Matthew 28:16-20. God said so!! 18/5/08
{16) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. {17}When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. {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."
In recent times, if not throughout history, we as human beings have sought to be our own authority on everything; including God and things religious. We decide and judge everything through our own eyes and thinking. Yes, even when it comes to who God is and what he says, we decide what we want to be true and important for us and what we should believe. In other words we make God in our own image, rather than the other way around.
In so doing we have closed ourselves off from many of the great and wonderful things that he has in mind for us. Because God is made to fit our thinking, we are no longer able to see the possibilities and greatness that God has in mind. Along with that we then wonder why we struggle so much with life in general and the Christian faith and life in particular. We too, doubt then his existence and importance for life, as well as our meaning and purpose in life.
It is here, into this very situation, that these final words of Jesus to his disciples are so very important and relevant. As we hear them and accept them as given by Jesus Christ himself, and not try to impose our thinking onto them, then we will find much that will help us as we live out our lives every day. Of course much, much more could be said of God and what he has to say. Much more than our sinful human brain could accept or understand; but here we have enough to keep us going for our whole life here on this earth. Here we have what we need to know and what we need to do, as we live out our life.
Here we need to recognise that these words were spoken after Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection. So the disciples and us can be absolutely sure that here God himself is present and active for the good of us his people. Even though his death on the cross does not fit into our human way of thinking, with regard to dealing with sin and evil; here is God’s way of extending his forgiveness and love to us. In this way none of us are excluded or left out. God assures every one of us that he has made it possible for us to be in his kingdom: the he is the only true God for us all.
But from there he firstly wants us to know that: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. So since he is the One in whom all real authority is invested; surely we will look to him as such: we will listen to him and heed what he has to say. Since he, as God, was prepared to die for us, surely we will hold him in the highest esteem possible. We would certainly do that for someone who saved us from drowning. How much more so will we therefore hold Jesus Christ up as the One who is all important for us and for our lives.
Interestingly here we are told that not only on earth has Jesus been given all authority, but also in heaven as well. Think about what that means for you and me; since he loves us that much that he died for us. Surely he will be doing everything possible for our wellbeing. He will be allowing all that is happening to us, to be for ours and other people’s wellbeing: everything. Again, just as our mind cannot comprehend Jesus dying on the cross for our salvation, so also we will struggle to understand how good can come from much of what is happening in our lives. But he promise is that it is so; and he does have authority over all things; so we can be sure it is so.
But this is where it gets interesting for us; for he goes on from there to say; 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.
Because he has all authority and because that means good for us, he does not say; ‘Sit, back, eat, drink and be merry. Take life easy, enjoying yourself and do as you please.’ No, seeing as he is the One who is all important and since he has ensured good for us; now we are called to go and make disciples of all nations. In other words we are to do all that we can to join the people out there in our society around us, to this Jesus Christ. We are to make disciples, followers, of this One who is truly Lord and Saviour of us all. Surely this too is what we would want to be doing: we would want them to know of the good that he has done for us, but even more importantly, that he is the one is truly great and the Lord of all.
Here also let us take note of how Jesus says we are to make disciples. Since he has the authority and the knowledge of what works, let us listen and heed what he has to say, rather than follow the thinking of us self-centred, egotistical people. We think if the music is loud and entertaining and the message is sweet and pleasing to the ear, we will be able to attract others to Christ. Jesus however says baptise them and teach them.
Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Yes, that is right; we make disciples by baptising them into this God who is all important. There at the baptismal font, Jesus tells us, he is at work making disciples; joining us to himself and all that he has done for us through his death and resurrection. There we are washed clean by him from all that sin which clings to us all; and there we become members of his family; adopted by him as his very own.
Along with that baptism, before and after, goes teaching: teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Obey here has not just a doing aspect to it, but a holding to it; a grasping to that which Jesus himself has taught us to hold to. We don’t just want them to feel good and have warm fuzzies; but to know who this Jesus is and what he has done for us and what he has to say to us. We are to hold to and teach the truths the God has given to us, without adding to and taking away from what we are given.
Again this doesn’t always fit with what we think is best: We too often want to change God’s Word to suit the thinking of the day, rather than accept it for what it says as God’s Word. We want to focus on me and what I do and must do, rather than on God and what he has and is doing and has said.
Here remember that it is only as we hold fast to Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, that we have the assurance that we are saved and have an eternal future. It is only as we look to him and trust in what he has done for us, that we can have certainty for our lives. So it is with his teachings; as we obey what he has commanded and hold to the truths that he imparted we are able to go forward with confidence and hope.
So then it is that teaching and baptism which enables us to make disciples. This is what Jesus has told us and so it surely will be what we seek to do as we go forward under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what he sees as being the main purpose for our existence here on this earth; therefore it is what we surely will seek to do.
All the while let us remember that this Jesus who has all authority in heaven and on earth has promised that: surely He is with you always, to the very end of the age. Remember that; and take strength from this wonderful assurance that he here gives to us. This almighty and merciful God is with us throughout our lives as his people. He is Lord over all, and yet he goes with each and every one of us. Why then do we need to look elsewhere and listen to every other wind of thinking? No let us remember and live the fact that here is our great and awesome God who does have authority over everything. Since he is such, let us heed what he says and go forward as his people.
To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
{16) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. {17}When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. {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."
In recent times, if not throughout history, we as human beings have sought to be our own authority on everything; including God and things religious. We decide and judge everything through our own eyes and thinking. Yes, even when it comes to who God is and what he says, we decide what we want to be true and important for us and what we should believe. In other words we make God in our own image, rather than the other way around.
In so doing we have closed ourselves off from many of the great and wonderful things that he has in mind for us. Because God is made to fit our thinking, we are no longer able to see the possibilities and greatness that God has in mind. Along with that we then wonder why we struggle so much with life in general and the Christian faith and life in particular. We too, doubt then his existence and importance for life, as well as our meaning and purpose in life.
It is here, into this very situation, that these final words of Jesus to his disciples are so very important and relevant. As we hear them and accept them as given by Jesus Christ himself, and not try to impose our thinking onto them, then we will find much that will help us as we live out our lives every day. Of course much, much more could be said of God and what he has to say. Much more than our sinful human brain could accept or understand; but here we have enough to keep us going for our whole life here on this earth. Here we have what we need to know and what we need to do, as we live out our life.
Here we need to recognise that these words were spoken after Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection. So the disciples and us can be absolutely sure that here God himself is present and active for the good of us his people. Even though his death on the cross does not fit into our human way of thinking, with regard to dealing with sin and evil; here is God’s way of extending his forgiveness and love to us. In this way none of us are excluded or left out. God assures every one of us that he has made it possible for us to be in his kingdom: the he is the only true God for us all.
But from there he firstly wants us to know that: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. So since he is the One in whom all real authority is invested; surely we will look to him as such: we will listen to him and heed what he has to say. Since he, as God, was prepared to die for us, surely we will hold him in the highest esteem possible. We would certainly do that for someone who saved us from drowning. How much more so will we therefore hold Jesus Christ up as the One who is all important for us and for our lives.
Interestingly here we are told that not only on earth has Jesus been given all authority, but also in heaven as well. Think about what that means for you and me; since he loves us that much that he died for us. Surely he will be doing everything possible for our wellbeing. He will be allowing all that is happening to us, to be for ours and other people’s wellbeing: everything. Again, just as our mind cannot comprehend Jesus dying on the cross for our salvation, so also we will struggle to understand how good can come from much of what is happening in our lives. But he promise is that it is so; and he does have authority over all things; so we can be sure it is so.
But this is where it gets interesting for us; for he goes on from there to say; 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.
Because he has all authority and because that means good for us, he does not say; ‘Sit, back, eat, drink and be merry. Take life easy, enjoying yourself and do as you please.’ No, seeing as he is the One who is all important and since he has ensured good for us; now we are called to go and make disciples of all nations. In other words we are to do all that we can to join the people out there in our society around us, to this Jesus Christ. We are to make disciples, followers, of this One who is truly Lord and Saviour of us all. Surely this too is what we would want to be doing: we would want them to know of the good that he has done for us, but even more importantly, that he is the one is truly great and the Lord of all.
Here also let us take note of how Jesus says we are to make disciples. Since he has the authority and the knowledge of what works, let us listen and heed what he has to say, rather than follow the thinking of us self-centred, egotistical people. We think if the music is loud and entertaining and the message is sweet and pleasing to the ear, we will be able to attract others to Christ. Jesus however says baptise them and teach them.
Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Yes, that is right; we make disciples by baptising them into this God who is all important. There at the baptismal font, Jesus tells us, he is at work making disciples; joining us to himself and all that he has done for us through his death and resurrection. There we are washed clean by him from all that sin which clings to us all; and there we become members of his family; adopted by him as his very own.
Along with that baptism, before and after, goes teaching: teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Obey here has not just a doing aspect to it, but a holding to it; a grasping to that which Jesus himself has taught us to hold to. We don’t just want them to feel good and have warm fuzzies; but to know who this Jesus is and what he has done for us and what he has to say to us. We are to hold to and teach the truths the God has given to us, without adding to and taking away from what we are given.
Again this doesn’t always fit with what we think is best: We too often want to change God’s Word to suit the thinking of the day, rather than accept it for what it says as God’s Word. We want to focus on me and what I do and must do, rather than on God and what he has and is doing and has said.
Here remember that it is only as we hold fast to Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, that we have the assurance that we are saved and have an eternal future. It is only as we look to him and trust in what he has done for us, that we can have certainty for our lives. So it is with his teachings; as we obey what he has commanded and hold to the truths that he imparted we are able to go forward with confidence and hope.
So then it is that teaching and baptism which enables us to make disciples. This is what Jesus has told us and so it surely will be what we seek to do as we go forward under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what he sees as being the main purpose for our existence here on this earth; therefore it is what we surely will seek to do.
All the while let us remember that this Jesus who has all authority in heaven and on earth has promised that: surely He is with you always, to the very end of the age. Remember that; and take strength from this wonderful assurance that he here gives to us. This almighty and merciful God is with us throughout our lives as his people. He is Lord over all, and yet he goes with each and every one of us. Why then do we need to look elsewhere and listen to every other wind of thinking? No let us remember and live the fact that here is our great and awesome God who does have authority over everything. Since he is such, let us heed what he says and go forward as his people.
To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
posted by Roger at
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