Forgotten Jesus – Great Commission
Antioch Church, April 2013
TEXT
Matthew 28 (NIV84) —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. 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.”
Between the empty tomb & the Upper Room…
50 days between Passover and Pentecost
Luke opens Acts with statement that Jesus appeared to His
disciples for a period of 40 days and spoke with them about the Kingdom of God.
Acts 1:1–3 (NIV84) — 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote
about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2
until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the
Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing
proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and
spoke about the kingdom of God.
Five Great Totalities…
1. Jesus has been given ALL AUTHORITY
(all power).
Through the resurrection, Jesus spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them
openly.
Parable of the Minas – man went away to receive a kingdom,
when he came back, faithfulness with each mina brought authority over an
entire city.
2. Jesus is sending us to ALL
PLACES and ALL PEOPLES.
“Ethne”
The goal of creation and redemption is worship.
“Every tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation worshipping at the
throne of God and of the Lamb.”
All places (across ocean or backyard fence) and all people = all kinds of people…!
Jerusalem and Judea–
those like us who are near to us.
Samaria – those near to us who are not like us
Ends of the earth – those like us and unlike us who are far
from us
Jerusalem and Judea we will reach accidentally;
Samaria and the ends of the earth will only be reached intentionally.
Cf. Abraham – “Every family on earth will be blessed
through you and through your seed…”
Jesus called to be “missionaries of monotheism” among the
nations, but because of the blessing of God on their nation and the
needs in their own nation, they failed to go to the nations…! (Like some
American Christians today…!)
3. Jesus wants us to teach and
train them in ALL THINGS
Where the Bible speaks, we must speak; where
the Bible is silent, we must remain silent…!
This includes every aspect of the Kingdom....
4. Jesus promises to be with us
ALWAYS
Will never leave us or forsake us! (Promise to us as people
/ friends)
He who has begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…!
Will never leave off from helping us do what He has sent us
to do (Promise to us as servants)
Faithful is He who calls you who also will do it!
To this end I labor according to His mighty power which
works (labors) in me…!
Jesus sent out the 12 and then the 70, into every town and
village where He was about to go…! JESUS SENDS US WHERE HE IS ABOUT TO SHOW UP…!
BIG IDEA
Jesus wants to send every one of us somewhere to someone.
This is the reason we are alive…!
As we go to whoever Jesus is sending us to, He will go with
us, work through us, and provide for us…!
