and another says “coming up…So the disciples at first saw Jesus at a distance when they worship.

The passage context, the definition of Doubting and the plain reading of the text strongly argues in favor that some of the disciples simply doubted (or wavered) as to if the man they saw was Jesus or someone else, and it seems as simple as that, but none the less it was about Jesus. Looking at verse 18,

v.18. Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” There seems to be something new here. They knew that Jesus had authority to forgive sin, to heal, had authority overall flesh to give eternal live, cast out demons, to execute Judgement, to lay down and take up his life. However, here Matthew reveals that Jesus authority extends to heaven. This is a claim of deity, a declaration of ultimate authority from the Messiah, the true King of Israel. Who else other than God can have all authority in heaven and on earth? Clearly, its about Jesus, and this sets up the next verse 19a

v19. We read “ 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,”

The verse begins with a Jesus’ command to make disciples, and for the moment we’re going to look beyond that to the 2nd part of this verse 19b where Jesus is commanding that new disciples are to be baptised into the name of the Father, and of the Son and if the Holy Spirit.

Baptized - in the Greek Baptizo should not be confused with another similar word baptô (911) Both verbs concern the idea of dipping or immersing of into a solution. Bapto has the idea of a temporary affect, while Baptizo has the thought of a permanent change. Matthew chose Baptizo signify the change in belivers. This is not to say that the act of baptism is functional in the salvation process, it does not save, it is however an act of obedience - a symbol of the change that has already taken place in ones heart.

Further notice that disciples are baptized into a singular name. It is not name of Father, the name of Son and the name the Spirit. It is the one God the one name. It is the doctrine of the triune God - 3 in One. And this is nothing new. For example we as we see in:

Gen 1:26 - Let us make man in our likeness

Gen 3:22 - Behold, man has become like us, knowing good and evil.

At Jesus’s baptism, we saw the Spirit manifested as a dove, The declaring this is my son with whom I am well pleased - and certainly. Is it no wonder that we are baptized into the triune name of God.

The Command to baptize also makes clear that a disciple must a rudimentary understanding of Jesus’ divinity and His identity within the God Head before being baptized into that name. Clearly baptism is all about Jesus.

Jesus empowers us in v20. in that he says “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. What a promise, Jesus is not leaving us alone. How wonderful that Jesus add the last phrase “to the end of the age.” Jesus is with us always…we us in 2022 to empower us to make Him the central focus of our lives, clearly his is the focus of this passage

Transition: So far in this passage, The Great Commission is clearly all about Jesus. Jesus pre-scheduled the meeting, The meeting begins with a rightful outpouring of worship to Jesus who is God, Jesus affirms His deity by declaring authority over it all - Heaven & Earth, and in the baptism, disciples are baptized into name of his divine nature which is our triune God and that He is with us always. Now, we will circle back to the beginning of verse 19a and Jesus’ command to Make Disciples.

Make Disciples.

vs. 19a. “go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations

The word Go here is passive present participle - its an ongoing action - in line with the other participles of baptizing, and teaching. The idea presented here is that “as you are going, make disciples. While this passage is certainly missional in scope, with the vision of the Gospel going to all nations, (pause - begin to build) the command is not to go, (pause) gentlemen, understand that God, in his sovereignty, has already placed you where you need to be right now, (as Pastor Keith calls it your redemptive real estate) men of God, (pause then stakato) command is to Make Disciples. Make Disciples… (slowly get louder) Make, Disciples. where you are. Right here is Judea. If in the future, the Lord of all existence takes you to Samaria or to the ends of the earth - then make disciples there! As you go Make disciples there!

The christian home provides an excellent example, we see this call to make disciples in the Christian family life. As you go, dad, Prov 22:6 tell us to train up a child in the way they should go…, That’s disciple making of their children (teacher your children). Hopefully, those of you who are fathers are already making disciples of your children - You are taking the word of God and both teaching them to understand it and teaching the to obey it. Do Not you dare think that this is enough - its minimum. How could we possibly reach all nations by only discipling our children, no, do not give in to that excuse, BUT, teach them (your children) to make disciples by having them see you pour your life into lives of other men. Your children should never be surprised to see someone over to the house to read and talk about Jesus.

So, how do you start being a disciple maker?

Repent!

Share the gospel - If you have not participated in sharing the Gospel with Search Party, why not? You need to seriously ask yourself some hard questions, if are not actively praying for and stepping into opportunities to share the Gospel. Every Thursday night for 2 years!

Pray for it. It is the will of God in your life to make disciples, so ask God to provide a man for you to teach. Beg God to make you obedient to his calling on your life. (intense question here) Does God not answer the prayers that are according to His will?

Let a Pastor or Elder know that you want to be obedient in this area of life and they will help to bring someone into your life.

Conclusion:

(pause and build stakato) I hope you have learned today that an obedient disciple, knows that the Great Commission is all about Jesus. and that He is the one who compels to obedience to makes disciples. Jn 14:21 states that he who has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is who loves me. Gentlemen, do you love Jesus? Then make disciples. Jn 21:15-17 Jesus asked Peter 3 times, Peter do you love me? and each time that Peter replied, yes, Lord your know, Jesus said - Feed my Sheep. Will you obey, will you follow the Good Shepheard and be about the business of tending His flock. Gentlemen, I pray that for you one day there will make future disciples who will say “so that I was” and fill that with a story about impacted their life for the Kingdom.

Let’s pray.

Benediction 2 Cor 13:

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.