The Great Co-Mission
Matthew 28:18-20
Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister
First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO
Bible students call this passage the Great Commission. Several factors about it merit that distinction.
It is great because of who said it. These are the words of Jesus. Most of us here would consider anything Jesus said to be significant. We believe that his words lead to eternal life.
But even a person who hasn’t yet become a follower of Jesus has to admit that he is one of the most influential voices in all of history. As James Allen Francis put it, “all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.” (Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”).
These particular words of Jesus are also great because of when he said them. These are Jesus’ last words to his disciples. Last words are important words. If we knew we were saying our last good bye to our friends, we would choose our words carefully. We would pay particular attention to the parting words of someone we care about.
But most importantly, the Great Commission is great because of what Jesus says. It is altogether possible to read this passage and miss the big picture. Some read these words and only hear a command or obligation. That’s certainly there. But Jesus’ final words also contain an invitation. The Lord of Glory invites any that follow him to a great opportunity. “Come join me,” he calls, “in the great task of changing the world one person at a time.” He offers us the privilege of joining him in the harvest.
Let’s watch together a modern-day parable that catches the spirit of this invitation to the great co-mission.
The Harvest
(Venture Media (1987). … about a 15 minute segment from just after introduction/as family dinner begins through beginning of conclusion—ending with “… campus.”
Jesus’ last words reveal the heart of heaven. It tells us what was on Christ’s mind as he prepared to leave his disciples. He was thinking about the harvest.
The fact that Jesus said, “Go make disciples of all nations” explains why he didn’t end it all right then and there. He could have. The Lord could have said, “That’s it. It’s over. The world is ending. I am pronouncing judgment now.” Instead of saying “this is the end,” he said, “this is the beginning. Go make disciples.”
These words also make it clear that God always intended the work of world evangelism to involve human activity. Some mistakenly argue that the church’s job is to take care of itself while the Lord takes care of reaching the world. “If the Lord wants the nations discipled, he will do it himself. He doesn’t need our help,” some say. Some may say that, but Jesus didn’t. And the first Christians chose to listen to Jesus. So should we!
God may not need our help. I am sure he could do it himself. He could have commissioned the angels of heaven to evangelize the world. But instead he chose to include us. He invited us to join him in the harvest. That’s the point of the Great Commission.
I am glad those who first brought the Gospel to my family decades ago listened to Jesus. It is a good thing that those from New Harmony, Hays Creek and other places chose to listen to Jesus one hundred twenty-six years ago. They started this church because they believed Jesus’ final words. They believed the Lord had given them the task of making disciples and starting new churches. I’m glad the leadership of this congregation chose to listen to Jesus. That’s why we are planting Cornerstone Christian Church in Bowling Green and Pike County.
This naturally leads to the question—what is our part in making disciples? Let me briefly list a handful of activities we should be involved in. First, we need to make sure we are saved. Unless you have become a disciple, been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and began the life-long task of learning and obeying his commandments, there is not much you can do for anyone else. Parents, grandparents, anyone concerned about the destiny of others—hear this clearly. You must clarify your own standing with Christ first.
Anyone who has flown has heard the flight attendants pre-takeoff instructions. The warnings are also printed on cards in the back of seat. Among other things, it always says, “In case of an emergency, oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling compartment. Secure the mask to your face by placing the elastic strap around your head. If you have a small child with you, make sure that you attach your own mask first then assist your child. The reason is obvious—if the adult passes out, no one can help the child. The first step in fulfilling Jesus’ commission to disciple the nations is to become a disciple yourself!
Secondly, we can pray. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers in the field.” Paul said, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, … pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Col. 4:2-3). We can pray for our neighbors and opportunities to nudge those we care about closer to Christ. We can ask the Lord to open hearts and minds and doors.
We can pray. We can also look for opportunities to love and serve our neighbors. Most people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Every one of us can give a helping hand or a word of encouragement to our neighbors. Our service and compassion creates credibility for the Gospel and opportunities for our witness.
I would be amiss if I didn’t say that some of you might consider serving in other places and other lands. The Lord still needs and calls people just like you to cross oceans and seas to take the Gospel to other lands. Are you available? But it’s too dangerous to take the Gospel to other places. Really? I would insist that there is no safer, better place to be than in the center of God’s will. If God is nudging you toward another mission field, you need to listen.
We can also invite. As we meet and get to know the people the Lord brings across our paths, we can invite them to join us for church, a social event, or other places where they are likely to learn more about Jesus and connect with other believers. We can’t make them accept. But we can extend the invitation.
Finally, as the Lord gives opportunity and our neighbors seem open we can tell our story. We can tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about what Jesus has done for us and the difference he has made in our lives. That’s what it means to witness for Christ.
As most of you know, I went to college and seminary at Lincoln Christian College. As Earl Hargrove founded the college over sixty years ago, he preached one sermon up and down the state of Illinois and across the Midwest. He called it “The Spreading of the Gospel.” Those who heard the sermon soon began to refer to it as “The Preachers Are Coming” because of his powerful conclusion that pictured the steady stream of Gospel preachers that would one day come forth from that college.
The message was based on this text. I heard him preach that message many times. In it he always called special attention to Jesus’ final sentence in the Great Commission— “And surely, I will be with you always, even unto the end of the age.”
Hargrove would always say something like this, “Jesus told us he would be with us always. That’s a great promise. That something every believer desires and clings to. But Jesus also told us to spread his gospel. That’s part of the same passage. The two ideas are connected. We can have no greater assurance of Jesus’ promise than we are joining him in his great mission to seek and save the lost. On the other hand, if we are going in a different direction and living for a different purpose than that for which he commissioned us we have no assurance of his presence. If want to be with Jesus we too must be about spreading the gospel.”
That is still true. As we stand up, speak up, and live up for Christ, we have the absolute assurance that we are not alone. When we are working in the harvest we are part of the great co-mission.
***Dr. Roger W. Thomas is the preaching minister at First Christian Church, 205 W. Park St., Vandalia, MO 63382 and an adjunct professor of Bible and Preaching at Central Christian College of the Bible, 911 E. Urbandale, Moberly, MO. He is a graduate of Lincoln Christian College (BA) and Lincoln Christian Seminary (MA, MDiv), and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (DMin).
