THE GREAT COMMISSION
MATTHEW 28: 16-20
INTRODUCTION TO SERMON:
This week we want to look at a passage that it probably familiar to many of you.
What do you think of when you hear the word, “commission?”
You might think of a salesperson earning a “commission,” or maybe of a person in the military receiving a “commission,” given certain authority maybe as an officer, or you might think of someone being arrested for the “commission” of a felony.
It's a word that can be thought of in different ways but as we look at our text this morning it is defined as “an order to complete a certain task or duty.”
That’s why what we study today is called “The Great Commission” because this order or command is given by Jesus Himself.
And my prayer is that we will find that He is giving us one of the greatest privileges and opportunities in life.
We find it in Matthew 18:16-20. (Turn to it in Bibles, devices)
I want us to look at three parts of what Jesus says here so that we can understand His expectation and practically see ways we can do what He desires of us. But before we dive in let’s ask God to bless our time together.
I want to go down two side roads before we get into the three parts or steps Jesus wants us to take to fulfil His commission.
First, notice in v.17, how the disciples were feeling in this moment.
They had been with Jesus for 6 weeks after His resurrection and they come to a mountain and when they see Jesus what did they do in that moment?
Ask questions? Pester Jesus for answers as to why “such and such” was happening?
No. It says, “They worshipped Him.” (v:16) When you understand who Jesus is… that He has forgiven all sin, defeated all death and has proven again and again that He is God… questions or opinions don’t matter. All that matters is you are in His presence.
Secondly, notice what I think may be the most overlooked and yet maybe the most important statement in the whole N.T.
The church should organize around this statement. Jesus says: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Mt. 28:18 NIV)
Please understand: Jesus said this 300 years BEFORE there was a bible. So, this isn’t just “another” bible verse it’s our Savior saying He's the ultimate authority for everything!
He says He has: " all authority." Jesus is saying, “Everything before me is a shadow and anyone after me that doesn’t recognize this statement is in error.” He’s laying down quite the gauntlet here. “If someone does something different than what I’ve asked or countermands what I say then they’re outside my authority because “I have (say it with me) ALL Authority!”
Where? “…in heaven and on earth.” No wonder the disciples worshipped Him. Who can say such a thing? Only the One who created us, saved us and rose from the dead. What can such a One ask of us? Anything.
And that lays the groundwork for what he tells us to do with this authority.
I. THIS COMMAND IS INTENTIONAL:
First, let’s see this is an intentional command.
Jesus says to “Therefore, (because I have all authority) Go and make disciples…” This wasn’t just a last-minute thought or something that came to Jesus in the spur of the moment. This was something he wanted them and us to realize what the entire intention of His ministry. In fact, He said His whole purpose was “to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10 NIV)
Now, He commands us to “Go.” Go where? How are we to go? What does He mean, “go”?
Well, after three theological degrees, 3+ decades of ministry and studying the original language I have found the profound meaning of this word… It means… “Go!” Don’t just stand here, get out there! I’ve got something I need you do to!”
Now, some well-intentioned teachers, pastors and authors tell us that the original meaning of “Go” is more accurately translated “as you go.” In other words, “As you go about your daily life, look for opportunities to help people follow Jesus.” Now, certainly, a part of what Jesus is saying here is everyone, everywhere should make disciple making their priority. That’s for every church and every Jesus Follower.
But let’s not make a mistake here and think it only means that God’s people are to engage in outreach and discipleship wherever they are. The Great Commission certainly includes that, but this is so much more than a lifestyle command. It’s a summons to join God on his mission to redeem a people from every single tribe and language and people and nation! “Go” means go. And what are we to do when we go?
We are to “make disciples.” Those two words in English are a single word in Greek translated, disciplize-ize or “create a disciple.” A disciple is simply one who is a learner, a student or a follower of another person or teaching.
It’s important to note that ingrained in this word “disciple-ize” is a process.You see we don’t make the disciple.
As a sinner, even though we are saved by grace, we are in no position to create disciples of Jesus.
But Jesus is giving us the privilege to participate in the process of introducing Him to someone and sharing His love for them.
I like what Dallas Jenkins says about our responsibility when he says, “It is not our job to feed the 5000, our job is to bring the “5 loaves and 2 fish.” Jesus and the Spirit will do the “making” if someone is willing to accept and place their trust in Jesus. They become a follower, a learner, a disciple. Our task is sharing Him.
Next, the construction of this verb “make disciples,” demands an object to fulfill it.
It’s not complete without seeing who we are to disciple… and what does Jesus say? We are to make disciples “of all all nations!” This necessarily means that some Jesus followers must move from their current location to go where there are people in nations with no gospel access. We must go to them!
I can hear the question… “What if I can’t uproot my family, change locations and literally go to some other nation?” Well, first, I would ask you to be honest with the Lord and yourself and evaluate to see if that is truly the case. But, if after that evaluation you find you truly cannot leave your present circumstances, that’s ok.
Implicit within this command is that the Big “C” church, that is, all Jesus followers, are made up of two groups:
those who can literally go to all nations and then others, who can send them so that the “Go” to all nations is fulfilled.This is to be our primary purpose!And it started by Jesus giving this great commission.
But a strange thing happened. Jesus left and they didn't "Go."
They stayed in Israel, most particularly one city… Jerusalem. Those who had been told to GO stayed. From Acts 2-7 all the disciples that were commanded to "go to all nations,” stayed in town."
So, three things happen to get the Go, going.
First, persecution broke out – we find that in Acts. 8. These that were supposed to “Go” were forcibly driven out so they would Go.
Secondly, Jesus recruited the most unlikely “Go person!” A man named Saul. This guy was a “Jew only” person. He believed so strongly that the Jewish faith was right he persecuted anyone who followed Jesus. Saul was so adamant that to correct him Jesus appears to him supernaturally.
And do you know what this Jew was to do? Go! Go tell non-Jews, Gentiles all over the world about Jesus! Gentiles! Of all people! To the Jewish mind they weren't worthy of God's love, they weren't the "chosen" people.
And yet, through Saul who is renamed Paul, the Gentile world, including you and I have received Jesus!
Thirdly, Jesus appears to one of the original 11, Peter, in a vision, and reminds him he is to Go to all nations.
In Acts 10 Peter receives a supernatural vision and realizes he has not obeyed the “Go” command and says, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35 NIV) Finally, Peter, gets it!
Now, why do I spend the time on this? Because you cannot miss the intentionality of this command.
It is clearly the intention of Jesus for you and me, and for all the people who make up His church to “go and make disciples.” We are to do all we can to introduce Jesus to people, telling them the good news that Jesus loves them and has delivered them from sin! When they submit and trust Him, they become disciples, followers, students of Jesus across the globe.
II. THIS COMMAND TAKES COURAGE TO OBEY:
• The second thing I want you to see about this intentional command is that it takes courage to obey.
o Let’s go back to Peter, one of the original 11, who heard this command.
o His realization in his Act 10 vision, that Jesus wanted ALL nations to become His followers, cost him.
• You see, in Peter’s day not only were the Jesus followers not going, but they also got caught up in a false teaching that kept them from going.
o There were some who said, “It’s more important to be a Jew and add Jesus to Judaism then be a Jesus follower first and follow His teaching.”
o That’s the primary reason they weren’t going. They didn’t think “all nations,” meant all nations!
• But Peter learned differently. This supernatural vision I mentioned found in Acts 10 leads him to go to a Gentile family and preach Jesus.
• Before this supernatural evidence from the Lord that He was to go outside the Jewish nation, he resisted. Why?
o Because it was culturally a big “no-no” for a Jew to even associate with a non-Jewish person! How do we know this?
o Well, when Peter gets to this non-Jewish family after being told (again) that he was to “go and make Jesus followers of all nations here is what he said in Acts 10:28.
o “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. (Wow! That’s a great start for sharing Jesus!) But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” Which means he did, before this moment… think of them as impure and unclean!
o He was going against his own upbringing and culture.
o But Peter has the courage to do it because Jesus told him to. ????
• What happens?
o Peter sees his message of Jesus received by these Gentiles and goes back to Jerusalem to find that everyone is mad at him for GOING… after Jesus had told them TO GO.
o In fact, Acts 15, read it some time, is the first “Church fight!”
• It would be months later that the disciples finally go all IN… to GOING.
o Peter and Paul tell the church in Jerusalem that the Good News is for everyone.
o In fact, the theme of this new church becomes Acts 15:19: ”We should not make it difficult for Gentiles (or anyone!) who are turning to God.” (NIV)
• How can they say that? Because Jesus, who has all authority, commanded it.
o To Go to all nations… not just Biblical Jews, not just people of a certain color, or people of a certain economic status, or of a certain political persuasion!
o Jesus is for all people! All are invited, all are included, all are important!
o That takes courage because not everyone, even the Jesus followers, will appreciate you going to everyone!
• But it also takes courage to live out, to practically carry out this commission.
o When a person hears the Good News about Jesus and becomes a follower what are we to do with these learners, students, followers?
• Two things.
• Jesus says, "baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…"
o This has caused great debate in the church.
? Baptism, instead of being a moment of celebration has become a matter of contention!
? Now, this is not a message on baptism. Corey taught on this several weeks ago and if you questions about baptism, I encourage you to listen/watch that sermon and then talk to him. We have placed a QR code in your bulletin to help you find the message.
o Why baptize them?
? Because we are simply meeting the desire of the Giver.
? Jesus gives forgiveness of sin, purpose for living and eternal life. And He, the Giver, the one who has ALL authority, simply asks you to follow His example (He was baptized) and to do what he asks.
o We as the “goers” are to baptize everyone that wants to be a disciple of Jesus.
? We are not to just dunk them, but we are to do it “in the name” or under the authority of God, the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
? We are baptizing them because the One who has all authority, has told us to.
o Now, that can take some courage because it can cause some arguments.
o But I would tell you to simply say to anyone who asks or has a problem with water baptism that, “we are just doing what Jesus told us to do.”
o And leave it at that.
• 2. Then Jesus continues, and this is something I think we miss sometimes.
He says: "…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
(Mt. 28:20 NIV)
o Notice what He doesn’t say.
? Teach them about Daniel and the Lion’s Den, teach them about Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, teach them what Paul writes in his letters, or teach them dispensational theories of the second coming.
o What should we teach them? Everything Jesus taught.
? Like what?
? “Love each other as I have loved you.” “Let your good deeds shine so that people will praise the Father in heaven.” “Be the good Samaritan when you see a need.” “Give sacrificially like the Widow.” “Remember, no matter your past God loves you like a waiting father.” “If you want to be my disciple you must deny self.” Etc.
o Now, please don’t misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with the O.T. stories, nor Paul’s teaching in his letters, nor theological discussions. They all have their place.
o So, why is Jesus so particular here?
? I think it’s because he is talking about “babes in the faith,” people just beginning their journey.
? They first and foremost need to hear about Jesus and then from Jesus!
? That’s why when I introduce people to Jesus, I take them to one of the Gospels. I prefer John or Luke.
? I want to teach them first who Jesus is, what he did and if they are interested, what he wants from them.
o It will take courage to begin the conversation and commitment to take the time to teach them what Jesus taught but it’s worth it as you see a new life in Christ.
III. THIS COMMAND DEMANDS YOU SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST:
• Thirdly, this command demands you share your experience with Jesus.
o Notice that Jesus did not stay to do this job Himself.
o In fact, He says, "And I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." (MT. 28:20 NIV) And then He left!
o “I will be with you always, bye!” What? Why? Because He’s coming back.
o And He now asks us to be a commercial for a coming attraction!
• Now, each of us as followers of Jesus have come to know Him through different experiences.
o Jesus gave us very few instructions other than to tell us to “Go,” “Make disciples,” “Baptize them,” and “teach them about me and what I commanded.”
o But the other thing He assures us is that He will help us…be with us.
o That means He has left a lot of the “how” or what we say to people up to us.
• I think that’s the case because He knew and knows that different people will reach different people.
o Some of you have had dramatic encounters in finding Jesus.
o Some of you have had homes where you have always known Jesus.
o Some of you have fought following Jesus, some of you have always seen Jesus as Your Lord.
o The point is that we are all different and many have come via different paths to the point of being a Jesus follower.
o Use that! You will be able to reach someone that I never could and vice versa.
• So, let me close and hopefully pull this all together with a three-step plan to fulfill the Great Commission on a practical level. I’ve given it the acronym of I.C.E. just to help us remember.
• Since this command is intentional, the I is: Live with the intention to share Jesus. How?
o First let me challenge you to pray every day, “Lord, help me to "GO.”
o Ask the Lord to put someone in your path today that you might be able to at least begin a conversation and thus this commission.
o Then, while you “go” intentionally be alert for those who might be open to hearing about Jesus.
o Maybe that store clerk, that co-worker, that fellow student, that pickleball player, that soccer parent… you have people that you can begin a Jesus conversation with, but you first need to be intentional about making this Great Commission a part of your life!
• The C is: Love with the courage to obey Jesus.
o It does and will take courage to speak up, to begin the conversation.
o But remember, you are not alone. Jesus is with you and He’s willing to help You.
o In fact, that’s one of His promises through the Holy Spirit. In Luke 12:12 he tells us that the Holy Spirit will help us with the words when we are willing to share.
o Remember what we talked about last week? We need to see people with Jesus’ eyes.
o We need to love them enough to have the courage to live for and speak up for Jesus.
• The E is: Lead with your experience with Jesus.
o One of the best ways to introduce people to Jesus is to simply share what He has done for you.
o Remember you are investing in someone that needs their eternity changed.
o At this point, they are not a disciple yet but hearing how you became one might be just what they need to pursue becoming one.
o Many find it helpful to use the “Before-Then-Now“ strategy.
? “Before Jesus - I used to be this way… Then I met Jesus” – describe how… “I had a friend share something with me that helped me see a new perspective…” “One day I opened the Bible…” “I hit bottom and finally looked up,” whatever it was that got you to begin your journey of coming to faith. BUT now I…” And explain the difference He’s made in your life.
• Once they want to become a follower, because of what we see in this Great Commission, you know what to do.
o You baptize them (yes, that’s right any follower can baptize) and you continue to invest in them…
o teaching them what Jesus commands and wants for them.
• So, ready, set? Let’s “GO!” to all nations being a part of HIS Great Commission.
PRAY
Father, Help us to get this right and when we don’t, forgive us and help us change. Raise up followers of Yours who are loyal to the King and are willing to carry out both this great challenge to serve others before ourselves and this great commission that You have allowed us to be a part of. May we “Go.” And may we tell many others about You. In doing so, May You be honored, and Your Kingdom expand. May heaven be bigger because we have met these Great Expectations. In Jesus Name.
