Matt 28:16-20 "The Great Commission and Me"

Greetings,

I have an extra day this week between studies so I thought I would do a study on the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:16-20
¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This text shows us six aspects of discipleship:
1. Obeying
2. Worshiping
3. Questioning
4. Disciple-making
5. Teaching
6. Repeating

OR

Worshiping (becoming and continuing to be a disciple)
Disciple-making (teaching and making disciples)
Repeating (repeat as directed)

1. Jesus 'directed' the eleven disciples to go to a mountain in Galilee. After following Him this far, a simple request for a meeting does not seem like that big of a deal. But they still had to obey. From the very beginning of His calling them to "Follow Me", the disciples were challenged with daily obedience. The call of every disciple of Christ, to this day, is to follow Him in daily obedience.

2. "And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him". At the core of our discipleship is genuine, spirit-and-truth worship. He is the only one worthy of our worship, and the only one truly worthy of following. True discipleship is offering ourselves as an acceptable living sacrifice that is constantly being transformed to His will (Rom 12:1-2).

3. "But some doubted". Remember, these were 'the eleven'. Ones who had walked with Jesus countless miles and had received the most concentrated teaching and training of anyone. But they still had questions. While He was training the disciples, even the most dense questions were handled with grace and patience. He wanted them to learn. And as long as they were hungry and teachable, He stuck with them.

4. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations". A command; not a suggestion. These are standing marching orders for all believers. There are no conditions. There are no exemptions. He commanded this with "all authority in heaven and on earth". Disciples are to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the essential doctrine of the Trinity). As disciples of Christ, whatever our vocations, gifts, ages, or abilities; we are commanded to make disciples.

5. "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you". Just because I may not have the gift of teaching does not exclude me from disciple-making. He wants them to teach others as He taught them. A good friend of mine (a dairy farmer) was lamenting to me that one of his best workers was moving away. "He was my right-hand man. Since he was 14 years old he has worked by my side. He is reliable, trustworthy, and fully trained." That's discipleship! But where does that leave my friend?

6. "And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age". He has to start over. How many times have you seen this tag at the end of a list of instructions; "repeat as necessary". The command to make disciples is continual. Meant to be repeated. Make disciples who will then go make disciples (while you turn around and start over)...repeat as necessary. Discipleship requires a mindset of multiplication. That's how we reach the world.

Go in Him,

Ethan