The Great Commission

Good Morning! 

If you are reading through the gospels (as I am), today we will finish Matthew’s gospel.  The last thing in Matthew’s gospel is the passage we refer to as the Great Commission. Most of us have heard the Great Commission … but if you were called upon to explain it, what would you say?

I am sure my long-term readers have heard my views on the Great Commission … but I think it worth a posting to repeat my thoughts.  The passage reads …

Matthew 28:16-20 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Footnotes:

Matthew 28:19 Or into

Jesus begins with a very clear statement of His authority.  God has given Him all authority over all things.  Simply put, Jesus is the “boss” and His directions are to be followed.  Most of us can grasp the point.  When I was gainfully employed, when my boss told me to do a specific task, my choices were to either do the task … and continue to be in his or her good graces … or to not do the task … and risk the consequences. I think we should take notice when Jesus begins with His authority because what follows is His directions to us.  Thus, the Great Commission is not an optional activity for all believers … it is what Jesus wants each one of us to participate in doing!

Now, let’s look at the first word in the Commission.  “Go” is a continuous active word.  It could also be translated “as you are going” … pointing to how we should be viewing the Commission. The sharing of the message of Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord should become part of our DNA.  We should be demonstrating the gospel message in everything we do as well as what we say. I believe that what we DO is much more impactful than what we SAY.  People watch to see if our trust in God is real … especially in times where we face difficulties.  Our walk must match our talk. 

The crux of the Commission is this …

·         We are to make disciples of all nations.  A disciple is a person who has made the decision to follow.  Our task is to present to people the simple message that God loves us so much that He sacrificed Himself to buy us back from destruction.  Our goal is to share the message.  God will do the convincing and the converting.  But we share the message.

·         We are to encourage a new disciple to identify with God and with the people of God. Baptism is a method of identifying a person with a ideology.  When a person came to Christ in the first century, he or she would immediately be baptized.  Unlike our current practice – where we set aside a day so the person being baptized can bring a hair dryer and dry clothes and the like – the person was baptized and then walked through the streets to his or her home, dripping wet.  This afforded him or her the opportunity to share what just happened … and, just perhaps, begin to follow through on the Great Commission.

·         We are to teach the new convert what Christ has taught us.  Well, let’s begin by understanding that we cannot teach what we do not know … so it is necessary for us to be learners as well as teachers.  Learning comes in many different ways.  Learning is not just book study … it is dealing with life events and paying attention to what God does when we encounter trouble.  Sharing what God has taught us is important in the process of teaching others to observe all things that Christ taught us.  Secondly, we are to take on the responsibility of the new believer.  We are to realize that he or she is our new brother or sister in Christ … and treat them as such.  We want each one to fully enjoy the abundant life offered in Christ.

·         We are to trust God.  Jesus told us He would be with us in the process. 

That’s the Great Commission.  How well you are (or I am) fulfilling the Commission is subject to Christ’s judgment.  But we should be aware of where we stand … and purpose to do an even better job today that we did yesterday.

May God’s richest blessing fall upon you this good day …

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, I confess that I have often failed in fulfilling Your desire for me to carry forth in the Great Commission Christ gave me. Help me fulfill it by encouraging me when I encounter one who does not know you or when I am teaching a brother or sister in Christ. Thank You for Your trust in me.  In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Matthew 28:16-20