INTRO
In just a bit, we’re going turn in our bibles to the Gospel according to Matthew 28, and look at VV 16–20. Specifically, we’re going to see why this portion of scripture is called “The Great Commission,” what that meant for the disciples, and what that means for us today.
When I hear the word commission, the first thing that comes to my mind is the commission military officers receive when they enter into service. Commissioned officers derive their authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position.
Now, as most of you know, like many within our congregation, I was enlisted. However, a few of our members served as commissioned officers. Both the enlisted and officers affirm their service by reciting similar oaths. They both begin with: I, [and then we state our name ], do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; [and] that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” Now, from that point, the oaths differ a little bit.
The Enlisted then affirm: I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.” Officers, however finish their oath by stating: “I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will, well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God”
Let’s see how this ties into the Gospel. Please turn in your bibles to the Gospel according to Matthew 28:16–20. Let’s start off our time by concentrating on V.18.
ALL AUTHORITY GIVEN TO JESUS
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” There’s two questions we need to ask. What is this authority mean; and from whom was Jesus given this authority? We’re going get to the answers, but it’s gonna be a roundabout way.
Now, you’ll notice nowhere in this passage is word the commission ever used — for the exception of the header, which is only put there by the publisher anyway. In all reality, there’s only passage in the entire bible that uses the word commission — that’s Acts 26:12. In this passage, the Apostle Paul was standing trial before King Agrippa with the charge of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So, Paul’s standing before the King, and Agrippa gives permission to Paul to plead his case. Paul starts telling his story of how at one time he great Pharisee and how he persecuted the Christians. Then, Paul recounts the time when he journeyed to Damascus in order to “take care of the Christians”, under the authority and commission of the chief priests — that last phrase being the exact verbiage used in V12.
As with the definition that I gave earlier, Paul derived his authority directly from the chief priests and, as such, held a commission, charging him with the duties and responsibilities to persecute the new and growing church. However, on his way to Damascus, Jesus knocked him off from his donkey, and charged Paul with a new commission. Paul told Agrippa about that as well. That commission was this.
Jesus said to Paul, “I have appeared to you — [and hear this word]— to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. [Here’s the specific commission]. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Ac 26:16–18).
In other words, Jesus commissioned Paul — in the authority of his sovereign name — to “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 [Jesus commanded him.]” Paul’s charge was the same Jesus gave to the disciples. But from where, some might ask, did Jesus receive this authority, and what’s that look like. That brings us back to Matthew.
This word authority in the Greek means a bunch of things: The first thing it means a “freedom of choice, or right.” We can see this in the commissioning oath of our country’s military officers when they say, ““I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”
This word also means “the right to control or command, authority, absolute power, and warrant.” This last way is how the word is used — both in the passage with Paul, as we just saw — as well as here in Matthew 28. Still, both of these definitions speak to the kind of authority Jesus was given from a higher sovereign power; and that’s God the Father.
John 1:1-2, 4-5 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. A few verses later, V14 to be precise, we read, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
So we know that Jesus is one with the Father, and came from heaven to earth in order to shine the light of truth of grace into the darkness. Later in John 6:38–40, we hear these words of Jesus. “I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
I guess we could say Jesus was commissioned by the Father — before the beginning of time —to come to earth, in order to fulfill the Father’s will by being the means for which all people can be saved of their sins. It’s kind of like, Jesus swore a commissioning oath to the Father. He took his obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and he faithfully discharged the duties of the office for which he entered.
Under the authority of God the Father, Jesus brought the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. He established the New Covenant by fulfilling the first. One might say he fulfilled God’s ultimate “uniform code of heavenly justice” by lying down his life as the atoning, Passover Lamb. Jesus came under the sovereignty of God the Father, in order to bring salvation to all humanity; and in doing so, he honored the Father. He shined his light in the darkness; and yet, the darkness does not understand it. That’s where the “Great Commission” comes into play.
JESUS ENSLISTS THE DISCIPLES, TRAINS, AND COMMISSIONS THEM
Okay, let’s move onto V19. Jesus said, ‘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.” What’s he’s saying here is, “I am giving you the authority to go forth in my name to be my light in a darkened world.
Years earlier, Jesus recruited the disciples into his new army, in order to win souls for the God. For three years, Jesus instructed his disciples in a kind of Apostles Candidate School. They learned how to be in right relationship to God, and how to act under the sovereign power of Christ as God’s chosen. Then, right before he ascended, Jesus commissioned them, just as the Father commissioned him.
This time upon the Galilean mountain with Jesus was like the disciples graduation day. Picture the scene. They were all upon the mountain, and they just finished eating a meal together (as it says in Acts 1). Jesus gave them his final instructions and says in effect. “You’re ready for this. I chose you, now let me commission you to act upon my authority.” The excitement builds. Jesus then says, ‘Recite after me.”
“I, state your name, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Kingdom of Heaven, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
The text doesn’t say anybody refused Jesus. Instead, the Bible and extra-historical documents record just the opposite. The Book of Acts and the writings of the Early Church Fathers testify to the manner in which the disciples took seriously their oaths to Jesus Christ.
Like Jesus, the Apostles (including Paul) took their obligation freely. Consider, despite their peril, they went into the entire world and proclaimed that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and only through Christ, can we enter into the presence of God the Father and live in eternal peace.
After the Holy Spirit filled them on the day of Pentecost, they fully entered into their offices for which Jesus chose them. They no longer doubted, or had mental reservations. They bore true faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. None of them refused Christ, or tried to evade their commission by running and hiding when life and ministry became difficult.
Instead, they stood up against God’s enemies: both foreign (meaning Rome and Satan’s demonic forces), and those domestic (meaning the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and those wanting to cause division within the church). They bore true faith — they were faithful to the Way of Christ and to the true Word of God; and they aligned themselves with God versus the ways of this world. In other words; they honored the Father, as was modeled for them. They well and faithfully discharged the duties for which they entered; and they did so with the help of God.”
Jesus’ final words to the disciples in V.20 served as words of comfort. Jesus said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” See, God’s promises are nothing new. Just as God promised to be by Israel’s side as they entered into the Promised Land if they remained in him, he will likewise remain by our side, for as long as we remain in him. God said to Israel, Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
WE TOO ARE COMMISSIONED
Jesus gave his disciples this same promise, and this same promise remains for you and me. Therefore, because he has, we can go out in his peace, knowing that his Spirit will be with us, and help us, and help us make disciples for him and to teach them to obey everything we’ve been commanded.
Dear friends, since God has promised to be with us wherever we go, we can be strong and courageous in our faith. We no longer have to be terrified about telling our neighbors and friends about Jesus Christ. We don’t have to be discouraged because our sanctuary or offering plates aren’t currently overflowing on Sunday mornings.
Instead, because God is with us, we can be encouraged, courageous and strong; and we can do something about our circumstances, and honor God the Father, as well. Here’s how. Let’s raise our right hands and reconfirm our confirmation oaths. Let us go from this place with courage, in the strength of God’s Spirit, and shine the light of Christ by proclaiming salvation in Jesus Christ, and by acting upon the authority he’s given us as the church. Amen.
