Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew28:16-18
As we saw yesterday, this is one of the occasions Jesus used to commission the disciples, we'll look at Mark, Luke, John and Acts too...
Our specific interest is the Great Commission in the light of the Resurrection: Matthew tells us that "they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted."
One has to wonder about the nature of the doubts they had. Did they doubt the resurrection? Did they doubt the future? Did they doubt themselves?
Whatever their doubt was, Jesus reassures them:
He has ALL authority:
- Because He obeyed the Father (Heb10:5)
- Because He finished the work He was sent to do (Joh17:4)
- Because He was the Lamb that was slain for us (Rev5:9)
- Because it was impossible for death to hold Him (Act 2:24)
- Because nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:38)
We don't go into world having to stand in our own authority. We go into the world bearing and wearing Christ. We make disciples and baptise in HIS name, we teach what HE taught and experience HIS presence.
It is the resurrected, living and present Christ who sends us into the world, asking us to "remember Him" to the world.
- We remember that He came for us - and we tell others...
- We remember that He saved us - and we tell others...
- We remember that He is alive and with us - and we tell others...
The Great Commission is given by the Risen, Victorious and Present Christ - He trusts us enough to put His name and message into our hands - we should be inspired and raring to go!
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eDevs will take a break for the school hols...
Please pray for the holiday club we run at the church next week.
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Here are the texts I quoted above:
- Because He obeyed the Father
HEBREWS 10:5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
- Because He finished the work He was sent to do
JOHN 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
- Because He was the Lamb that was slain for us
REVELATION 5:9 And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
- Because it was impossible for death to hold Him
ACTS 2:24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
- Because nothing can separate us from His love
ROMANS 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
