START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 28:16-20
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OBSERVE:
This is the final resurrection appearance of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel. As with John’s Gospel, Jesus meets the eleven remaining disciples in Galilee — in this case at a mountain.
Some might point out that in Luke’s Gospel Jesus meets the disciples for the last time at the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. Some scholars argue that each Gospel must be read as a self-contained work, with its own theme and perspective. However, I don’t find it difficult to harmonize the four accounts of the Gospels — a forty-day period of resurrection appearances leaves ample opportunities for travel (Acts 1:3) — to Emmaus, as well as to Galilee and back to Jerusalem again.
Matthew’s Gospel does not describe the departure of Jesus, although these are the last words Jesus speaks.
There are parallels between the valedictory words of Jesus in Matthew and in the other Gospels — and there are differences.
Interestingly, the mixture of faith and doubt persists, as it does in some of the other Gospels:
When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.
When Jesus appears in the Upper Room in Luke’s Gospel, he says to the disciples:
Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have (Luke 24:38-39).
It seems that even at this point seeing wasn’t believing! Even at this moment faith was a subjective response to an objective reality.
Jesus’ final words to the disciples in Matthew’s Gospel are known as the Great Commission:
All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
There are several layers to this Great Commission.
First, Jesus establishes his authority in heaven and on earth. There is a paradox here — Jesus had only recently been crucified. His death by the will of the priests and at the hands of Roman soldiers was their assertion of his weakness and powerlessness. However, his resurrection from the dead bears witness to his power and authority even over the ultimate enemy — death. His authority includes every possible realm — heaven and earth. As Paul writes:
[God] raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Second, Jesus gives the disciples their charge — to make disciples of all nations. As in Acts, Jesus is making clear their missionary imperative:
You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Third, Jesus gives them direction on how they are to make disciples — baptizing and teaching all that he has commanded. This includes the initiation into faith through baptism, as well as nurture and growth as disciples within the community of faith.
Fourth, Jesus provides the classic Trinitarian baptismal formula:
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Although he doesn’t offer a doctrinal definition of the Trinity, it is clear that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are representative of One God in Three Persons. This is suggested by his statement that they are to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The name in this context implies Godhead, as when they are taught to pray:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy (Matthew 6:9).
And also when Jesus teaches them:
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them (Matthew 18:20).
Fifth, Jesus assures them of his continued presence, and his ultimate return at the end of the age when he will bring the kingdom:
Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
It might be said that he continues to be with them through the presence of the Holy Spirit, but he is making the same claims made throughout the New Testament — that God will not leave his church, and that Christ will return.
APPLY:
This Great Commission is a synopsis of what the church needs even today for the purpose of making disciples.
- We have no authority of our own. Our power and authority all derive from the authority of Jesus. Therefore we are able to witness boldly in the name of the risen Christ, who rules over heaven and earth.
- We are to go to all nations. Ours is a global mandate, that includes all nations, races, ethnic groups, tribes and languages around the world.
- We are to initiate disciples into the church through baptism in the name of The Trinity.
- We are to teach all that Jesus has commanded. This applies not only to what Jesus has said in the Gospel of Matthew, but the entire Bible. We are reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew:
Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).
This applies to our reading of the Old Testament. And Jesus also tells us that:
the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you (John 14:26).
This includes the apostolic teaching that comes to be known as the New Testament.
We are reminded that we are not alone as we live our lives and bear witness to Christ, for he is with us always.
And we have the promise of his eventual return, and the consummation of all things in the kingdom of God. History is going somewhere!
RESPOND:
Those who work with corporations and non-profit organizations have been made aware of the importance of mission statements. Article after article in the field of strategic planning and management tout the importance of crafting just the right mission statement.
They agree that a good mission statement provides identity, purpose, focus, and even a sense of structure for an effective organization.
One credit card company says that they:
have a mission to be the world’s most respected service brand. To do this we have established a culture that supports our team members, so they can provide exceptional service to our customers.
A tea company boasts that it:
seeks to create and promote great-tasting, healthier, organic beverages. We strive to grow our business with the same honesty and integrity we use to craft our products, with sustainability and great taste for all.
I personally love the mission statement of the early Methodists, although they wouldn’t have called it a mission statement:
God’s design in raising up the Preachers called Methodists [was]….to reform the nation, particularly the Church; and to spread scriptural holiness over the land.
[Minutes of Several Conversations Between The Rev. Mr. Wesley and Others; From the Year 1744, to the Year 1789.]
However, for authority, purpose and promise, nothing can beat the Great Commission itself as the mission statement for Christians and the church:
All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Our Lord, you have come to us with your grace so that we may share that grace with others. You have called us to be disciples so that we may disciple others. Thank you for your promise to be with us in this mission, until you return. Amen.
PHOTOS: "The Great Commission" by Chris Hsia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.
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