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Matthew 28:18-20
Key verses: 28:19a,20
“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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Praise and thank God who blessed ththis conference e 2013 ISBC abundantly. We have learned that we are so loved by God. And we are commanded to serve the world with God’s love. How can we do that practically? Let’s think about this through Jesus’ last command to go and make disciples of all nations.Praise and thank God who blessed our missionaries who devoted themselves for his kingdom around the world, gospel coworkers and brothers and sisters with the abundant words of truth and life for the last four days.
Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins. But Jesus conquered the power of death through his resurrection. When his disciples saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted (17). They still had unresolved problems in their hearts. They were weak and felt unqualified. But Jesus commanded them to go and make disciples of all nations. Who is this Jesus? Jesus, who conquered the power of death and rose again, commanded his Eleven disciples just before his ascension. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is the supreme world mission command that the Lord, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, gave to his disciples.
First, all authority in heavens and on earth has been given to me. (18)
Before giving his disciples the supreme world mission command, Jesus said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” What kind of authority is this? After His resurrection, Jesus received authority from God to rule over all creation. This Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Those who have authority over one nation exercise great power. But their authority is temporary and limited. They cannot give life. But Jesus has authority to give life and to judge. . This is the authority of the Creator who can rule, command and subdue all creations in heaven and on earth. With this authority Jesus forgave sins and raised the man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. With this authority Jesus drove out demons, conquered the power of death and raised the dead Lazarus out of the tomb. With such authority Jesus sends his disciples into the world. Jesus’ disciples were Ordinary people. They did not have religious or academic credentials or social titles. In a word they were nobodies. How could they carry out the Great C, ommission? Their authority would come from Jesus, not. themselvesThis Jesus has the authority to forgive sins, to heal the sick, to drive out demons, to conquer the power of death and to judge the living and the dead as Judge. This Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords who has all authority in heaven and on earth and is the commander-in-chief of the spiritual world.
This Jesus commanded his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go…” He commanded them to go, depending on Jesus who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Most of the disciples of Jesus were Galilean fishermen and tax collectors. They neither had the authority of the Pharisees, nor the Sadducees, nor the teachers of the law. They neither had the authority of scholarship, nor worldly positions, nor wealth. But Jesus commanded them to go, depending only on Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords who has all authority in heaven and on earth.
Second, “Make disciples of all nations.” (19,20a)
What did Jesus command his disciples to do? Look at verses 19 and 20a. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” Here Here, “all nations” refers to nation of the Jews and Gentiles, including the Romans (Ro 1:14) . Currently it refers to , Muslim countries, China, North Korea, and 233 countriesnations of the world, among which 138 are not yet reached by UBF. The nations of the Moslems, China, North Korea, the nation of the Samaritans, tax collectors and the Gerasenes. Here it says to Why does Jesus want his disciples to overcome all kinds of difficulties and go to all nations? It is because God loves all peoples of the world and wants to save them.make disciples, not just those who simply believe in Jesus. Who are the disciples? The disciples are those who humbly learn everything that Jesus commanded, obey them and follow the footsteps of Jesus. To make disciples means to raise disciples. Disciples are not born but made.
Then, how can we make disciples? How did Jesus command his eleven disciples to go and make disciples? Jesus said, “…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.” (19b). Here baptism means This does not mean that they were supposed to carry out the ceremony of baptism. This means that tto help people with repentance in God and have faith in God, accepting Jesus Christ, accept Jesus as their Savior and confess their faith publicly. How can we help people who are wise in the ways of the world to repent and believe in Jesus? young students who are armed with humanistic knowledge and ideas repent, plant faith in them, help them to accept Jesus as their Savior and be born again? This is impossible for us to do with our own wisdom and strengthpower, and authority. This is impossible for us to do with flowery words and wisdom. But nothing iswill be impossible when we depend on the authority of Jesus, and preach the gospel who has all authority in heaven and on earth.When we preach and teach the word of God boldly, depending only on Jesus’ authority, could include Korea, Germany, America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Russia.
Next, Next, Jesus told his disciples, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (20a). People don’t like the word “obey.” So we may be tempted to compromise with them. But Jesus commanded us to teach people to obey everything he commanded us. We must teach the words of God to people until they obey them. This takes time and tremendous patience.
God calledtrained one person Abraham and, bore with him and molded him for twenty-five years. Abraham grew to be a man of obedience who who was willing to offered offer his son Isaac back to God by faith without reservation and obeyed the word of God absolutely. God Finally, he maderaised Abraham as the father of all believers and a source of blessing for all peoples of all nations. Jesus also called the twelve, taught them the word of God, and bore with them until they were transformed into obedient servants of God. In many mission fields,
Oour missionaries and native UBF leaders have a prayer topic of are raising disciples of Jesus, beginning with one ancestor of faith.Abraham and one Sarah as their first prayer topic and With this prayer topic, they have been serving oneeach person one by one wholeheartedly through one-to-one Bible studyies. This kind of work isseems too slow and seemingly insignificant. small. Based on God’s calling of Abraham and Jesus’ calling the twelve disciples,ut this is indeed the work of hope and which God’s wisdom, who wants to save the world, began. Jesus chose Galilean fishermen as his disciples, taught them the word of truth in their hearts and obedience and trained them until they became the salt and light of the world. Now he commanded his disciples, to “teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” Making disciples of all nations is the work that God began and that our Lord Jesus served.
When we simply obeyed Jesus’ command, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (19a), God blessed UBF. It began in 1961 as a small meeting in Kwang Ju, the Galilee of Korea. It grew to serve world campuses, raising sacrificial shepherds and missionaries. During the past 50 years, God has sent 1,800 missionaries to 95 nations through UBF. For that, we give thanks and glory to God.
What promise does the Risen Jesus give to those who carry out his last command? Look at verse 20b. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, promises to be with us always to the very end of the age. He protects us, guides us, provides for us, and empowers us through the Holy Spirit until we finish our life of mission. Now this conference is over and it is time to go back to our mission fields. Let’s remember Jesus’ promise that he is with us always. Let’s serve the world with God’s love by making disciples of all nations.