16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Makes me feel better about my doubts. It would be hard to doubt someone you watched die then coming back from the dead.
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 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.”
This is good to remember. I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus has authority over sin, sickness, death and life. Why I continue to live like he doesn't is beyond me at times. Here Jesus tells the disciples to make more disciples, everyone all nations. You, me, and anyone who will believe. Teach them he said. We will never stop growing or learning. When we do we become unsalted. I LOVE how Jesus told them be sure of this I am with you always. He didn't say hope he said be sure of it. It's a fact, not a promise, and we need to be sure of it and not just hope in it.
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John
Burnett: 11 Now while they were on their way, some
of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had
happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and
consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and
said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we
were asleep.’ 14 And if this should come to the governor’s
ears, we will win him over and [a]keep you out of trouble.” 15 And
they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was
widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day. The Pharisees saw the miracles He performed and they heard
Him say He would rise on the third day and when they heard that it happened
just as He said it would, they paid the guards to lie about it. Satan is
father of lies and this is one of longest running lies.
The Great Commission
16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to
Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When
they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And
Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. 19 [b]Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you [c]always, even to the end of
the age.” This is what we are called to do and
where I fall short. I am more prone to wander than I am to share the
gospel with a stranger. If we wait until we can observe all that He
commanded before we go and teach, no one would ever get taught. From the
point we receive the Holy Spirit, we begin the lifelong process of
sanctification. We cannot wait until then. Our family, friends, and
even strangers need to hear of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Allen Michaels: 11 While the women were on
their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief
priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests
had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum
of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came
during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If
this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of
trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they
were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to
this very day. Jesus’ resurrection was causing
quite the stir in Jerusalem. The women were running around looking for the
disciples, and the religious leaders were trying to find some way to cover up
the resurrection. Even today there is still a great stir over the resurrection,
and there are still only TWO choices—to believe that Jesus rose from the dead,
or to be closed to the truth—denying it, ignoring it, or trying to explain it
away.
The Great Commission
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. God gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. On the
basis of that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as
they preached, baptized, and taught. With this same authority, Jesus still
commands us to tell others the Good News and make them disciples for the
kingdom. 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.” When someone is dying or
leaving us, his or her last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples
with these last words of instruction; they were under his authority, they were
to make more disciples; they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to
obey Christ; Christ would be with them always.
We are to go—whether it is next door
or to another country—and make disciples. It is not an option, but a command to
all who call Jesus “Lord.” We are not all evangelists in the formal sense, but
we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfil the Great Commission.
As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us.
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Tomorrow's Reading for Proverbs 1:1-7
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon,
David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people
wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs
and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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