The Great Commission

INTRODUCTION :

This week we are talking about the Great Commision found in Matthew 28:16-20, which takes place after the resurrection and right before His ascension to Heaven.  While you are turning there , let me share why we are talking about this today.  If you rewind the past 6 months we have been intensely focused on discipleship and what it means for us personally in our day to day walk all the way into eternity.  

As a Believer you are called to continually grow in your personal relationship with Jesus, but we will see here that He has some final instructions to His disciples. 

The Great Commission is foundational for the Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of evangelism, discipleship, and the global mission of the church, including our little piece of the body. It serves as a timeless call to action for all believers, encouraging them to spread the gospel and make disciples in their own communities and beyond.

Let’s take a look at  Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus says:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Key points within this passage

Authority of Jesus: Jesus begins by asserting His divine authority, given to him by his Father, which underpins the entire commission. He has been given all authority in heaven and earth and out of that authority is commissioning his disciples.

Go and Make Disciples: Jesus instructs His followers to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. This means spreading the message of Jesus and helping others become His followers. In original Greek, the only direct command is “make disciples”.  Go, Teach, Baptize are all indirect commands - they are the means by which we MAKE disciples.

• Go- To all nations. Don’t keep this to yourself. Share with everyone. Mark 16:15 records  it this way “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

  
  

Baptizing Them: Jesus commanded that new disciples be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a public declaration of faith and a symbol of being cleansed from sin. The JFB Commentary calls baptism “the external signature of the inner faith of the heart”

• Baptism also symbolically takes us through death ( buried in the water) of our sins and old selves, and being resurrected (raised out of the water) into the new life that God has given to us. We see this in Col 2:12-13  'having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, '

  
  

Teaching Them to Obey: Jesus emphasized the importance of teaching new disciples to obey everything He had commanded. This involves guiding them in understanding and living out His teachings. 

• In his book “They Turned the World Upside Down” Charles Martin writes:   In the first century, “believer” didn’t just mean someone who heard and agreed with Jesus.  It meant someone who acted on that belief.  Believers obeyed and did.  And when the outside world saw these believers, they declared, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6 NKJV) 

  
  

Jesus’ Presence: Jesus reassured His disciples that He would be with them always, even to the end of the age. This promise provides comfort and confidence as they carry out His mission. This is one of the roles of the Holy Spirit. 

• John 14:16-17 says And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 

• When we receive the Holy Spirit and allow him to take over, we experience such a different life that we can’t help but share it.  It may look different every time, but make no mistake that anytime we share our experiences, God is at work  through the Holy Spirit. We will be empowered to not just introduce people to Jesus, but to make believers - disciples; those who act - and “do stuff”.

CONCLUSION: 

These points highlight the incredible nature of the Great Commission from Jesus to His church, encompassing evangelism, discipleship, and the assurance of Jesus’ continual presence to this day.

Think of the best movie you have ever seen, or the best book you have ever read -  you are so excited to tell your friends, and sometimes even the strangers at the checkout line at the store about what an incredible experience it was to watch/read that story.  What if you acted on your experiences with Jesus in that way?

So, how are we doing church? As a believer, you have received the gift of a lifetime. Are you sharing it? Are we sharing it?

I know I’m ending with more questions than answers. I really want us to think about this because it takes the whole body using their gifts together to reach the many people God has and will put in our lives.

We’ve got work to do Church but we aren’t alone. Jesus ends the commission with a beautiful promise. 

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Thoughts/Questions To Consider:

Why do you think Jesus instructs us to go into all nations?

Why do you think baptism is important for the believer?

How are we to teach them to obey everything he taught?

Today’s Scriptures: 

Matthew 28:16-20

Mark 16:15

Col 2:12-13

John 14:16-17