Great Authority, Great Task

Barrett Case

Rich Hill Christian Church

Post-Resurrection • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented a month ago

Matthew 28:16–20

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“Make disciples of all nations,” says Jesus in our text for today. Thus began the church’s world mission. What is it that fueled the mission of the church?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ!

It’s agreed among all NT theologians that it was the Easter faith that launched the church on its mission in and to the world.

Behind the Easter faith, of course, lay the Easter event—Jesus, crucified now alive. The empty tomb. The Living Savior.

Here at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, the Risen Jesus gives His disciples this great commission.

>If you have your bibles (and I hope you do), please turn with me to Matthew chapter 28. As you are able and willing, please stand with me out of reverence for the reading of God’s Holy Word.

Matthew 28, beginning with verse 16:

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped 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.”

May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of His Word!

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Put yourself in the disciples’ sandals for a minute. This is going to be a strange and exciting trip. It’s a trip north to a familiar location (most of them were from Galilee). This, however, is a trip with an unknown end.

What will Jesus have to say to those who ran away from Him?

What will Jesus do? What will He express to His cowardly friends/disciples?

How will they find Jesus? I mean, they’ve been told by the women that He’s been raised, resurrected, but…

The eleven cowardly disciples had 70-75 miles (as the crow flies) to think about, and wonder, and worry about what they’d find.

That’s a long trip—75 miles, hoofing it all the way. That’s a lot of “thinkin’ time” for these disciples on their way to Galilee to see their Rabbi, their Master; their Lord—the Resurrected Jesus.

Put yourself in their sandals. This is some journey.

We are given a glimpse into their meeting at the end of the journey to Galilee. When the disciples arrived at the place Jesus had told them to go, they saw Jesus.

“They saw Him…”

“When they saw Him, they worshipped Him…”—that’s what we expect, right? Worship is exactly appropriate. “When they saw Him, they worshipped Him…”

“…but some doubted.” Some doubted? Doubted? Really?

“When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted.”

Intriguing, no? Worship and doubt seem unlikely bedfellows.

The word translated “doubt (distasan)” appears only twice in the New Testament: here and in Matthew 14.

In Matthew 14, Jesus is walking on water, strolling on the lake out to the boat where His disciples are. They are afraid Jesus is a ghost, but Jesus says, “It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

Peter, the bravest of the cowards, asks to join Jesus on the water. And he does. He gets out of the boat, walks on the water toward Jesus. But Peter hesitates. Peter sees the wind and is afraid. Peter starts to sink, but Jesus reaches out His hand and catches Peter.

It’s at that moment, Jesus turns to Peter and says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Peter was uncertain. He was puzzled. He was at a loss.

That’s the essence of this word, “doubt”.

And so it is with these disciples when they see the Resurrected Jesus for the first time—“some doubted.”

They did not know, not for sure, what to do or how to be.

They worshipped, but some doubted; some hesitated a little.

They were unsure how to respond to Jesus; unsure what sort of reception they would receive from Jesus.

As Jesus does so often, in our moments of fear and doubt, in our moments of uncertainty and hesitation, Jesus comes to us and speaks to us.

“When they saw Jesus, they worshipped Him; but some doubted.”

Here are the eleven disciples and Jesus. It’s just them, on this mountain. The disciples worship. Some of them doubt.

Jesus—the Resurrected One Himself—comes to them and speaks to them.

Jesus doesn’t scold them; Jesus comes up to them.

Jesus doesn’t ignore them; Jesus comes up to them and He speaks to them, in the face of their doubt.

The very first thing Jesus gets straight is the very most important thing: His authority; His universal authority;

FIRST: JESUS’ GREAT AUTHORITY

“Jesus came to them and spoke to them saying, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”

“All authority”is nothing new.

After Jesus’ very first public teaching—the Sermon on the Mount—“the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28-29

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus not only teaches with authority, Jesus forgives sin, heals the sick; He speaks and the wind and the waves listen. Jesus speaks and the demons obey.

In Jesus, “all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17

Jesus claims all authority—this is nothing new; it’s just now reinforced.

It’s obvious; it’s clear. The One who was crucified, dead, and buried is now raised to new life—that One has showed Himself, once again, to have ALL authority.

“All authority in heaven and on earth…”

“In heaven and on earth” is a way to say: all authority everywhere.

In heaven and on earth = the entire universe.

There’s not one square inch, not one iota, not one molecule in the entire cosmos that is outside His Sovereign Authority.

The galaxies are His. The stars and planets put in their places by Him, do as He commands them.

Our moon cuts in line between the earth and the sun and blocks-out the sun completely—this, at Jesus’ command, just to give us a glimpse of something amazing. That we might worship Him.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

Jesus who humbled Himself to the point of death has now been exalted by God the Father.

Jesus has been exalted by God the Father to “the highest place”, to the place of all authority

“All authority in heaven and on earth,” Jesus says, “has been given to Me.”

We have no authority here. Nothing is mentioned anywhere about any authority having been given to us.

All authority has been given to Him, and Him alone.

Jesus is the One spoken of by the prophet Daniel: “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion…” Daniel 7:13-14

Jesus has GREAT AUTHORITY, total authority; complete and universal authority.

Let me ask:

- Do you think you, your life, or your situation is the exception?!?!

- Do you think there is anything that could or ever will befall us that can outmatch His Great Authority?

- Do you think any leader, any politician, any government can or ever could thwart Him and His authority?!?!

Jesus has GREAT AUTHORITY, complete, universal authority.

And from that Great Authority flows His Great Commission to us.

Before we move to our commission, our task, we need to get verse 18 firmly in our minds: “All authority, all authority, all authority, in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

“THEREFORE…” because all authority has been given to Him, “THEREFORE…” and only on the basis of His Great Authority, can we disciple: going, and baptizing, and teaching.

SECOND: OUR GREAT TASK

Jesus’ Great Authority is first and foremost, over and above everything else; it’s the foundation for all we do.

His Authority is first. Our Task is second, and is entirely dependent upon His authority.

- Because of His Great Authority, Jesus’ disciples can go and make disciples. It’s impossible to make any progress without such authority.

- Because of His Great Authority, Jesus’ disciples can go in confidence that their Lord is in sovereign control of everything “in heaven and on earth.”

His Authority is first. Our Task is second, and is entirely dependent upon His authority.

Verse 18: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

Verse 19: “Therefore…”

The “therefore” in verse 19 means: “You disciples have friends in high places, in powerful and authoritative places; THEREFORE you can do whatever He with Great Authority commissions you to do.”

Remember: the cowards/disciples are weak, weak messengers with a powerful message. AND, AND the ALL-POWERFUL, ALL-AUTHORITATIVE Resurrected Jesus is supplying everything they need.

“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, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

We have Jesus’ Authority. And now, Jesus gives us our task, His Great Commission to us.

The structure of the Great Commission is important.

(I apologize at the start, but we must discuss some grammar. I know, I know, but before your eyes glaze over, stick with me.)

The Great Commission—our task from Jesus—consists of one imperative verb and three participles.

There is one imperative verb. An imperative verb in English would be a single action-word, followed by an exclamation mark.

For instance, “Run!” or “Fight!” or “Eat!” Of the words in Matthew 28:19-20, look for the imperative verb.

There is one imperative verb and three participles. Do we have participles in English? Why, of course! Participles are –ing words, words ending in -“ing”, like “swimming” and “running” and “eating.”

Three participles and one imperative verb. This is important; this is key.

Whichever word is the imperative verb is the word that tells you what to do.

Whichever words are the participles tell you how to do it.

I know you’re sitting on the edges of your seats. You can’t wait to find out which is the verb and which are the participles, can you?

So I’ll tell you.

The one and only imperative verb in these verses is: “make disciples” which is just one word in the Greek—“disciple”. That’s what we are supposed to do, this is our task, our commission: “disciple”

The participles are: “going,” “baptizing,” and “teaching”—this is how we “disciple.”

“Disciple” is the verb, the imperative; it’s strong.

It’s the force of our commission, our task.

It’s the main point of the Great Commission Jesus gives to us.

The other main words—the participles—circle around the key verb, “disciple.”

[SLIDE]

The point is: as you are going, DISCIPLE (make disciples), of which baptizing and teaching are a part.

“Go”—Jesus says, “Therefore, go…”

But remember, “go” is NOT the imperative verb. This isn’t the commission. This is a word that supports the task (which is to “disciple”).

The idea here is not “go on a mission trip” or “go somewhere”, though those are fine and dandy.

What this word—the participle, “go”—conveys is a continuous action; a continuous action that is already happening right now, and continues to happen in the future.

So the idea here—the participle, “go”—is more like: “as you’re going along in your life.”

The Great Commission is not a verbal command to go. It is a command “to disciple” as you are already going.

Going where? Well, wherever you’re going.

For Jesus, it’s a foregone conclusion that His disciples are going…somewhere. By nature of being ambulatory creatures—walking, moving creatures—we are “going” somewhere all the time.

We will be “going” from here to somewhere else, namely lunch. And we’ll wake up tomorrow morning and we will be “going” somewhere else again.

We are always “going”, even if it’s not very far.

And, as we are “going”, we are meant to disciple.

“Therefore, “going”, disciple all nations…”

“Make disciples”, literally “disciple.” Jesus says, “disciple all nations.”

This is the verb. It’s the imperative verb: DISCIPLE.

Imperative verbs are commands, instructions, tasks. Imperative verbs are “bossy” verbs. And Jesus—the one with ALL AUTHORITY—has every right to boss us with imperative verbs.

Jesus tells us to “disciple.”

The usual mission-based terms aren’t used here. Jesus doesn’t tell us to “preach” or “convert” or “win”.

Jesus says, “disciple.”

There are many ways to think about “disciple” or define what a “disciple” is. A disciple is, at its basic level, a student or an apprentice; someone who learns from another.

A great way to think about a disciple is to consider a disciple as a person closely connected with Jesus

“To disciple,” then, is “to connect people closely with Jesus.”

This is our task. This is our commission. This is our goal: connecting people closely with Jesus.

It takes time to disciple. It takes time and effort and care.

The Great Commission is not: “Go somewhere. Convert some people. And move on.”

The Great Commission is “disciple.” And that takes time. It takes time, especially when you add on the next phrase.

Jesus commissions us to “disciple…all nations.”

“Therefore go (going) make disciples (disciple) all nations (all the peoples)…”

Couldn’t Jesus have made the task a little more realistic? ALL nations?!? ALL the peoples?!?

Remember what God spoke to Abraham? God told Abraham: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3

And again: “All nations on earth will be blessed through him.” Genesis 18:18

And again: “Through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed.” Genesis 22:18

Isn’t this interesting? The very words in the Great Commission (“all nations” (panta ta ethne)) are found in God’s promise to Abraham (“all nations” (panta ta ethne)).

In the Great Commission Jesus gives to His disciples, we see the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham!

It’s not that Abraham would personally bless all the nations himself.

It’s not that the nation of Israel would accomplish this.

It’s that a MAN from the line of Abraham (Matthew 1:2), one of Abraham’s offspring—a man named Jesus—would die for the sins of the nations and all nations would be blessed through HIM, through Jesus!

And, as the Good News moves through His disciples—the nations are blessed, once and forever.

The task—“disciple all nations”—is only, ONLY, possible because of what Jesus has done and who Jesus is.

The task, the mission given to us by Jesus, is fueled by the resurrection, given by the Resurrected Jesus.

“Therefore go (going) make disciples (disciple) all nations (all the peoples)…”

DISCIPLE ALL NATIONS—not just every other nation, but Israel and the Jewish people, too.

Israel is not exempt. They need Jesus, too, just the same as everyone else! They need to be discipled to Him. They need to be connected closely with Jesus.

Until the people of a nation—any nation—belong to God in Christ Jesus, they are hell-bound; they are LOST!

“Therefore go (going) make disciples (disciple) all nations (all the peoples)…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

“Baptizing”—Jesus says, “disciple all nations, baptizing them…”

Baptism is part of the discipling process—those who have submitted to the truth and power of the Gospel, those who have professed to be disciples of Jesus, those shall be baptized.

The “them” who are baptized are those who have already been saved by their personal faith in Jesus Christ. They are to be made disciples to Him.

This is believer’s baptism—the immersion of those who have made a thoughtful decision of their own (not a decision made for them)—to follow Jesus, to be His disciple.

There is no evidence in the New Testament of an un-baptized believer. A disciple of Jesus Christ who isn’t baptized—“immersed in water”—doesn’t make any sense biblically.

Those who become disciples are to be “baptized in/into the name” of the Trinity—“in the name (singular) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

“Baptized in the name of the Father”—in His unmerited mercy, the Father reconciles us to Himself by His Only begotten Son.

“and of the Son”—the Son, Jesus, comes forward by the sacrifice of His death and saves us by His blood.

“and of the Holy Spirit”—who comes to us, washes us, and regenerates us.

You see, baptism follows the work of the Triune God in our lives—God the Father adopting us, saving us through His Son, Jesus, and cleansing us through the Holy Spirit.

“Therefore go (going) make disciples (disciple) all nations (all the peoples), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey every I have commanded you.”

“Teaching”—Jesus says, “disciple all nations…teaching them”

Teaching/instruction are crucial steps of our task to disciple. Those who are discipled must not only be baptized, but taught.

The content of this instruction is everything Jesus command the first disciples, everything Jesus has taught must be passed on “to the very end of the age.” What is to be taught is to be obeyed, observed, followed.

“We don’t go and teach our own inventions, but we faithfully deliver from hand to hand what Jesus has taught.” - John Calvin

Teachers are appointed over the church, not to put forward whatever they might think proper, but that they may depend on “the mouth of the Master” alone—so as to make disciples for Him and not for themselves.

As we disciple, we teach others to obey everything that Jesus has commanded—to make disciples for Him, to connect others closely with Jesus—not to build our kingdoms or our churches, but in service to the Triune God who is building His Kingdom here and around the world.

Jesus begins with His Great Authority. And then Jesus gives us our Great Commission.

It’s the genius of Jesus and the realization of His Great Authority, that makes all disciples disciple-ers.

If you know the Lord, if you belong to God in Jesus Christ, if you call yourself a disciple of Jesus, it’s only because another disciple of Jesus answered the call of Jesus—His Great Commission—and faithfully set out to disciple people where they went.

In His great genius and authority, Jesus has empowered a great, ongoing mission.

A disciple who disciples disciples who disciple, and on and on it goes.

And you, Christian, are a part of the Great Mission of God. And disciples disciple.

So, go forth, Church. By Jesus’ authority, make disciples.