Bible Passage: Matthew 28:16-20
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: June 4, 2023

Bulletin June 4, 2023

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

There are a number of very significant “commissionings” recorded in our Bible.  On this Trinity Sunday, we might think of the commissioning of the prophet of Isaiah when he sees the Lord on the throne and the holy angels flying and singing, Holy!  Holy!  Holy is the LORD Almighty! (Isaiah 6:3)  Or we might think of the commissioning of Moses at the burning bush to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.  Whenever the Lord commissions, it’s a big deal!

Our text is called the “Great Commission.”  As in, this is the best one.  As in, this is the most significant one.  As in, there are none greater than this one.  This is the commission given by the Lord Jesus himself!  This is the commission given to his Church on earth!  Jesus gives this commission,  Go and gather disciples from all nations.  As we examine The Great Commission today, we will find a number of things about this commission that make it “great.”

The first thing we might mention that makes this commission great is the greatness of the one doing the commissioning!  These words are the closing words of Matthew’s gospel.  By this time, Jesus has completed his saving work.  He has by this time died on the cross to pay for all sin.  He has risen again.  The Commissioner in our text is the greatest ever… the exalted Jesus!

He says something we dare not miss.  Before commissioning the Church, he says,  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (v. 18)  This is interesting language.  Jesus says all authority has been “given” to him.  The exalted Christ “received” all authority from the Father.  When Jesus became incarnate in the womb of Mary, the Son of God laid aside all authority.  When he had completed the work he humbled himself to do, the Father gave the Son all authority.  Administration of the Kingdom has been turned over to the Son.

Authority is important.  Think about it this way.  Suppose I tell you right now that I am authorizing you to go 100 MPH down the interstate.  You say, “Awesome!”  You head over the interstate and wind her up to 100.  You soon see lights in your mirror.  You tell the officer, “But officer, Jenswold said I could go 100 mph!”  He’d say, “Great.  Don’t know who that is.  Don’t care, either. Here’s your ticket.”  I have no authority to authorize you to go 100 mph so it means nothing if I tell you to do it.  However, Jesus has ALL authority in heaven and on earth.  He may authorize anything he chooses.  And he has authorized his followers to do some great work!

Here is the great work we are authorized to do:  Go and gather disciples from all nations. (v. 19)  I want to spend a moment on the word Jesus uses for “gather disciples.” In the Greek it is one word.  It is an imperative verb.  Literally, Jesus says, “As you go, disciple all nations.”  It calls to mind the rabbi/student relationship.  The disciple sat and listened and learned from the rabbi.  Jesus wants all nations to sit and listen and learn of him and his saving work for them all.

Jesus then tells us how this discipling happens.  Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (v. 19)  Jesus tells his Church on earth to apply water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  On this Trinity Sunday, the mention of the three persons of the Godhead catches our attention.  Here is something else noteworthy.  Notice, we baptize “in the name” of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Not in the name of the Father, and the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit.  There are three persons, but just one “name.”  God’s name is his holy reputation.  The Father doesn’t have one reputation, the Son a different one, and the Holy Spirit still a different reputation.  They have one holy reputation.  The Father so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.  And the Holy Spirit is given that we might come to believe in Jesus.  All three persons of the Trinity are intricately and intimately connected in the plan of salvation.

And we know that the Holy Spirit saves the nations through Holy Baptism.  Don’t believe that?  Here is what St. Peter wrote about baptism:  …baptism…now saves you also. (1 Peter 3:21)  Here’s how:  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21)  Paul says it this way:  [A]ll of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

Here is the other part of discipling all nations: …and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you.  (v. 19)  Let’s not misunderstand.  Jesus doesn’t say that we teach them to obey all his commands.  He says “keep,” as in guard, treasure, and keep.  He wants us to teach all the nations to cling to his Word.  To all of it.  We are not to “cherry-pick” teachings we think people will like.  Jesus says teach them to keep ALL of it.

There is our commission, dear friends.  Isn’t it great?  Sometimes when this section of Scripture is preached or taught, it is done so in a very “institutional” way.  The perception can be  that this applies to “professional” church people, pastors and teachers.  Here’s your “job.”  Moms and dads, I don’t want you to forget how you fulfill this commission in your homes!  Each and every time you bring your babies to be baptized, you are “discipling the nations.”  As you expend time and energy and in many cases, money, to ensure your children learn about Jesus as they grow up, you’re engaged in the “discipling” work Jesus gave to his church.  That’s great work!

Jesus attaches a great promise to this great commission.  He says, Surely, I am with you always to the end of the age. (v. 20) We are never alone as we go about our commission.  Jesus will be with us to the end.  Jesus’ choice of words for “end” means “when all the pieces come together.”  It’s all coming together just as God intends.  Jesus wants people from all nations to trust in him as their Savior, so that when he comes back, people from every nation, tribe, people, and language will gather before his throne to sing his praise forever.  All the pieces will finally be together.  Won’t that be great?

Amen.