The Great Commission - April 15, 2009

Matthew 28:18-20
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."

OK, I think each and everyone of us has already well-known on this topic and what is it about, yeah, the great commission from Jesus Christ.

But I would like to share something which I have learn about this topic.

The word "commission", is originally a combination word from command + mission. Which means Jesus command us into a mission. And what we gonna do is just obey His command, then finish the mission.

In this case we have to find out some main words contain in the verses.

Verse 18 - Authority
Verse 19 - Make Disciples
Verse 19 - Baptize
Verse 20 - Teach them to obey everything
Verse 20 - To the very end of the age

In this case we could see that what Jesus had did is:
First, He had authorized us. In verse 18 He said that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. It is all unto His name and when we carry His name and walk out on the street, we spread the gospel and do whatever things that related to glorify His name, at the same time we're carrying the authority with us.

Secondly, make disciples of ALL NATIONS! It's ALL NATIONS. Not only in Malaysia, not only in Taiwan, not only in America, but it's ALL! What does it mean? One thing we have to know is what comes before disciples? Isn't it is from a normal believer? A believer does not really equal to the disciples of Jesus Christ. A believer means, those Christians just only attend Sunday service on weekend and act like a normal person without God and holiness on weekdays. This word "making disciples of all nations", contained 2 things God told us to do,
1. Evangelism
2. Teaching

Thirdly, baptize. Jesus told us to baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is actually quite simple, while our cell member or any simply Christians who are yet to baptize, what we need to do is letting them know the importance and the meaning of being baptized. Baptize is actually to receive a seal in the spiritual realm from the Holy Spirit. And then until the day comes, we will be recognized that we have the seal of the Spirit on us!

Forth, teach them to obey everything that Jesus Christ had commanded us. From here I could see that God not only wants us to teach our disciple about what God had teach us, and also He wants us to help our disciple on letting them know how to build a RELATIONSHIP with Him. The source of why the disciples of Jesus Christ on that day will be able to receive His words and able stay close with Him, it is just because they had a RELATIONSHIP with God.

Lastly, to the very end of the age. This is a promise and covenant made by God Himself. He said that He will be with us, until the end of the age. This is simple and easy to understand. End of the age, in Chinese is 直到世界的末了. Which is means until our breath runs dry!

I hope that each and everyone of us are willing to response to God whenever we heard what He had commanded us. Therefore, God's will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen!
Paul