Let’s continue our
walk through Matthew 28:16-20. As a reminder, our guest pastor (Tom Mahairas)
shared five points from the passage:
- availability
- worship
- submission
- obedience
- power
Today, we consider
the aspect of obedience.
"Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20).
As my husband
sometimes quips, “You have to know what the “therefore” is there for!” In this
case, it seems that Jesus is referring directly to the previous statement
(Matthew 28:18) in which He informed the disciples that it is He who holds all
authority, and that all of heaven and earth and
its inhabitants (past, present, and future) are subject to His rule.
So, because Jesus is
Lord of all, He holds the prerogative in telling His disciples what they are to
do… and we who are His disciples are expected to obey. Actually, it’s a cycle
of obedience: part of our act of obedience includes teaching others to obey
everything our Christ has commanded.
It’s an interesting
concept when considered alongside John chapters 14 through 17, where Jesus
urges His disciples to obey His commandments because of their love for Him. But then, we are
confronted with the depth of His word: Yes, you
are My friends. Yes, there is a love-fest between you and Me. But, remember that
I am also your King; as Ruler over all, as Ruler over you, I am commanding you to represent Me in
the world.
It’s a simple list
of ways and means:
- We go where He sends us: the place we are sent is His choice, not ours (see Acts 17:26).
- We make disciples in every nation: wherever we are, disciples increase.
- We baptize these disciples: there must be a public witness of our proclaimed love for Him.
- We teach disciples to obey everything Jesus has commanded.
It’s a good list to
reflect on.
Are we doing every thing in this list?
Are we doing any
things on this list?
Are we doing nothing from this list?
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