#25 Top 40 New Testament Passages: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)

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.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The last verses of Matthew's gospel are known as the Great Commission within the Church. Jesus gave these instructions, indeed this missional call, to His followers before He ascended in glory back to the heavenly realm. The disciples had seen Jesus risen and alive again after his death and burial. The tomb was empty! The Lord ate with them. Talked with them. They were invited to touch his wounds. They were restored in their utter devastation, grief and fear. In their joy some still doubted, finding it all hard to believe. (Luke 24:41) 

But what now? With Jesus alive surely he would take the throne as Israel's true king and rive out the Romans and Herod's cronies. Consider this exchange with the resurrected Lord.

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.” 

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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 1:4-8)

This is Luke's version of the Great Commission in his sequel to the gospel account. The resurrected Jesus appeared a number of times over 40 days and taught them about the Kingdom of God. So it's interesting that they still do not understand that the Kingdom of God is more than political powers on earth. The Kingdom is the victorious realm of Christ who conquers all foes to God's love reigning over creation. It is first and foremost a spiritual kingdom. 

Our belonging to the Kingdom begins with faith in Christ, belief that He is the divine Son and savior, belief that He died an atoning death for all sin, and rose to life in the power of God, belief that Jesus reigns forevermore from the true throne in heaven. And from the throne Christ pours out His Spirit upon all flesh. (Acts 2:17) The love of God is always working to redeem His creation by making all things new in Christ. Grace is the spiritual power and redemptive activity of God through the Holy Spirit, restoring us to the image of God in Jesus Christ. 

I'm talking too much like a theologian. Consider this acrostic.

G - God 

R - Restoring

A - All

C - Creation

E - To Excellence (Christ)

We know the perfection of god in the man Jesus Christ. It is our destiny to be conformed to the excellence of Jesus Christ. His image is the exact image of God. (Romans 8:29, Hebrews 1:3) 

God begins that work of transforming our broken and sinful lives into the glorious excellence of Jesus through the gift of the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus instructed His first disciples to wait for the gift promised from heaven! The Church is baptized, immersed in the spiritual presence of Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, God is always working redemptively on us, in us and through us.

With the Spirit empowering the Church, we carry out Christ's mission. In the Great Commission of Matthew 28 the Church is sent out to "Go and make disciples" (fully committed followers of Jesus Christ). Those we reach for Christ are to be baptized in the name, or in the authority and power of God. As Jesus promised to baptize with the Holy Spirit, the Church baptizes with water as a symbol of the new life to be lived in the spiritual presence and power of Christ. All baptized Christians are to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. (2nd Peter 3:18) This requires teaching, mentoring and coaching, exhorting and encouraging, supporting and provoking one another toward good works (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Rick Warren, lead pastor at Saddleback Community Church in Southern California has stated that the purpose driven church finds its mission, direction, and purpose in the Great Commandment and Great Commission. (Matthew 22:35-40; 28:18-20) These two passages reveal the five parts to our mission as the church of Jesus Christ.

1) Worship - Love God (Matthew 22:37)

2) Service - Love Neighbor (Matthew 22:38)

3) Evangelism - Go and Make Disciples (Matthew 28:19)

4) Fellowship - Baptize Them in the Name (Matthew 28:19)

5) Discipleship - Teaching Them to Obey Jesus (Matthew 28:20)

We are not alone in our mission. Christ has sent us out in this mission with His authority. Matthew 28:18) We are sent in His name and in the power of the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-23) The early church continued the ministry of Jesus. As He taught hope in the Kingdom of God, the Church continues to teach. As He healed the sick and infirm, so too the Church restores health in a variety of health resulted ministries. And as He liberated those possessed of unclean spirits and fed the hungry, so also does the Church work to liberate people and communities from every sort of oppression, whether it be addiction, mental health challenges, grief, doubt, fear and anxiety, rage and unforgiveness, economic inequities, social marginalization, or prejudice. We are about setting lived free in the love of God and in His mighty power. The same power that God exerted to conquer death, when God raised Jesus form the grave, is at work in disciples and the Church. (Ephesians 1:19) And we know that power through the presence of Jesus who promised to be with us always in His mission. (Matthew 28:20) 

But the Great Commission is not only found in Matthew. There are many passages that point us toward our mission as followers of Jesus Christ. Each gospel account includes a commissioning of sorts, as does Acts. Let's compare these.

Luke's Great Commission

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 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 24:45-49)

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 1:8)

What do we learn from Luke about the spiritually empowered mission of the Church?

• Preach repentance and forgiveness in Jesus to all nations - Fellowship (of the Baptized)
• Witness to the gospel (implied) - Evangelism
• Spiritual empowerment to fulfill the mission - Empowerment

We see that mission carried out by the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles book which Luke wrote. They proclaimed the good news about Jesus, sometimes to their own peril. James was beheaded. Peter and John were whipped and imprisoned. Paul was stoned and left for dead. He too was beaten and imprisoned on several occasions. (2nd Corinthians 11:23-28) They healed the sick. They liberated lives from hunger, spiritual possession, and from political or religious oppression. The Church today continues the mission.

Mark's Great Commission

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)

What does Mark tell us about the mission of the Church?

• Preach the gospel to all creation! - Evangelism
• Baptize the believers! - Fellowship
• Signs will accompany the mission - Empowerment

It's not just earth's humanity to whom we are to preach the gospel, but every creature on earth, in the sea and sky, and in the universe beyond us! That is witnessing to spiritual powers that act in opposition to God's sovereign rule. (Ephesians 3:10) Our witness is that we live transformed lives through the power of Jesus Christ. Our witness is that we create community that reflects the love of Christ. Jesus prayed that we disciples would be united in Him so that the world might believe. (John 17:20-23)  

Mark tells us that the mission of the Church will be accompanied with signs and miracles in the name of Jesus. We will experience healing in His name. We will pray for the sick and they will get well. We will have unconquerable life within, giving us unusual protection against life threatening things like poisonous snakes. There's a tradition centered around handling poisons snakes as a sign of faith. Not my thing, but it's an expression of this teaching. Other traditions embrace speaking in unknown languages as as sign of the Spirit's power among them. These mystical aspects to Christian faith seem bizarre to our contemporary and civilized ears. Yet these are meant to be signs pointing to the reality of the Kingdom of God in our midst.

John's Great Commission

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 anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” (John 21:10)
Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (John 21:16)

The resurrection accounts of Jesus in John's gospel are spread over two chapters. I've included key verses from both chapters that point to the mission of the church in John. What do we learn from John about the mission?

• We are sent out in the peaceful presence and authority of Jesus Christ. - Empowerment
• Ministry of forgiveness in Jesus' name (Compare John 20:23 to Luke 24:47) - Fellowship
• Salvation comes to those who believe (Compare John 20:29 to Mark 16:16) - Fellowship
• Gather people in the gospel net (John 21:10; Matthew 13:47-49) - Evangelism
• Nourish the Church, out of our love for Christ (John 21:16) - Discipleship

As you can see there are consistence elements to the mission of the Church revealed in the New Testament. The life of the early church was guided by the Great Commission. You are reading this today, because Christians in every age have heeded the call to go and make disciples. Christians witness to Christ and the good news about God's love and the gift of eternal life. Their witness in seen in convincing deeds of power in the community. Their witness is in their worship and prayers. Their witness in in their music. Their witness in is their giving and service. Their witness in in their fellowship and love.