The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20

Immanuel – 8/3/25

          It was October 22, 2023 when we first began this series on Matthew – a year and ten months. This has been the longest sermon series I’ve done, and today we finish it! Next week we will begin a sermon series on 1 Timothy; and I anticipate it will take us into February.

          But hasn’t the Gospel of Matthew been a wonderful journey – the account of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham? We saw kings from a distant land come to worship him while he was still a toddler. When he was baptized by John the Baptist, the Father spoke and the Spirit descended upon the Beloved Son.

           And after overcoming the temptations of Satan, Jesus began his public ministry with the proclamation: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (4:17).” As the crowds began to gather to Jesus, he sat down on a high place and began to teach. The Sermon on the Mount: it was the first of five discourses in Matthew.

          Such a powerful sermon. Let me remind you of a short excerpt.

          “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”             -Matthew 5:14-16

          After the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew records an explosion of Jesus’ miracles: cleansing of lepers, healing the sick, casting out demons, calming a story, giving sight to the blind. We saw at this time, opposition mounting against Jesus from the Jewish religious establishment.

          The Jesus sent out his disciples to proclaim the gospel, delivering the Missions Discourse before they went. Within that discourse he said,

          “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”                                         -Matthew 10:16

          In the next discourse, the Parable Discourse, Jesus said,

          “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”                                                                  -Matthew 13:31-32

          Jesus was promising a kingdom that would start in him and grow to fill the whole earth! And as opposition to Jesus continued to intensify, he feed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, he walked on water, and he continued to heal the sick, cast out demons, and proclaim the gospel. After witnessing all these wonders, Peter finally confessed Jesus to be “the Christ, Son of the living God (16:16).”

          Immediately, Jesus told the disciples that he would be crucified by the religious leaders, but after three days he would rise. He then said,

          “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”                                                 -Matthew 16:24-25

          Jesus continued to teach the people what it meant to follow him, and what was the nature of his kingdom, so that when Jesus finally entered Jerusalem there were great crowds crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest (21:9)!”

          Opposition to Jesus reached its boiling point, and four fiery days followed. Those days culminated with Jesus proclaiming woes over the religious leaders, calling them children of hell, and prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem’s temple. Meanwhile, the religious leaders were actively looking to kill Jesus.

          For the past two months we have seen their murderous schemes succeed. They arrested Jesus, unjustly condemned him, humiliated him, and then handed him over to the Romans to be tortured and crucified. Jesus’ enemies thought they had the victory.

But it was not so! Just as Jesus prophesied, on the third day the Father raised his Beloved Son from the grave! He appeared to his female disciples and told them to go and tell the men to return to Galilee, where there they will meet Jesus – alive!

And, today, we now see those who were scattered are now gathered. The disciples, minus Judas, are not just reunited, but they are again following Jesus – following his command to go back to Galilee.

Read vs 16-17

The eleven disciples were all from Galilee. Most of their time with Jesus was in Galilee. As their journey began there, so does it return. We have no idea which mountain the disciples went to, but they knew. In verse 18 it says Jesus came to them; meaning the eleven were gathered on the mountain and they watched as Jesus approached them.

How interesting that they had a mixed reaction. Some worshipped, some doubted.

There is something so authentic, so earthy, about this doubt. This was the same Jesus, but something was different about him. Clearly, some had uncertainty about how to respond to him. Perhaps doubt means they could hardly believe what they were seeing: Jesus returned from the dead.

I think of the man from Mark’s gospel who cries out, “I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) It is possible to believe and doubt simultaneously. Most of us know what that’s like. The disciples, evidently, experienced it. And the lesson for us is this: no one has perfect faith, not even the Apostles.

But even in their doubt, they worshipped. All throughout Scripture, it is only permissible to offer worship to the living God, Yahweh. When the disciples worship Jesus, they are ascribing to him divine status. They see Jesus as God. Jesus does not rebuke them. Jesus receives their worship, for as God he is worthy of their worship.

Crucified and resurrected, fully God and fully man, returned to Galilee and reunited with his disciples, Jesus is about to deliver to them a magisterial message, one that will resound into every subsequent generation: The Great Commission.

Before we dive into that commission, let me speak about what Matthew is doing. Before the cross, Jesus delivered many powerful teachings – ones that have profound meaning for our lives today. There is so much to learn and grow in.

But the Great Commission stands above them all. It is a command from Jesus to all of his disciples, through all time thereafter. Jesus’ Great Commission serves to orient his disciples’ lives. Everything we do in every sphere of life, is meant to be done in conformity to the Great Commission. It is not just for missionaries or pastors or people advanced in the faith, it is for every one of us, whether a brand-new baby Christian or a disciple in their 90s. Jesus spoke the Great Commission over us all, and he intended for us to obey  - he calls you to obey.

Even while some worshipped, and others doubted, Jesus said,

Read vs 18b-20

 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Jesus is proclaiming Daniel’s vision to have come true.

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

                                                                             -Daniel 7:14

Though his enemies thought theirs was the victory, Jesus had conquered! He conquered life: living sinlessly, loving the Father with perfect obedience, so completely loving those around him he gave up his life for them. A life flawlessly lived. The fullness of the image of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Jesus conquered life.

And Jesus had victory over death! The Father would not let his holy one see corruption, so he raised up his Son, seated him at his right hand, and gave him all authority in heaven and on earth. The cross and the empty tomb prove Jesus’ worth and give him the right to reign.

Having achieved such a comprehensive victory, it was the Father’s good pleasure to bestow on Jesus a dominion, glory, and a kingdom over all peoples. Jesus reigns! Daniel’s prophecy is fulfilled!

Jesus’ disciples, those who worship and those who doubt, see your King!

Then Jesus, as King, commissions his disciples to expand his kingdom. He does not tell them to take up swords and advance his kingdom by force. There is no propaganda machine. There is no play for power. He already has all the power. Rather, Jesus righteously wields his supreme authority to command his disciples, “Go, and make more disciples.”

To make disciples, Jesus commands us to go. Meaning, you must be intentional about it; disciples don’t just happen. Making disciples takes effort, and going means you cannot stay where you were, you cannot stay in what is secure and comfortable. You cannot stay silent. You must go out from those places. Choosing comfort or safety or silence over going is disobedience.

Go. “Make disciples of all nations.” Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. The nations are his and he is their King. Oh, brothers and sisters, may it be seared into our minds, engraved on our hearts: Jesus died for the nations!

“For God so love the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”                                      -John 3:16

What good news we are given to proclaim! In God’s great love for the world, for the nations, he gave up his Son. Jesus was sent. Jesus commands us to go, but he was first. He stepped down from glory, took on the form of a servant, entered our brokenness, and died on the cross we criminals deserve. But Jesus rose from death and ascended to the right hand of the Father where he now possess all authority in heaven and on earth.

If any person among the nations believes this, trusting Jesus as the King of their life, then he shall bestow upon them life everlasting! In Jesus name shall the nations be saved!

Jesus died for the world! But the nations do not know. They have not heard. So he sends us as his ambassadors, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God, ruled by the righteous man from Nazareth.

Billions of people alive right now will go on living, and they will die, and they will never have been told the good news about King Jesus. They will die in their sins, and the weight of their sins will plunge them into the inky and eternal abyss.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

                                                                             -Romans 10:14-15,17

If it troubles you that so many are perishing apart from Jesus, understand that you are God’s answer to that problem. The gospel you have heard is to be on your lips. Go, make disciples of all nations!

This church invests tremendous resources that the nations might hear the gospel. We also send our own. Yes, the cost is high, but what is the price of a soul? If we were to spend 10 million dollars and only one disciple were made, though it might mean our tactics need work, would it not be of infinite worth to the one who receives the good news? And when we all enter into the eternal presence of Christ, will anyone regret how much it cost to proclaim the gospel to those who have never heard?

We look back and rejoice, that we have lived in obedience to Jesus, so all people would know joy in God!

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Look how Jesus equates himself with the Father and Holy Spirit, placing himself as the second person of the Trinity. He has the authority! When disciples are made, they are baptized into a relationship with the Trinity.

And we disciples are to teach new disciples. As verse 20 begins: teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Jesus doesn’t want converts. He wants disciples! He wants disciples who know why they are getting baptized: that it was the Father who set in motion a plan to save them, the Son secured that salvation, and the Spirit brings that salvation into the life of the disciple. Disciples need to be taught this!

Disciples need to be taught what it means to obey Jesus. Teaching is not about filling up brains with knowledge. In the kingdom of God, teaching is about obeying Jesus! Jesus said,

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”       -John 14:15

Disciples obey Jesus because we love him, because he is our King who laid down his life for us and we trust him! We want to follow hime       because his way is the better way. He is our Lord and our friend, our Savior and our living joy! Even if things are scary, even if doubts tempt the heart, still a disciple thirsts to worship him – in spirit and in truth.

That is why, at Immanuel, we are passionate about obedience-based discipleship. When we make disciples, we want to immediately teach them to obey. We want to encourage one another to obey. It is so easy for the weeds of the world to choke obedience out of our lives. We help one another pull the weeds, obey, and bear fruit!

Our Ambassador Training is designed to help you obey the Great Commission: to proclaim the gospel, to make disciples, and to teach God’s word. Discovery Groups – which are beginning to spring up at Immanuel – are all about obedience-based discipleship. We are all disciples trying to make disciples.

And on that note, when Jesus says “go to the nations,” we are one of those nations. Yes, there are billions and billions in foreign lands that need to hear, and God might call us to go to them. But there are thousands who have not heard right here in our Mohawk Valley. There are disciples that need to be made in your own family. Go to them and make disciples. Go to those around the corner and around the world.

But you must go! You must get uncomfortable. You must break social conventions, because those social conventions work to suppress the truth. Go to your neighbor. Go to your school friends. Go to your workplace. Go to Indonesia. Go to Tajikistan. Make disciples of all nations!

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”       -John 14:15

And as you go, Jesus has an extraordinary promise for you.

          “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

How could it be? The King of the universe has stooped down to be with you! How great his love that he would never leave your side! He is with you always, in your dark moment, in your doubts, in your fears, in your trials, in your joys, in your obedience.

He will never leave you nor forsake you, no one will pluck you from his hand, and nothing in all creation can separate you from his love! He who has all power in heaven and on earth is with you always, and you are with him! What is there to fear? What can man do to you?

And when this life is spent, and our last breath escapes, these eyes for a moment shall close. But with the next moment the light will again rush in and we shall see him, face to face, our King and our God and our friend: Jesus of Nazareth. How sweet it shall be in that moment to know we have given our life to serve Him: that we went, and made disciples from the nations.

How good is our King? He is with us, always. And he sends us out, not to advance his kingdom by force, but by simply making disciples. It's so humble. It’s so possible. Make disciples. You don’t need to be mighty, or charismatic, or highly educated. You simply need to be faithful, intentional, obedient.

As you have listened, perhaps my words have struck doubts in your heart, and you’re not really sure about all this. Perhaps you think I’m a bit fanatical. Perhaps, as you’ve listened, your heart was filled with worship and a thirst to go and make disciples. Either way, listen once more:

Read vs 17-20

So concludes Matthew’s Gospel. May these 88 sermons mean more than information to you. You now possess very many hours of my life. I have taught you everything that Jesus has commanded – in Matthew. What will you do, disciples? Will you go?