The Great Commission 

Matthew 28: 16-20

Dan Joseph 

Have you ever been in a position where you have to say goodbye to someone? You know you're not going to see them for a long time, or maybe it sadly is the last time you’ll speak to them; what do you say to them - do you sit and pass the time of day and talk about the weather or what happened in a soap opera last night? No - you talk to them about what's important.

We all find it hard to say the things we need to say sometimes - we can go through life assuming that people kind of know what we mean or feel and never actually say the words out loud. Sometimes it's only when we experience something traumatic or there is a major life change about to happen that the reality is hammered home to us - that life is short and we shouldn't procrastinate – sometimes, only then do we open our mouths and say what's important.

Jesus was in this very position - from what the scriptures record he wasn't exactly known for mincing his words at the best of times - and yet here just before his physical body is about to leave them - he has to make his final words count. According to the writers of the gospel, Jesus’ last earthly words were held in this reading we heard today" Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations".

The church is established for a reason. There is a reason why we, the church, are here. Jesus tells us that we are here as those who have been sent.
He is sending us just as his Father sent Him.

The prime directive of the church is summed up in what we know as the Great Commission. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus says: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”

It is the reason why we are here. Of course, there are other reasons. There is so much that we can get out of being a part of a church, the chance to explore our faith, a place to recharge our spiritual batteries, a place where we can feel safe, a place where we can meet other like-minded people, a place where we can make real friends who care about us even when we’re not in the pub. And I think Jesus wants us to find those things in a healthy church. But there, in those last words, there he’s telling us to do something.
 
He’s telling us to do one thing we will not be able to do in eternity. Here we find a primary reason why Christians are left in the world. And this is what God is emphasizing to us right now.

He doesn't say "Stay" he says "go", it's not enough to stay where we are, maybe it's nice and comfortable, no Jesus tells us to "go" to get out there and share God's word.

He doesn't say - set up a social club - he says we are to make disciples - that we are to be the instruments through which God changes lives

He doesn't say - pick and choose who you give ministry to - he says we're to do it for all the nations, it’s not our place to choose who we offer ministry to (Oh you, you don’t have a British passport, or you – you’re not married with children)

As a part of the metropolitan community church we truly see the world on an international basis. We are part of a region that covers the whole of Europe and down through Egypt and into Africa - the money we raise helps to fund our ministry throughout this region - the resources and ministry we offer helps to touch the lives of people who are not on our doorstep

Sometimes this calling is a bit scary = we can spend our time hiding like those first disciples in the upstairs room - but the calling is there nonetheless, we can sometimes get a bit down but we should never lose sight of what Jesus commissions us to do.

Making a disciple – sounds a bit daunting doesn’t it? Many of us will know at least one or two people who we know have found Christ and who in making a conscious decision to embrace him into their lives have changed significantly. Does making a disciple have to always be a big, possibly dramatic event?

In my mind I have an image from the Skoda advert, where they’re building up a car made out of cake and sugar and other lovely things; a disciple isn’t likely to be made by fear or threats or cold logic – a disciple is going to be made by good things. The experiences that we have where we make a genuine spiritual connection – they make our hearts sing with joy and it’s our commission to share them with others.

Within our life as a church we meet people at different points in their walk of faith. In helping someone to reflect on their problems, in not being judgemental in a harsh way, in building people’s confidence up rather than dismissing them for their failures; here we are making people into better disciples.

But we must be careful not to have a vision that’s just inward looking, we have to continue to reach out and to embrace new people as they come to us; each of us has the power to energize those who may already see themselves as disciples and to encourage those spiritual seekers we encounter into exploring what discipleship means for them.

Through this work, we grow, we grow as a church, but we grow as disciples ourselves. Our faith continues to mature when we become aware of God’s action and guidance in our own lives.

We live in a city, and in a world that is crying out for a saviour, right now there are people asking themselves “Shopping, Drinking & getting off – is this all there is to life?”

We are the people who have found Christ, the people who known the joy that comes from having a relationship with their creator, the people who have felt the love that comes from letting Jesus into our lives and sharing that journey, I can’t think of anyone better suited to tell people about him.

(Dan Joseph)