What is the Great Commission? Part 1

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Over the next few posts I want to take some time to look at the great commission of Jesus, and what that does, or should mean in our lives.

(This is part 1 of our multi-part series on The Great Commission)

It is something I have been thinking about recently – what are we actually doing here? Why has God called us to where we are today? What is God calling us to next? No doubt, some of this is because of personal circumstances – my wife and I are waiting for the ‘next thing’ that God is calling us to. We know that it will become clear as soon as it is meant to – but we are learning patience and endurance until then…

So, what is this about going into all the nations, teaching and baptizing?

First, there is something that is easy to overlook – certainly something I did until it was shown to me. This is one of the only recorded times that Jesus specified a date and place that He was to meet with the disciples. We know that at least the disciples came – there is the possibility that this is the same event as mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians where over 500 people saw Jesus, but we don’t really know.

What we do know, is that the disciples were obedient to the call. Jesus called them to be somewhere – at a certain time – and they were there, ready for Him.

And what was the first thing they did? They worshipped Him.

We are in a new age now. No longer do we have to wait for a specified time and place to meet with God. We don’t have to wait until Sunday to meet God at the altar, or wait until a specified feast, or our annual journey to the great temple in Jerusalem.

Since Pentecost, all Christians have had the Holy Spirit. God is with us always, everywhere we go. Everything we do is done with God right there. No longer do we need to wait until a specified time and place to meet with our Lord, but we can meet Him now – wherever we are, whatever we are doing. And we can worship Him as God.

So join me over the next few days as we reflect on what the Great Commission means to us now, almost 2000 years after Jesus commanded us to Go.

What is the Great Commission? All Authority!

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Over the next few posts I want to take some time to look at the great commission of Jesus, and what that does, or should mean in our lives.

(This is part 2 of our multi-part series on The Great Commission)

Often, when people quote Jesus’ words here, they start with, ‘Go therefore’.  They no doubt start there because that is a direct command that requires action on our part – Go!

Go!

But if we are to jump off the starting blocks from that command, we miss what I believe is the key part of this message.

All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me

Before we are told to go, we are told something more important – the power by which we are commanded. Jesus doesn’t command us, ‘Go, and I hope it works out for you’. He isn’t saying, ‘Go, and if you do it right, we might just get this done together’. 

He says ‘All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me‘. All authority.

When we go – we know we go with the power of an all powerful, all knowing God behind us. We aren’t supported by our own strength, or even the strength of those around us who support us in their own way. We aren’t driven by the wind where it will blow – but we go with a purpose and with a power that declares that all authority is given to it.

So before we get to ‘Go!’, don’t forget how you go – you go by the command of one who holds all authority, and will bring about His purpose for His glory. All we need to do is be obedient to that call.

What is the Great Commission? Make Disciples!

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Over the next few posts I want to take some time to look at the great commission of Jesus, and what that does, or should mean in our lives.

(This is part 3 of our multi-part series on The Great Commission)

Special Forces Christianity. Get in, get the job done with the minimum of casualties, and get out.

We idolize our commando’s, our SWAT teams, our special forces. They get in, do a dangerous job, and get out with as little fuss as possible. They usually avoid the spotlight, preferring to work in the dark and just get the job done. When we meet them in person they are commanding, yet humble figures. They don’t brag about their achievements, but quietly and efficiently get the job done.

Sound a little like Christianity? I mean, they are humble, they are efficient, they follow their leader to to the death if required.

I know not all missions and outreach programs are like this, but many are, and others appear to be so. Get in, get the gospel preached, get conversions and ‘decisions for Jesus’, maybe fill out a few discipleship cards to send them our mailout and get  back home and resume normal life.

Decisions for Jesus becomes our missional mantra. We desperately want to show numbers, we want to show that our preaching has been powerful and effective, our worship powerful and cutting to the heart. We have become special forces Christians.

But this is not what Jesus called us to do is it? The command wasn’t ‘get decisions for me’, or ‘see how many people come forward at an altar call’, but ‘Make Disciples‘.

Making disciples is hard work. I know, not from making them, but from being made one. I am still being made one, and until I am freed from this body of sin I will continue being made one. I have been hard work I know, because my faults have been many.

And praise God that someone didn’t stop with a ‘decision’ and say ‘God Bless, go in peace now you are a brother’, but many people over the years have taken the time to input into my life, to teach me, to guide me, to instruct me, and even to rebuke and admonish me. These people took on Jesus’ command to make disciples, rather than accepting I am ‘in the club’ now and leaving me to fall back to my old life.

So what does it mean to make disciples? It is a lifelong investment in teaching and practicing the Christian life. It is reminding people all that Jesus said, and teaching them to obey His words, just as we do. It is not just being a special forces Christian and getting a ‘conversion’ to feel good, but investing yourself into the lives of others that we all might grow closer to Jesus.

So, when you go, make a decision beforehand to follow what Jesus commanded and make disciples, not just converts.

What is the Great Commission? The promise!

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(This is part 4 of our multi-part series on The Great Commission)

The last words in the Gospel of Matthew are the words of Jesus, and they are a striking promise.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

A striking promise of faithfulness, from Jesus, who is God, who lived a perfect life, died a horrible death, yet rose again as prophesied on the third day.

The words could not be clearer. Jesus is with us always.

Not just on Sundays, or Saturdays, or just when we are praying. Jesus is with us always. We may only go to him once a day, once a week, or even less – but He has promised to remain faithful to us, and be with us always.

And it is these words that bookend what we call the ‘great commission’.

All authority has been given to Me….I will be with you always.

The great commission is not just a call to go and do things, but go and do them knowing that we are commanded by one who has all authority, and will be with us always.

Let’s just spend one minute on that. If He is with us always, He is with us during all our personal trials. He is with us when we are up, and when we are down. He is with us when we think we are alone, or when we are surrounded by others.

He is with us when we speak to others about Him. He is with us when we pray with others, teach others, disciple others and baptize others.

And some of these things aren’t easy. Sharing your faith with someone is not an easy task, and is often met with rejection, skepticism, and in some parts of the world severe persecution.

But we know this – not only are we commanded, the One who commanded is with us, and He has all authority. The circumstances of life in this fallen world may not be good (and probably won’t be good), but Jesus is with us, guiding us, teaching us, leading us to the place He wants us to be, to the place that will bring the greatest impact – whether we can see it or not.

Jesus has all authority – and will be with you always.

All that is left now is for you (and me) to go.

What is the Great Commission? A Command to Go.

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(This is part 5 of our multi-part series on The Great Commission)

Over the past few days we have looked at the Great Commission, and discovered that Jesus commands us with all authority, that we are to make disciples by teaching them and baptizing them, and that He will be with us.

And so now we come to the crunch. If we are a disciple of Jesus, we will do all that He commands us, just as we teach others. And what does Jesus command?

Go.

There is a time for preparation. There is a time for learning and knowing what to teach, and what you will share with others. There is a time to build up. But all of those times are not eternal – they are for a time and a purpose, and they come to an end. And when they do?

Go!

But where will you go?

You could be like Craig, who is going by ministering to the men in his city, men who would raise some eyebrows should they walk into a church today. These men need someone to minister to them, and Craig is in that gap.

You may be like Dave, who with his wife, goes regularly to minister to the lost in Ethiopia out of their own funds. God has given them a passion for the Ethiopian people, and they do all they can to support and minister to them.

Or maybe you will be like Roy, who uses his love of motorcycles as a door to minister to others who also ride, but don’t know about what Jesus has done for us all.

One thing you can be sure, whether you are called around your home or called across the world – God will call. He will prepare you, He will give you the words and He will make the way.

All that is left for you is to obey.

And Go.