As a member of the liberal, godless news media, I'm often given press passes to cover various events. Presidential visits. The Super Bowl. The Olympics. The Final Four. These media credentials allow me to go places because someone in authority has approved my access.
In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus tells His doubting disciples that His Father has given Him all authority in heaven and on earth. And because of that authority, He is sending them to go and make more disciples.
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him—but some of them still doubted! (Matt 28:17 NLT)
Is that not one of the more troubling verses you've ever read in the Bible?! Why in the world would Matthew include this? If it were left to me to write and edit Matt's gospel, I would have never allowed this one past my desk. But thankfully, the former tax collector was writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not under my less-than-inspired direction.
The doubt of the eleven was real. How do we know? Well, one of them wrote it down! My guess is that Matthew was one of the doubters. This verse also hints at the accuracy of the Bible. It allows us to see an unsanitized look at these men. We see them, warts and all. Just as their doubt was real, so were these men. Let's face it, all of us have our doubts at some point.
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave His charge: “God authorized and commanded Me to commission you…” (Matthew 28:18 The Message)
But their doubt did not change the fact that Jesus had ultimate authority. Daniel's vision gives us a glimpse of the Heavenly Coronation (Daniel 7:13-14). Let's take a quick look at Six Marks of Jesus' Authority.
1-Jesus is the ultimate TEACHING authority (Mark 1:22).
2-Jesus is the ultimate RULING authority (Ephesians 1:10).
3-Jesus is the ultimate FORGIVING authority (Matthew 9:6).
4-Jesus is the ultimate LIFE-GIVING authority (John 10:18).
5-Jesus is the ultimate CHURCH authority (Ephesians 1:21-23).
6-Jesus is the ultimate INDIVIDUAL authority (Philippians 2:9-11).
So often we struggle with the practical application of Scripture. What do we do with what we've read? Well, Jesus was kind enough to provide specific instructions in Matthew 28 regarding our response to His authority.
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20 NLT)
We are to "go." As a matter of fact, Jesus assumes that we will go. The literal translation from the original Greek says "after going." We're not to sequester ourselves in some bomb shelter or monastery. Jesus expects us to interact with real people in the real world.
We are to "make disciples." Notice it does NOT say "make converts." And this is NOT about forcing people into false conversion. That's a mark of so many false religions. We're to urge or convince others to become a follower of Jesus. Then we are to teach them what it means to follow Him. How can someone ever follow Him if they don't know what to do?
We are to take the amazing message of His Gospel "to of all the nations." Literally, we are "to make disciples from all ethnic groups." His amazing grace is not offered to only people like me. He's calling me to get out of my comfort zone. Reach out to people of every race, nationality and culture.
We do this because Jesus sends us in His authority. We can tell them that Jesus sent us.
In Christ,
Jay
From a sermon at Freedom River Community Church on August 24, 2008.
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