The Greatest Assignment (Easter)

Christ was crucified, dead, and buried. Then on the third day, He rose from the dead. He conquered death and in doing so, achieved salvation for humankind. He then appeared to His followers. Known as “The Great Commission,” Matthew 28:17–20 records Jesus final words on earth and the commands He gave His followers.

Matthew 28 describes the morning of Jesus’ resurrection. After being dead for three days, Jesus had risen just as He said He would (Matt. 27:63). He appeared to Mary and Mary Magdalene and instructed them to tell His “brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me” (Matt. 28:10).

This passage teaches that Jesus is God and Savior. This passage of Scripture is important for students because it makes clear Jesus’ command for believers not only to be disciples but also to make disciples.

Matthew 28:17 When the disciples saw Jesus, they worshiped, but some doubted. The disciples had witnessed Jesus’ entire ministry. They experienced the miracles. They heard Him teach. They were with Him during His   arrest and knew firsthand of His crucifixion. Imagine their emotion upon seeing Him resurrected from the dead!   The number of people present is unclear. At least the 11 disciples were there to hear Christ’s commissioning words  (Matt. 28:16).

Matthew 28:18 Jesus claimed all authority in heaven and earth. Earlier in the Gospel, Satan tempted Jesus. Satan offered Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” (Matt. 4:8). Here Jesus said complete authority had been granted to Him, not only in heaven but on the earth as well. The fact that all authority has been given to Christ makes His commissioning message possible. Christians can go to all nations with confidence. With Christ before them, believers can rest in His authority.

The Apostle Paul spoke of Christ’s authority. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35–39). Because all authority has been given to Jesus, nothing can separate believers from His love.

Matthew 28:19 This is often the first verse mentioned when someone quotes or teaches the Great Commission. However, one must not leave out verse 18. Christians have the ability to fulfill this command as a result of Christ’s authority. People do not hold the power to transform lives. Only God does. People are simply His tools for accomplishing His work. People must trust Him with the results of their efforts.

“go” is translated to sound like a command in English. But in Greek, go is a participle, which can be translated “going” or “as you go.” The Greek word also carries the idea of proceeding, traveling, journeying, living, and conducting one’s life. The command—the emphasis—is to make disciples as you go.

The emphasis is not necessarily ongoing, as in leaving and going far away. Jesus made the point that believers should make disciples as they go. Making disciples is not about leaving one’s homeland, though sometimes God calls people to leave. The important thing is that as believers do whatever they do—wherever they may be—they make disciples of those around us.

Salvation is for everyone. When Christ said “all nations,” He emphasized that no longer would salvation be limited to God’s chosen people, the Jews. Jesus expanded His earlier instruction to stay only in “the lost sheep of Israel” (Matt. 10:5–6). Previously, Jesus instructed the disciples not to travel the roads leading to other nations. Once Jesus completed His work on earth, He instructed the disciples to extend their ministry to all nations. He achieved salvation for all nations. Jesus commanded His Jewish disciples to take the good news of salvation to everyone.

Christians must baptize converts “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Christ gives His name to those who come to Him. They become His people. As Peter wrote, they become “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9).

Furthermore, this phrase demonstrates God’s nature: He is the triune God, the Three-in-One. There is only one God, yet He exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:20 Jesus explained what making disciples involves. Converts must be taught to study the Word of God and to obey everything Christ has commanded. This requires ongoing involvement in people’s lives.

Jesus then left His disciples with a word of comfort. This idea stands like bookends to Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus told them to remember, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew recorded the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14. Jesus would be called “‘Immanuel’”—which means, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Matthew finished his book the same way he began: God is with us. This motivates believers to go and make disciples.

God gives an identity to His people through baptism. We are baptized in the single name of the God who altogether is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus commanded that His followers be baptized; it is not optional. Any believer who has not been baptized is living in disobedience to Christ’s command. What’s the story of your baptism? How have you shared this with your students?

God has provided a way of life for His people through His non-negotiable revelation, the Bible. We must teach people to observe all that Jesus has commanded; that is, everything contained within Scripture. Apart from the Bible, we cannot know the commands of Christ. It is important to study the Scriptures that each of us might be one who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). When have you seen the fruit of studying God’s Word in your life? How does your life show your students what God is teaching you?