And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20
"The church today is raising a whole generation of mules." At least this is the opinion of one person who has assessed the condition of the visible body of Christ. Now before we get too bent out of shape with this comment, you need to know that mules have many redeemable qualities, especially when compared to horses. (If you are a horse lover, please indulge me for a moment.) In my brief research I have discovered that...
• Mules can endure extreme temperatures better than horses.
• Mules are by most accounts noticeably more intelligent than horses.
• Mules eat less and rarely have hoof problems, unlike horses.
• Mules live longer (18 years vs. 15 years) than horses.
• Mules are generally more productive when it comes to work than horses. A mule can carry a 50–60-pound pack up to 50 miles in one day!
• As a matter of fact, the only problem with mules is that they are almost always sterile and therefore incapable of reproduction. Durable--yes! Smart--yes! Inexpensive to maintain--yes! Hard workers--yes! But unfortunately, most mules are the end of the family line.
Perhaps this is what is meant by this individual who claims that we’re raising a whole generation of mules! The Gospel message ends at us.
The church is full of hard workers. We teach classes, serve the physical needs of others, clean up and mow the grass, cook, move tables, organize social activities, visit, and even write letters and cards, and do a host of other things, the vast majority of which are good and helpful ministries. There is just one problem. We’re not very good at reproducing. For some obvious reasons, we don’t share what it means to be a disciple of Christ with others so that they can know Him and enlist in His work. Many are the end of the line when it comes to spiritual reproduction. The mission of the church given to us by our Lord is to go into all the world and make disciples of others. It is entirely possible that we can work very hard at various activities and yet still fail to get the job done. Let me say it plainly. If we are not contributing to the Great Commission by making disciples, we are not doing the job completely. If we are nothing more than a generation of infertile mules, then at least from a human perspective, we are on the road to extinction.
Certainly, this is not what Christ intended when he issued the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20. In His final words to His disciples recorded in the Gospels, Jesus charged them (and us) with "teach all nations." With the word “teach” meaning to make Disciples of Christ. A disciple is someone who studies rigorously under the authority of a teacher or rabbi. It is the task of the disciple to learn from his master what is true and to submit to his requirements because he requires it of them. Jesus did not issue a decree to make disciples who were soft in their commitments (i.e. Just come to church) and occasional in their obedience (i.e. only follow the teachings you agree with). In His own words, to be a disciple of Christ requires putting Him before any other, before oneself, and before anything. Raising followers with this kind of devotion must have seemed overwhelming to the twelve.
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:25-33
In this, Jesus is giving you the opportunity to make a list of pros and cons, to decide who is of the greatest concern for the long haul. Some have been troubled by Jesus talking about hating family, friends, and self. The word hate is used here as a choice to make between something greater and something lesser…your eternal life versus your worldly life. Jesus is not saying that you can no longer love your family, friends, and self, but that you need to change first so that you can be in a better place to help them. The Holy Spirit reminded me of something so that I could better understand it when I was concerned and confused about it.
For those of us who have been on a plane, and they give you the safety announcements, well, one of those pertains to oxygen masks and traveling with children. They say to put your mask on first and then your child’s. The reason being is that you need to be sure that you can breathe before so that you can be in better condition to help others. So, Jesus is saying that you need to put your efforts first in getting yourself to Christ so that you can help others get to Him.
Now I must say that many of the members of this church are doing their part, and that part is attending Bible study, because before you can go out and teach and preach, you need to understand the material you’re going to talk about, and I hope the studies are helpful for you as you grow in Christ, preparing to take on the great commission. Once we understand the commission, we will find the helpful and hopeful words surrounding this command to make disciples. Jesus was not about to let them fail at this all-important task and thus we have the rest of the Great Commission. Let’s look at it together.
The Great Commission: Authorized by nothing less than the power of Christ.
Authority is an important concept in any institution, whether it is the family, government, or church. During His earthly ministry Jesus routinely exercised authority, and in the Greek, it is a word that means "authority or power." It speaks of one who has the freedom to do as he pleases. This authority and power were demonstrated during His teachings where the people did not see Him as a mere person spouting philosophies and opinions, but as a person who spoke with authority over the things He taught. He has power and authority over the human body and was able to heal the peoples’ afflictions. He has power and authority over nature, where He calmed the rough seas, turned water to wine, and withered healthy trees. He has power over death, by bringing back to life those He choose. He has power and authority over the spiritual world, by casting demons out of humans and forcing them to go to a place of containment.
By virtue of the resurrection, He was not given greater authority…how much greater could he have exercised than to forgive sin, cast out demons and raise the dead? But a larger kingdom in which to exercise it. With the empty tomb, all of heaven and earth were subjected to His rule by decree of our heavenly Father.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
So that Jesus is now and forever the King of Kings and Lord or Lords). No one or anything is exempted from His rule.
If Jesus were going to give His disciples such an imposing task--"teach all nations"--it would be necessary to infuse them with great confidence knowing that He is in sovereign control of everything. This confidence comes from knowing that His is an undisputed authority.
There once was a lion who wanted to make sure that all the other animals in the jungle knew he was the king. To save time and energy he bypassed the smaller animals and went right straight to the bear, "Who is the king of the jungle?" the lion asked. The bear replied, "Why you are, of course." The lion gave a mighty roar of approval. Next, he asked the tiger, "Who is the king of the jungle?" The tiger quickly responded, "Everyone knows you are mighty lion." Pleased, the lion went to the elephant and once more asked, "Who is the king of the jungle?" The elephant immediately grabbed the lion with his trunk, whirled him around in the air five or six times and slammed him into a tree. Then he pounded him onto the ground several times and dunked him in a lake for good measure. At last, the elephant released the lion, now battered, and bruised. The king of the jungle looked at the elephant through sad and bloody eyes and said, "LOOK, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO GET ALL MEAN ABOUT IT!"
I know many an elephant today, I’m speaking figuratively about the rejectors of Jesus, who will attempt to try verbally and mentally to do what the elephant in our illustration did. May I assure you that in the end there will be no elephants standing around waiting for the opportunity to dispute the authority of Christ. Every knee (and trunk for that matter) will bow to His lordship.
The Great Commission: Accomplished by nothing less than the plan of Christ.
The scope of the plan is based on God’s desire that all man be saved. In heaven there will be people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. That’s why we are to make disciples of all nations, otherwise how would they get there? Some have taken the words "all nations" here to refer only to the Gentiles. They argue that Israel has forfeited her place so that the Gospel must be kept from her.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.
Matthew 21:42-43
This position, however, is wrong. While it is true that the nation of Israel has rejected Christ, God does not show favoritism when it comes to the opportunity to enter the kingdom of heaven, He has room for any person who chooses to believe. If this is the case, then what does the Scripture say? Well, it pertains to those who hold traditions, symbolisms, nations, friends, family, and things greater than Jesus. For those Jews who start putting Jesus first in their lives will find a place in heaven, but those that continue to hold on to the world will lose it.
This is precisely why we have embraced a strategy to reach not only our surrounding communities with the Gospel, but also the whole world, but Jesus wants us to first start at home. At this moment we are represented in at least 5 countries around the world through the missionaries we support and the sermons they tune-in to. By God’s grace we will grow this number every year.
The specifics of the plan. Christ’s plan is meant to be ongoing (until the end of the age) and is to be characterized by two things:
1. Baptism into the trinity. This language strongly suggests coming into a relationship with Christ. It was seen as an act of conversion--See Mark 1:8. It is a sign of entrance into the community of faith and a pledge to submit to His rule.
2. Teaching regarding the Christian life. If through baptism we become disciples of Christ, then through teaching we grow in maturity as disciples of Christ. That’s why instruction is so important.
a. We’re to teach Christ’s commands (See Matthew 22:37-40).
b. His commands will never be obsolete (i.e. the commission extends even to the end of the age and His words endure forever--See Matthew 24:35).
c. His commands are meant to be obeyed. They are not suggestions!
W. C. Fields, a very talented comedian known for his excesses was found reading a Bible late in his life. Someone asked him "Are you looking for answers?" "No," he replied. "I’m looking for loopholes." I know plenty of folk who are looking for loopholes, as opposed to just getting right. There are no loopholes. Only those who through faith in Christ walk in obedience to His Word are truly His disciples (See John 14:21).
The Great Commission: Assured by nothing less than the presence of Christ.
The One who was first introduced as Immanuel ("God with us"--See Matthew 1:23) by the angel Gabriel is still with us and will be to the end of the age! At that time the nations will have heard the good news, as well as having been prepared for judgment should they have rejected it
This is meant to comfort us because Jesus said that He would be with us as we share the hope of the Gospel and attempt to make disciples of all nations. We can have the complete assurance that He is right there with us doing all that He needs to do in order that men and women will find Him, and that is the great things about the Good News…Jesus helps us by giving us the Holy Spirit to aide in teaching the nations.
This is meant to challenge us. We, as the church, must be careful not to drift from our mission. There is much riding on our faithfulness.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Romans 10:14-15
If you’ve been a believer for very long it is likely that you have heard several sermons using this text. It would be easy to give ear-service to this one, and then to get on with the Christian life as you have experienced it up until now. I hope that I can persuade you, however, to stop for a moment and do a little bit of a spiritual assessment of your life. Can you say with confidence that you are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ? Have you embraced the Great Commission with the kind of enthusiasm that demonstrates that you really believe Jesus is the answer to mankind’s most profound questions? If not, why not?
In 1933 Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, began teaching sailor Les Spencer how to grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ. They spent many hours together in Bible study, scripture memorization and prayer. Soon a shipmate of Les Spencer asked him about the reason for his changed life. Les brought him to Daws and said, "Teach him what you taught me." Dawson’s answer -- "You teach him" -- was the beginning of The Navigators. Les Spencer did help that sailor and the two in turn began to help others. Thus, was born a simple model of discipleship or spiritual reproduction, a process whereby one person helps another, who in turn helps another, and on and on. Eventually the Navigators became a world-wide ministry organization committed to carrying out this multiplying process in over 100 countries. When Dawson Trotman passed away, he left a legacy of discipleship on this earth, the likes of which is seldom seen. Oh, by the way, he died the same way he lived...laying down his life for others. In 1956 at a place called Schroon Lake in the state of New York, Dawson drowned while trying to save the lives of two young ladies; He jumped into the lake when he saw them struggling to stay afloat. He managed to lift one girl out of the water. He returned for the other and rescued her as well. By the will of God, however, it was the last time anyone ever saw Dawson Trotman alive. His body was not seen again until the dragnet found him a few hours later. A man named Larsen, who was on that boat when Trotman died, later said, "The entire United States Navy couldn’t have saved Trotman that day--it was God’s time." Time Magazine ran an article on his life the next week, and put a caption beneath his name that read, "Always Holding Somebody Up." This one sentence summed up Trotman’s life--invested in people, spent on helping many find life, then holding them up so that they might be able to do the same for still others.
What will the caption beneath your name read when God calls you home?
