Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I end my study of the gospel of Matthew today. The resurrection of Jesus has occurred and the remaining apostles in Jerusalem travel north to Galilee. Notice that Matthew highlights the suicide of Judas Iscariot. The 12 apostles are now eleven. The women had told them what the angel had directed them to report. In Galilee they would see Jesus, the risen Lord. And just as the women had said they met with Jesus upon a mountain, possibly Mt. Tabor where the transfiguration of Jesus occurred. There the risen Lord Jesus gave them their mission, a mission for every Christian in every place and time. Jesus' final message is known as the Great Commission. Matthew has the distinction of providing the scriptural passage that the church adopts as it's purpose and mission. The other gospels contain similar direction from the Lord, but Matthew's version is the most popular. Compare the other gospels and what that says about the mission of the church. The oldest gospel account is Mark's. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18 NIV Some of what Mark says here is a bit alarming. I wouldn't want people to drink poison because they are believers. But the basic message is to go and preach the saving good news to all creation and the life-giving power of God will accompany their ministry. Luke's gospel is part of the three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. These share so many similarities, word for word in many cases, that scholars suggest that Mark was source material for the authors of Matthew and Luke. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:46-49 NIV Here there isn't so much a sending forth like the other two, but we need to realize that Luke had a sequel called The Acts of The Apostles, or simply Acts. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-5, 8 NIV What you can see from Matthew, Mark and Luke is a consistent message. 1) Proclaim the good news 2) to everyone everywhere 3) and God will empower the church to do so Finally John's gospel is very different from the other three accounts. Yet the mission of the church is the same. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyoneʼs sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:21-23 NIV The authority of Christ is given to the Spirit empowered church to proclaim forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus Christ. Both Mark, Luke and John highlight the message of forgiveness as the good news. In Matthew forgiveness is implied in the act of baptism. For in baptism we are dying to the power of sinful temptation in our bodies and rising in the power of God's grace to love others purely. Therefore the gospel is good news about God's choice to show us mercy by forgiving our sins. Paul says it best. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peopleʼs sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christʼs ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christʼs behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NIV Paul helps us to see what forgiveness means. It means that we are no longer estranged from our creator. Sin drove humanity from paradise and an intimate life with God. But now through Christ God is offering a way back into His embrace. Forgiveness restores our relationship with God. We are reconciled and we are called to announce the possibility of reconciliation to all people. John's gospel has an epilogue of sorts in which Jesus establishes Peter as leader of the church. Jesus reconciles with Peter after Peter had denied Him. Jesus gave Peter a mission. FEED MY SHEEP. Take care of my sheep. Tend the flock. This is a particular mission for church leadership. While the church goes about the mission of proclaiming the good news of forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ, the church leadership is to be providing nurture for the workers. Preachers give strength to the body of Christ with life giving words, for the bible is God breathed. The Spirit filled words of the bible FEED the church and on the strength of that spiritual food, we go and make disciples. Returning now to Matthew's gospel and the Great Commission let's break down the different parts. First the Great Commission can be simplified to its basic message: "make disciples". The rest reveals how. The Great Commission is bookended by a promise of the shared power and authority of Christ with the church. As the church goes out into the whole world and makes disciples, Christ goes with us. We have everything we need to accomplish the mission for the all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Christ, and Christ is with the disciple making church. Christ is less likely to be with the sit in the pew and never speak to anyone about Jesus church. Jesus is powerfully with the obedient church that goes out into the world to make disciples. How are disciples made? First make a decision to go, and as you go know that Christ is with you. He has commissioned you, authorized you, and empowered you to be God's representatives in the world, offering forgiveness of sin and reconciliation. Look at your neighbors, family, friends, and associates at work, school, and community organizations. They need the gospel. Go! Second baptize them that believe your message. Mark says those who believe and are baptized are saved. Paul says baptism is to die to sin and rise to Christ. Or donʼt you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:3-5, 10-11 NIV When believers in the gospel of forgiveness repent and are baptized they enter into a new life reconciled to God. They are now in need of nurture. New believers are like a little toddler learning to walk. They need special attention. They need mentors to walk and work with them until they are confident enough to walk on their own. The Great Commission says to teach them to obey everything Christ has commanded. That sounds very difficult. Many of us won't feel component to teach everything Jesus commanded. There's a lot in the bible to teach! And there are libraries full of books trying to explain it. But let's make it easy. There is really only one law in Christianity. The royal law is to love. If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. James 2:8 NIV For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NIV Jesus was once asked what is the greatest commandment. Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NIV To teach disciples the commands of Christ is to teach them to love. And experience is the best teacher. As you mentor another in the faith give them opportunities to love and space to reflect on their experiences. Lead by example. Love them with Christ's love. Let them join you in ministry and watch you love others. Sit with them at worship and let them experience you loving God. Pray with them and study the scriptures together. Share your thoughts and experiences so they learn from you how you love God. I think that Christ's law of love can be said this way. Love God completely. Love others humbly, especially those in need. Love the church family loyally. Love has three beneficiaries, God, others, and the church family. We learn to love by receiving God's love through forgiveness. Reconciled to God through Christ's blood, God dwells within us through the Holy Spirit. God's love is in us. The work of discipleship is to find that love within, unlock God's love, and learn to live through His love. Or rather let God's love live through you. With God's love empowering us we love others as we love ourselves. We treat others the way we'd wish to be treated. We do as Jesus did. We lift burdens. We feed. We clothe. We shelter. We give. We heal. We set people free from what holds them captive. We teach, heal and liberate in the power and authority of Christ. And we love one another as a witness to the world that Jesus is Lord reigning over all. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV And also Jesus prayed to the Father, I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:22-23 NIV I interpret the glory God gave to Jesus, which Jesus gives to the church, to be the Holy Spirit. Through the indwelling Spirit, we have Christ living in us. With Christ dwelling in our hearts, we have His perfect, lifegiving love to live in and to share. The unity we enjoy with God we enjoy with our brothers and sisters in the church, the body of Christ. We are intimately connected to one another through the Spirit just like the members of the body are connected to each other. When one part hurts the whole body hurts. When one part of the body rejoices the whole body rejoices. The unity of the church is a sign to the rest of the world of the truth of our message. Jesus Christ is Lord! He is our salvation. Through Him is forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation to God, and therefore, access to saving love! It's not too difficult. Love! Love God through worship, prayer, study, tithes and offerings. Love others by serving those in need and telling them about Jesus. Love one another in the church the way God loves you. Forgive as you are forgiven. Give freely as freely as you have received grace upon grace. When you love you are a witness to the truth of the gospel. So go! Make disciples! Baptize them, immerse them in the love of Christ! Love them and teach them to love. And love is with you always to the very end of this life and on forever and ever into eternity. Merry Christmas!