Matthew 28 v.18/20

These verses contain the words of Jesus to his Apostles prior to his ascension, and are known as the ‘Great Commission’.

Earlier in the same chapter the story is told of Jesus being raised from the dead and of the words given to the women who were still at the graveside. Jesus wanted his Apostles to go to Galilee where he would meet them on a mountain, and the women were to pass this message to them. The now eleven Apostles left Jerusalem for the journey along a dangerous mountain road, known for attacks on people using it.  Mountains feature numerous times in the Bible, notably when Moses was given the Ten Commandments by God, now Jesus was giving his command to the Apostles.

In verse 18, told them ‘all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me’. Jesus was given such power over all happening in earth and heaven by God, he was in effect God acting in earth, and later when he ascended in heaven. This had been given because he had risen from the dead and acquired divinity in recognition, and is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as sung in Handel’s famous Messiah. With that authority he can send his Apostles into the world to make followers, and teach all he taught them, his commands and teaching on how his followers are to live and act. 

Jesus said they were to go into All the world without there being any restrictions, national boundaries, to people of every colour, creed, race or creed, God loves all the world and loves all people, as Billy Graham used to say.  

The words Jesus gave to his Apostles are important, his last earthly speaking and are meant to apply to his followers to encourage them to take the call of Jesus to family and friends; and especially to his Church to teach his commands and if we had all been faithful to him, the Churches would not be in the parlous state they are. The early Church grew rapidly as the people listened eagerly to the reaching of the Apostles, were inspired, awed, and rejoiced. In our present day, Churches like the Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches are still listening to the teaching of the Apostles, its is called the New Testament now. When the Church widely does the same, it too will grow rapidly. 

Look at those words again, especially in verse 20, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and I am with you until the end of the age. Those words are the crucial element of discipleship. We are to teach only what he commanded, and Jesus is with us.  Bearing in mind Jesus always upheld the authority of the Word of God, (the Bible) and in addition to the fact that all of us who are being allowed to be Ministers of his Church made vows on our ordination to do just that, why are we at the highest level of the Church openly and brazenly teaching that which is contrary to the Lord’s command, and exhorting those we teach to ignore the Bible?

During the current pandemic, many Churches and Ministers have been very intuitive and shown a lot of ingenuity in arranging to continue ministry to their parishioners, and it has been impressive to others not normally Church members.  Probably the Church has reached out more than ever before, and we should try to consolidate this. The world needs encouragement and proper welcome when they come to us, but we make a big mistake if we think we can make followers by just being here and ringing bells.

We are justly proud of our big Cathedrals with glorious architecture and attractive interiors, with participants in services dressed in colourful robes, but few people are won for Christ in such places.

There is a story of a guide in one Cathedral taking a group1960 around and going to great lengths to explain the fittings and history, when an American lady asked, ‘say how many have been converted in the place’?  The guide drew himself up and said in a rebuking voice, ‘madam this is a Cathedral.’  

That means a second thing. It means that Jesus Christ from the very beginning was meant by God to be the Saviour of the whole world. Not just of the Jews. Not just of the Gentiles. Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the entire world. Do you know what else that means? That means that his church is to be representative of the vast variety of people in the world. In his church there are to be blacks and whites, rich and poor, young and old. People from the upper class and people from the lower class. His church is to contain people from all ethnic groups. That’s the real rainbow coalition.

We are to make disciples of all the nations and then we are to teach them whatever they need to know in order to follow Jesus Christ effectively. It was never the purpose of the Christian church merely to get more church members.

Jesus always made clear that being a follower of him meant sacrifice, and counting numbers was not part of his call.  He said a person must first count the cost if they were to do so; losing friends perhaps, though no reason for this being treated as someone in a life crisis if a man in some occupations for  taking up a woman’s thing. The men who do turn to follow Christ are usually far more courageous ready to follow a better way of life, and some of the most brilliant of minds have forfeited wealth and status to do so, and never had

regrets.

At the same time, it was never the purpose of the Christian church to produce merely academic Christians. The first followers of Jesus were ordinary working men, fishermen, manual workers and none had a degree.  Yet such men took over leadership when their Lord and teacher returned to heaven and they won the world for Christ.  If they tried to join Church ministry today, they would never get through the first stage. Can you imagine Peter or John being told not to follow Jesus’ teaching of Scripture?  Or Paul being told his teaching of marriage and sexuality was too restrictive and might upset those who didn’t agree. Yet this is what is coming from our leaders, when they are not supporting some left wing fantasy.

All those glorious Bible names coupled with Church giants of yesteryear, like Wesley, Booth, Moody, would cry with shame and horror that bishops would call upon clergy and people not to attend meetings where the evangelist was preaching solidly Bible teaching, just because it offended those who were convicted by the teaching. But this happened when bishops in Birmingham, Sheffield and others spoke against one of the world’s most prominent Bible preachers, and leader of an organisation which gives practical aid to the poor in over 100 countries.

When we model our ministries on those early Church Apostles instead of 21^st century Christianity, God will display His approval and bless our Churches, as He did all those years ago.

We have the promise of Jesus, who said, “Surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age.” I will be with you all the time till the end of time. But there is a condition; Jesus also said teaching all I have commanded. He made it clear here can be no alternative in order to be popular. Jesus never sought to win people by bribing or bending words, and his teaching is clear to those who are honest and sincere enough. We will no doubt upset some people, but then again Jesus did, he saved or drove away. He wanted followers who meant what they said, not just to fill Church rolls with a fake religion.

We may face many problems on our Christian journey, face the loss of a job face financial setbacks. face a marriage with difficulties. Some of us face sickness among our friends and family members, and we wonder what the future holds out for us. But Jesus said, “I am with you always even to the end of the age. I am with you for all time to the end of time no matter what situation you find yourself in.”

We are led to believe this is the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. They are said to be the last words Jesus used, and last words are the issue most on minds and considered most important. Go into all the world and make disciples. May we all try                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             They were said after his resurrection and just before he went to the Cross, and they are as relevant today as when Jesus said them over 2000 years ago.

Earlier in the same chapter the story is told of Jesus being raised from the dead and of the words given to the women who were still at the graveside. Jesus wanted his Apostles to go to Galilee where he would meet them on a mountain, and the women were to pass this message to them. The now eleven Apostles left Jerusalem for the journey along a dangerous mountain road, known for attacks on people using it.  Mountains feature numerous times in the Bible, notably when Moses was given the Ten Commandments by God, now Jesus was giving his command to the Apostles.

In verse 18, told them ‘all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me’. Jesus was given such power over all happening in earth and heaven by God, he was in effect God acting in earth, and later when he ascended in heaven. This had been given because he had risen from the dead and acquired divinity in recognition, and is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as sung in Handel’s famous Messiah. With that authority he can send his Apostles into the world to make followers, and teach all he taught them, his commands and teaching on how his followers are to live and act. 

Jesus said they were to go into All the world without there being any restrictions, national boundaries, to people of every colour, creed, race or creed, God loves all the world and loves all people, as Billy Graham used to say.  

The words Jesus gave to his Apostles are important, his last earthly speaking and are meant to apply to his followers to encourage them to take the call of Jesus to family and friends; and especially to his Church to teach his commands and if we had all been faithful to him, the Churches would not be in the parlous state they are.

Look at those words again, especially in verse 20, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and I am with you until the end of the age. Those words are the crucial element of discipleship. We are to teach only what he commanded, and Jesus is with us.  Bearing in mind Jesus always upheld the authority of the Word of God, (the Bible) and in addition to the fact that all of us who are being allowed to be Ministers of his Church made vows on our ordination to do just that, why are we at the highest level of the Church openly and brazenly teaching that which is contrary to the Lord’s command, and exhorting those we teach to ignore the Bible?

During the current pandemic, many Churches and Ministers have been very intuitive and shown a lot of ingenuity in arranging to continue ministry to their parishioners, and it has been impressive to others not normally Church members.  Probably the Church has reached out more than ever before, and we should try to consolidate this. The world needs encouragement and proper welcome when they come to us, but we make a big mistake if we think we can make followers by just being here and ringing bells.

We are justly proud of our big Cathedrals with glorious architecture and attractive interiors, with participants in services dressed in colourful robes, but few people are won for Christ in such places.

There is a story of a guide in one Cathedral taking a group1960 around and going to great lengths to explain the fittings and history, when an American lady asked, ‘say how many have been converted in the place’?  The guide drew himself up and said in a rebuking voice, ‘madam this is a Cathedral.’  

That means a second thing. It means that Jesus Christ from the very beginning was meant by God to be the Saviour of the whole world. Not just of the Jews. Not just of the Gentiles. Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the entire world. Do you know what else that means? That means that his church is to be representative of the vast variety of people in the world. In his church there are to be blacks and whites, rich and poor, young and old. People from the upper class and people from the lower class. His church is to contain people from all ethnic groups. That’s the real rainbow coalition.

We are to make disciples of all the nations and then we are to teach them whatever they need to know in order to follow Jesus Christ effectively. It was never the purpose of the Christian church merely to get more church members.

Jesus always made clear that being a follower of him meant sacrifice, and counting numbers was not part of his call.  He said a person must first count the cost if they were to do so; losing friends perhaps, though no reason for this being treated as someone in a life crisis if a man in some occupations for  taking up a woman’s thing. The men who do turn to follow Christ are usually far more courageous ready to follow a better way of life, and some of the most brilliant of minds have forfeited wealth and status to do so, and never had

regrets.

At the same time, it was never the purpose of the Christian church to produce merely academic Christians. The first followers of Jesus were ordinary working men, fishermen, manual workers and none had a degree.  Yet such men took over leadership when their Lord and teacher returned to heaven and they won the world for Christ.  If they tried to join Church ministry today, they would never get through the first stage. Can you imagine Peter or John being told not to follow Jesus’ teaching of Scripture?  Or Paul being told his teaching of marriage and sexuality was too restrictive and might upset those who didn’t agree. Yet this is what is coming from our leaders, when they are not supporting some left wing fantasy.

All those glorious Bible names coupled with Church giants of yesteryear, like Wesley, Booth, Moody, would cry with shame and horror that bishops would call upon clergy and people not to attend meetings where the evangelist was preaching solidly Bible teaching, just because it offended those who were convicted by the teaching. But this happened when bishops in Birmingham, Sheffield and others spoke against one of the world’s most prominent Bible preachers, and leader of an organisation which gives practical aid to the poor in over 100 countries.

When we model our ministries on those early Church Apostles instead of 21^st century Christianity, God will display His approval and bless our Churches, as He did all those years ago.

We have the promise of Jesus, who said, “Surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age.” I will be with you all the time till the end of time. But there is a condition; Jesus also said teaching all I have commanded. He made it clear here can be no alternative in order to be popular. Jesus never sought to win people by bribing or bending words, and his teaching is clear to those who are honest and sincere enough. We will no doubt upset some people, but then again Jesus did, he saved or drove away. He wanted followers who meant what they said, not just to fill Church rolls with a fake religion.

We may face many problems on our Christian journey, face the loss of a job face financial setbacks. face a marriage with difficulties. Some of us face sickness among our friends and family members, and we wonder what the future holds out for us. But Jesus said, “I am with you always even to the end of the age. I am with you for all time to the end of time no matter what situation you find yourself in.”

We are led to believe this is the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. They are said to be the last words Jesus used, and last words are the issue most on minds and considered most important. Go into all the world and make disciples. May we all try and answer his command