Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey

By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sermon Text: Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Theme

The Gospel of Matthew ends with Jesus making two incredible statements.  One is about himself and the other is about the disciples.  Jesus asserts that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him.  There is no greater statement about Jesus anywhere in the Bible.  “All” authority without exception includes God’s own authority.  The second statement is that the disciples, with all their imperfections and doubts, are to “make disciples of all nations.”  Matthew’s Gospel ends with nothing less than a complete statement of who Jesus is and what we, as his followers, are called to do.

Sermon Outline

1. Power. The Risen Lord Jesus Christ is full of power.  The physical weakness of death on the cross has been replaced forever by the incomparable power of the One who now is Lord of all and Lord over all (Ephesians 1:20-22).  Jesus has commanded his disciples to meet him in Galilee.  This is of course after the forty days he has been with them.  In returning to Galilee they are returning to their own familiar world.  Jesus does not take us out of our world but he empowers us in it.  They have actually been called to a specific mountain.  Mountains throughout Scripture, and indeed throughout Matthew, symbolize God’s presence and power (Exodus 19:18; I Kings 18:20-21; Matthew 4:8, 5:1, 15:29, 17:1, 24:3).    Yet even with all this some of the disciples doubt.  The doubters include us as well.  Yet Jesus comes to them in spite of their doubts and affirms that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him (Matthew 28:18).  No one else can say this.  It is true of Jesus and only of Jesus.
2. Purpose. Jesus’ purpose in asserting his authority has several parts.  First, he is speaking to the disciples’ doubts (Matthew 8:26, 11:2-3, 17:17).  All of this is so incredible to them and to us.  Second, Jesus is preparing them for the opposition they will face.  This opposition is real but has no inherent authority (I Peter 5:8-9).  It exists in the mystery and providence of God’s freedom and love (Matthew 11:25-30).  Without freedom there can be no love.  Yet freedom in all its forms can be abused but it is never outside the authority of Jesus.  Third, Jesus is preparing them for their mission.  This mission is no less incredible that Jesus’ pronouncement of his authority.  These eleven inadequate disciples are to make disciples of all nations, teaching and baptizing them (Matthew 28:19).  The gospel is to be told to the whole world (Matthew 26:13).  No one in the lifetime of those first disciples could have imagined the gospel spreading to the whole world (Acts 4:13).  But it has.  And it continues to spread.
3. Promise. Jesus ends with a great promise.  He is with us always.  The promise of Jesus’ presence is invariably tied to his mission.  It is in fulfilling this Great Commission that Jesus promises to be with us always.  In reality the first disciple in Matthew’s Gospel is Joseph.  He is called to believe something that is incredible.  He receives the promise initially which now concludes the gospel.  Jesus is Emmanuel, “God is with us” and he remains with us until the end of the age, until he comes again.  Matthew’s gospel emphasizes the theme of fulfillment, not only the fulfillment of the law and the prophets but a fulfillment within the gospel itself (Matthew 4:14, 5:17, 13:14, 17:5 (3:17), 26:54-56, 27:9).  The disciples worship Jesus in fulfillment of the Wise Men (Matthew 2:11).    The ultimate fulfillment is the cross.  Jesus’ promises are always valid.  They always come true.  Yet this final promise is made to disciples who hear and obey.  They do this with their doubts and “little faith.”  It is all-important to realize that Jesus does not depend on the disciples.  The disciples, ourselves included, depend on him.  God is not done working. His sending us out to disciple all nations is not the end of the gospel. It is not even (to paraphrase Winston Churchill) the beginning of the end.  It is only the end of the beginning.

Questions for Us

1. Why do you think some of the disciples doubt? How can that fact also be an encouragement to us?
2. What does Jesus' Great Commission "to make disciples of all nations" say to us? How can we do this effectively in a world where people are expected to choose whatever it is they want to believe?
3. How does the fact of Jesus being with us "always" affect the way we live? What are some of the ways this promise brings hope to our lives?