Jesus Wants Us To Be Great Commission Christians Series

Jesus Wants Us to Be Great Commission Christians

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared June 14, 2023 - Revised June 22, 2023)

MESSAGE:

*Today in Matthew 28 we will focus on the Lord's Great Commission to take the good news about Jesus Christ all over the world. As far as I can tell, no one seems to know who first called this "The Great Commission." But it was made popular by one of the great pioneer missionaries in the 1800s. His name was Hudson Taylor. He was a British Baptist missionary to China for 54 years.

*Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland Mission that brought over 800 other missionaries to the country. In those years they started 125 schools, saw over 20,000 people saved, enlisted about 500 locals for the work. And they opened over 300 mission stations that spanned all 18 provinces in China. (1)

*Hudson Taylor was totally devoted to carrying out the Great Commission. And it is a good name for Jesus' last command to His followers in this wonderful book of the Bible.

*But these verses are for us just as much as they were for the disciples 2,000 years ago. They apply to everyone who has ever received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. You see, the original word for "disciple" simply means "student," "learner," "follower," or "imitator." In that sense, Christians, we are all called to be the Lord's disciples.

*Thank God, we are citizens of Heaven, children of God, friends of God, and much, much more. But we are also called to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Down through the centuries, many generations of wonderful Christians helped us trust in the Lord. And now God wants us to do everything we can to help make more disciples for Jesus Christ. He wants all of us to be Great Commission Christians.

1. AND WE CAN BE FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE JESUS WILL OVERCOME OUR DOUBTS.

*Verses 16-18 tells us that:

16. . . The eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

17. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

18. Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

*Those disciples worshiped Jesus Christ, and let me stress that Jesus is always worthy of our worship! He is worthy because of who He is: The Almighty Son of God, one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. But Jesus is also worthy of our worship because of what He has done. He came to earth for us, suffered and died on the cross for us, took the guilt for all of our sin, and rose again in everlasting victory over sin and death. We should worship our Lord and Savior for countless other reasons too, and that will help us live a Great Commission life.

*But notice in vs. 17 that when they saw Jesus, "some doubted." Even seeing the Risen Lord face to face, some of His followers doubted. Is it any wonder, then that sometimes we have doubts? And I am glad in a way that those early followers had doubts, because it reminds us that they were human too. And the same Jesus who overcame their doubts can also overcome ours!

*How does the Lord do it? Well, He shows up in our lives. Jesus showed up on that mountain in Galilee, just as He said He would. He always keeps His Word. Then, after some doubted, in vs. 18, Jesus got even closer. And Christians: The same thing is true for us. Whenever we have doubts, somehow, some way, God will show up in our lives to reassure us.

*Most often, God will speak to us in a special way through His Word. God could also show up through a big answer to a prayer, or a big blessing that you didn't see coming. But He also shows up in countless little ways. It could be a text, a call, or a card from a friend that comes at just the right time.

*Years ago, I read about a mother named Sue Heil. Her only child, Steven, graduated from high school one June morning, only to be killed in a car wreck that night. Just a few hours before the wreck, Sue had given thanks for Steven's life. And she asked God to keep taking care of him. How could God let this happen?

*In the days after Steven's death, Sue was often angry with God. Her pastor assured her that this was normal, and he urged her to keep praying. Sue was disappointed with God, and she told Him, "You are supposed to be near the brokenhearted. Do you care?" Sue had lost her son, and she also felt like she had lost her relationship with God. But one day she got a card from a friend that said, "When God conceals His purposes, -- keep living on His promises." The Lord used those ten words of wisdom to give great comfort that grieving mother. And God will make a way to comfort us too. (2)