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Matthew 28:16-20. THE GREAT COMMISSION. 1-2-19

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Kevin E. Jesmer                                                                                                                              1-2-19

Matthew 28:16-20

Key verse: 28:19-20

19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

Dear Lord Heavenly Father, thank you for being our Rock and our compass and our guiding light. Without you and your word we will definitely drift into the darkness. You keep us grounded and moving in the right direction. You keep me faithful and steadfast. Thank you, Jesus. Please grant me your word today. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Part 1: Risen Jesus’ Authority (16-18)

Verses 16-18, “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.’ “

The Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples on a mountain in Galilee. The disciples understood that he was the one that must be worshiped, though even in this group there were doubters. On earth, Jesus had humbly submitted himself to God’s will to die for the sin of the world.  Now God had raised him from the dead and put everything in his hands-all authority in heaven and on earth. After Jesus rose again, the Holy Spirit was given to all believers. The Father has revealed that Jesus is the one we must worship.

I am thankful, that by the grace of God, I can know the one who is to be the recipient of our worship. Human beings are worshipping beings. We want to worship something. We want to give our hearts and adoration to something. This is true for the one who believes in God and the one who does not.

We really need to find the object of our worship. We cannot go through life with misplaced worship. That is never a healthy thing to do. What you worship is what you live for. What you worship captures your thoughts and emotions and desires. It is not a small matter. Jesus came in to this world to show us that we must worship God alone. Jesus is God. We must make Jesus the object of our devotion.

What does it mean that, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” The Father has put all things in Jesus’ hands.  Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth. There is no power that can oppose him. Satan and evil spirits cannot stand in his way. Jesus is the Sovereign Lord.  We can trust that the Risen Christ is in control.

Jesus’ disciples were called to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. They were blue collar workers. They were largely undereducated country folk. How could they go into all the Roman world and preach the Gospel? By whose authority? Who would listen? How could they stand spread the light to a dark world? Carrying out this command is possible because Jesus’ own authority works through us. It is because the one who called them has all the authority and his followers go forth in that authority.

How can missionaries go to remote communities to preach the Gospel? They obey Jesus’ command and trust in him and go forth in his authority. God is with them.

Part 2: Go and Make Disciples (19-20)

Verses 19-20, “19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus gave a final command to his disciples, which they should carry out until he returns. It is to make disciples by baptizing believers and teaching them to obey all of Jesus’ teachings.  Jesus really defines what we should be doing as his followers, it is to make disciples.

How easy it is to lose the point of the relationships God has placed us into. It is to make disciples of Jesus. I don’t want to say that all relationships in our lives are to make disciples. We are not just relating to people with an agenda. There can be simple friendships with no agenda. We are not just using people to serve our purpose even if is a spiritual purpose. The problem is when our social lives are filled with secular friendships and there are no movements made towards making disciples of Jesus. We need to have some progression on our relationships and pray to that end. We can even pray for God to send one person into our lives whom we can be grow as disciples with.

But there will be people in our lives whom God has called to be his followers. God wants us to mentor them and walk alongside them as they grow as Jesus’ followers. We need to keep our eyes open to see the ones that Jesus is leading into our lives and be ready to mentor them in the ways of Christ.

To teach others to obey, we first have to put Jesus’ teachings into practice ourselves. This is so true. We can not be good Christian leaders until we become close followers of Jesus ourselves. Our lives must be an example to others. Through our example God wants to help people know the truth and follow the truth. Think about how kids learn to be adults. They model their parents and their close friends. I pray that God may work in my life so that others may be inspired to know and follow Jesus.

We don’t need to be afraid to be mentors for those who are being called to be Jesus’ disciples. Jesus promised that his presence will be with us and he will never leave us to the very end. When Jesus is with us then there is no reason to be afraid. He will guide us. He will empower us. He will open the hearts of those whom he leads us to.

Prayer: Father, thank you that you are with us always. I pray that I may be a good disciple of Christ and help others also obey your teaching.

One word: Don’t be afraid…Go and make disciples




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