JMA Newsletter Missions Mid-Month Jan 2024

The Great Commission in Matthew, the Gospel of the King

Matthew 28:18-20
18 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."
            Each instance of the Great Commission emphasizes a different aspect and meaning, just like the Gospels and other places in which they are found. Today, we'll look at the Commission most people are familiar with, from Matthew's Gospel, also known as the Gospel of the King.
            Probably we should not find it surprising that when Jesus gives His Commission in Matthew, He begins with a declaration of His authority as King. 
            First, we see that Jesus has all authority, in heaven and on earth. The word used for authority here is exousia, sometimes translated power; it means 'right to rule', or jurisdiction, literally authority, in heaven and on earth, and He has all of it. And because of that, based on that, He is sending us into the world to bear His name, to establish His kingdom, to take light into the darkness. It's a lot like what happened to Moses at the burning bush. God appeared to him and told him, 'I've come down to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt, and I am sending you to do it' (Exodus 3:7-10). Jesus is saying the same thing to us. People are lost and dying, and I am sending you in My name to deliver them.
            Secondly, we notice that this Commission is directed to 'make disciples'. The primary command of the King is not to make converts only, but to make disciples. Disciple making is a long term process, indicating the need for long term cross cultural living. 
            So, let's marry these first two points now: Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, and He is sending us -NOT to heaven, btw!- He is sending us out into the earth, in His name, under His authority, to bring light into darkness, and to make disciples of Him!
            I feel the need to say a word about a missions calling at this point. It is important to note that while everybody is called to minister at some level wherever they are, not everybody is called to go and live in another country. Cross-cultural living and ministry is a specific calling, in my opinion, and is accompanied by a specific anointing and grace. I believe everyone can go on a missions trip to visit, but seriously, you need to have a calling before you go move yourself and your family overseas somewhere. 
            I believe the point can be illustrated best by looking back at the words of this Commission. Jesus said go and make disciples of all the nations. So, does that mean that each of us are mandated to move around until we've lived in every single nation? No, of course not. That's not possible. This Commission is given to all of us as a group, even as generations of disciples, and each of us do our portion. Knowing what your portion of ministry is and what it isn't, is really important! That 'knowing' is also part of your calling, knowing your place, your portion of the Great Commission. 
            Okay, one more illustration! In Acts 16, Paul and his team were moving from one place to another, preaching the Gospel and establishing churches. They had a desire to go into a certain area, because research had determined that there were unreached people groups in that area, and Paul and his team were all about that. But because the Great Commission has a Great Commissioner, and none of us are just left here on auto-pilot. The Great Commissioner gave direction to the team! Acts 16:6b, "they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel in Asia." And in v7, they tried to go to another place, "but the Spirit did not permit them." 
            The best missions strategy is the one where we follow the leading of the Great Commissioner! People used to ask me all the time, 'What was the hardest part of being called as a missionary?' The hardest part, by far, was having that calling fully in my mind and heart, knowing that missions was the purpose for which I was born on earth, and being ready, I thought, to go. And then hearing the Lord say, "Wait". By far, the hardest part was 'wait'.
            We have a Great Commission. But the Great Commissioner has all authority over His commission, and over us. Our portion is to submit to His authority, and to follow His direction in everything. Jesus is Lord of the commission!

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