Matthew 28: Risen! (6)
Pray Psalm 22.23, 24.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.
Sing Psalm 22.23-25.
Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King
All you who fear the LORD, now praise His holy Name!
You children of His glorious Word, declare His fame!
We stand in awe of our eternal God, and on His mercy call.
For He has not despised the anguish of our King,
nor from Him hid His eyes, Who knew such suffering.
Let praise arise from all who love and serve the Ruler of the skies!
Read Matthew 28.1-20; meditate on verses 18-20.
What are you to do “as you are going”?
Prepare.
1. What command did Jesus give His disciples?
2. What did Jesus promise them?
Meditate.
We begin our consideration of the Great Commission with Jesus’ promise: He will be with us always, to the end of the age (v. 20). This is important because whatever Jesus commands us to do, He enables and empowers us to do by His Spirit, Who dwells within us (1 Thess. 5.23, 24). Jesus sees us at all times, searches hearts and minds, by His Spirit convicts us of disobedience, and prods, provokes, and urges us forward in all that He has commanded.
Next, let’s look at the scope of this mandate: “make disciples of all nations” (v. 19). That involves leading people to confess Jesus, be baptized into the Christian community, submit to learning all that Jesus has taught His disciples (v. 20). Many people fail to realize that the command in this passage is not “Go” but “make disciples”. The word “Go” is actually, in the Greek, “as you are going.” This describes the context for making the nations disciples. Most of us won’t be going to someplace over the seas any time soon. But we will be going to our workplace or school. We’ll be off to the grocery store or the doctor’s office. We’ll walk through our neighborhood, or have a meal with our family. We’ll go to church. Are these not part of the “as you are going” of every person’s life? We are seldom apart from people, and the object of our energies must be to help people become disciples.
Matthew’s gospel ends where it began, with “the nations” in focus. We saw them in Jesus’ genealogy, when the magi came to visit, and when all the kingdoms of the earth were proffered Him by Satan. As you are going, live and declare the Good News of Jesus. Immanuel has come. Now is the day of salvation. We are the agents of grace to a dying world. Make disciples.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28.18).
All authority. Over everything and everyone has been bestowed upon Jesus. He is King. Absolutely.
As you are going, be a disciple.
Be one who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of the triune God.
Follow Jesus wholeheartedly and obediently, and adhere to His teachings.
Be an example, lacking hypocrisy, so that others will want to hear of and learn
all the tenets of the Gospel of the Kingdom.
“Oh, that they had such a heart in them
that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments,
that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” (Deut. 5.29)
As you are going, make disciples (Matt. 28.19).
“But as for you, stand here by Me, and
I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments
which you shall teach them,
that they may observe them
in the land which I AM giving them to possess.
Therefore You shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you;
you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you,
that you may live and that it may be well with you, and
that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess” (Deut. 5.31-33).
As you are going, teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you (Matt. 28.20).
“Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
for the future of that man is peace…
But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them,
because they trust in Him” (Ps. 37.37, 39, 40).
“For the LORD will not forsake His people,
for His great Name’s sake,
because it has pleased the LORD
to make you His people” (1 Sam. 12.22).
As you are going, I AM, and will be, with you always, even to the end of time (Matt. 28.20).
Forever—here and now; and there and then.
Only— “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand…” and “Follow Me” (Matt. 4.17, 19).
Reflect.
1. How would you explain to a non-Christian friend what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?
2. Who are called to “make” disciples? How is that done?
3. What will you be doing today to be a disciple and make disciples?
He promised to be not only with these disciples but also with all who would subsequently believe after them. Jesus speaks to all believers as if to one body. Do not speak to Me, He says, of the difficulties you will face, for “I am with you,” as the One Who makes all things easy. John Chrysostom (344-407.), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 90.2
Pray Psalm 22.26-28.
The Great Commission brings the Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom to the world, beginning right where you are. Pray for each person in your Personal Mission Field, and ask the Lord to help you be more consistent in making disciples.
Sing Psalm 22.26-28.
Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King
Then all the poor shall eat and praise with us the LORD.
Forever we His praise repeat and trust His Word.
Praise God above, all you who keep His vows and who His mercies love!
All nations shall repent and hasten to the LORD.
All those to whom His truth is sent shall praise His Word.
The LORD is King! His sovereign rule on high now we His people sing!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Men, check out the fall schedule of reading and study groups. Lots of opportunities here to grow and make some new friends. And look over the books in our clearance sale at The Ailbe Bookstore.
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast features excerpts from the book, Patrick: A Devotional History. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column continues our study of “Everyday Christianity”. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
