At the center of the heart of God is reconciliation. When neighbor, church and God embrace at the center, reconciliation occurs. When reconciliation happens, relationships are restored, forgiveness is experienced and liberation takes place. This is indeed Good News. And God is on the move doing this.
Thus, at the heart of our church is reconciliation.
As a church, our aspiration and goal is to be a channel by which this happens.
We are currently in a teaching series examining the core values of our church as shown in the diagram. Each of the core values point to how God is at work for reconciliation. And today, we will look at the core value of commission.
Reconciling the stories of our neighbors with God’s story through COMMISSION. We are commissioned with God to share in the gospel with our neighbors.
Some of you may be able to anticipate what Scriptural text we will examine today to explore COMMISSION. Some of you may have heard teachings on it before and may have even preached on this text at some point in your life. Nonetheless, may God use our reflections today on this famous and familiar portion of Scripture to encourage and challenge us afresh.
So before we read the text, Matthew 28:16-20, let’s set the stage for when this Word from our Lord was given. This Commission is given after the Resurrection.
To help in setting the stage, I’d like to read an extended excerpt from Philip Yancey’s book, “Disappointment With God (pp. 149-150).” I think Yancey has a gift for being able to express the internal dialog that takes place inside characters in the Bible and indeed what I suspect rattles around in our minds today.
On Sunday, wild, crazy rumors shot through the close-knit community of mourners. And then later in the week you saw him. It was true! You touched him with your own hands. Jesus! He had done what no one had done before: he had walked voluntarily into death, and walked back out.... Jesus appeared and disappeared seemingly at will. When he showed up, you listened eagerly to his explanations of what had happened. When he left, you and the others plotted the new kingdom. Think of it: Jerusalem free at last from Roman rule! … Now you’d show them. No one would push you around anymore; no one would push Israel around. Peter, James and John would naturally have the inside track on the top positions, but a kingdom would need many leaders – and, after all, you had followed Jesus for three years…. You waited breathlessly for some sign – a call to arms perhaps, a battle plan….
And what happened next?
As was often the case, the disciples had their own agenda and instead Jesus astonishes them.
And so this happened next.
Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Church, this is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to various people at various places. Some occurred in and around the empty tomb; some in and around Jerusalem and indeed, some appearances were in and around Galilee like this episode.
From v. 16, Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
They were in Galilee because Jesus told them to go there. Earlier in Matthew chapter 28, we see these instructions coming from the angel to the women who were at the empty tomb in v. 7. Those directions also come from the resurrected Jesus himself in v. 10. Thus, the women passed the instructions to the disciples and they went to Galilee because they were told to be there.
As for the mountain, we simply don’t know which one. Perhaps it was the same hillside where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.
In any case, the disciples were at the designated meeting spot and Jesus showed up, v. 17, When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.
They respond by worshipping Him. Indeed, an entirely proper and understandable response when encountering Jesus. But did you catch that phrase at the end of v. 17?
“But some doubted.”
That really jumped out at me. I wonder if doubting Thomas and I share the same Briggs-Myer profile?
In any case, some books I read offered some thoughts on this part of v. 17. One idea is that among the 11, some still had lingering doubts. Another idea is that in addition to the named disciples other disciples were present on this occasion and it was in that group of folks where some doubts resided. In 1 Corinthians 15:6, in a passage where Paul expounds on the validity of the Resurrection, Paul reported that Jesus appeared to more than 500 at one time. Perhaps this was the event when that happened.
But in either case, doubt was in the minds of some who where there; whether it was within some of the 11 or in a wider group of disciples.
The other thing we don’t know is the nature of that doubt. The text simply doesn’t say. Some scholars speculate that perhaps the doubt had to do with their ability to recognize Jesus. We simply don’t know how different a resurrected Jesus was to the Jesus they knew before the resurrection. Perhaps, they thought, it looks like Jesus, sounds like Jesus and he is saying things I think Jesus might say, but I’m not sure. Another possibility is that some doubted whether they should really commit themselves to following this plan of Jesus.
Whichever is the case, the text says, “But some doubted.”
Christian writer Frederick Buechner reflected, “If there were no room for doubt, there would be no room for me.” And Jesus was gracious in giving that room to those doubting disciples. And in this great moment of the Gospel story, Jesus commissioned his disciples even though doubts still tugged within their souls.
Does this sound like us in any way?
Just as the disciples went to the designated meeting place, we have come here to church. The disciples upon seeing Jesus worshipped, and we here today have been worshipping.
“But some doubted.”
Does this sound like us?
Thanks be to God, Jesus still sends us. Will we heed that call? Will we heed this commission?
If we wait to get our lives completely organized, we would never go. If we wait until we get all our theological ducks lined up, we would never share our faith. If we wait until all our educational and financial affairs are in order, we would never take the risks. If we wait for all doubt to disappear, we would never follow.
My prayer is often a variation of Mark 9:24, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief; help me as I go.
Verse 18, And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
This reminded me of Genesis 1:1 which says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The pairing of “heaven and earth” suggests everything everywhere. God created everything everywhere.
Jesus who was at the creation, humbled himself and lived among us in weak human flesh, died a humiliating death on a cross, was victorious over death and vindicated by resurrection, now He has all authority over everything everywhere. And what does he do with that authority? He sends out his disciples to make more disciples.
Astounding. The Good News of the gospel is to be delivered by this bickering, bumbling and doubting group of disciples. In other words, people like us.
What do you think of this plan? What would you do if you had this kind of power?
This idea was explored in a humorous way in the 2003 film, Bruce Almighty. If you aren’t familiar with the film, briefly, Jim Carrey played self-centered news reporter Bruce Nolan who is given the powers of God temporarily by God, played by Morgan Freeman. In one scene, God, Morgan Freeman, asked Bruce, so what have you done with my powers? To which Bruce replied, I righted a few wrongs and fixed a few things in my life. Suffice to say, as the film continued, more hilarity and chaos ensued.
What would we do if we had this kind of power?
For the justice minded folks among us, we might have wished for Jesus to throw some thunderbolts against the unrighteous. But it would seem this isn’t God current plan.
One wonders if perhaps, reconciliation is only possible by incarnation?
Jesus, the Word who became flesh, the one filled with grace and truth made his dwelling among us. We call this the incarnation. This process is humbling and slow. He did this so we could come back home to the Father. This is very Good News.
And so Jesus continues His mission of reconciliation by inviting the disciples to continue His mission.
Now, we, the church, the body of Christ, are brought into this astounding work. We are to exhibit grace and truth to all nations. We are to bring the Good News to all we meet while we go about our lives.
And so Jesus gave the commission in vv. 19-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
Last week, we heard about the story of the Prodigal Son and how the son who was lost came home and the Father threw his arms around that wayward son and welcomed him home.
God has been on the move searching for the lost since the beginning. In Genesis 3:9, when Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit, what did God say? The LORD God asked, “Where are you?” In the calling of Abraham in Genesis 12:3, the LORD blessed Abraham and the nation that arose from him in order that “all the people on earth will be blessed.” The mandate of Israel as seen in Psalm 96:2-3, “Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”
In Jesus’ life, he had open arms for all peoples. After the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), which some call the Constitution of the Kingdom of God, the great teaching of how to live as kingdom people, whom did Jesus minister to in chapter 8? Right off the bat: a leper, a centurion and Peter’s mother-in-law. These were a mix of quote-unquote “insiders” and “outsiders.” Peter’s mother-in-law was an “insider” since Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus. A centurion is a Roman solider commanding 100, definitely an outsider. In fact, he would be a despised outsider because the Romans oppressed the Jewish people. A leper was an outsider, a feared outsider, because of the dreaded disease. Yet, Jesus reached out to each one.
How about two more examples?
In John 3, Jesus talked with Nicodemus, a top level Jewish leader. In John 4, Jesus talked with a Samaritan woman with an unsavory past. Nicodemus was an insider’s insider. The Samaritan woman was an outsider of an outsider group. Jesus gave grace to both. Jesus gave truth to both.
And so may God give us big hearts and wide arms as we go about our lives day-to-day. May he expand our imagination of who we think might welcome the Good News.
In some cases, it may be asking God to helping us respond when someone unexpectedly interrupts our lives. In other cases, it may be listening to the promptings of the Spirit to invite ourselves more deeply into the life of someone we already know. Lord, fill our hearts with graciousness and ready our minds to share the Good News of who you are and what you have done.
How did this story unfold for me? How did the Shepherd find me?
When I get to meet Jesus at the summation of all things, I hope he shows me the daisy chain that links my life all the way back to Matthew 28:16-20. Because generations of Jesus followers lived up to this Commission, we are here today.
In my case, I can trace the story back to the early 1950s before I was born. A white Southern Baptist missionary had a vision that a church should be planted in Chinatown Los Angeles to reach Chinese people. Chinatown is about eight miles southeast of where we are.
The church was planted and had its first meetings in a noodle factory back in the 1950s. Humble beginnings just like us here in Atwater Village.
By the 1970s, there were some kids in a youth group at that church who befriended me at Thomas Starr King Junior High School. That was the school where we joined Enrich LA to do some clean up and gardening a few months back. Those friends eventually invited me to church.
And so it began, little baby steps of belonging and believing.
Belonging through friendship, acceptance, and participation in activities at the youth group. Believing through the preaching and teaching of the Word and the life examples of various people who loved Jesus that I met at the church. Little baby steps of belonging and believing, God was at work bringing me to trust in Jesus.
And so over time, the Great Shepherd brought me into his fold and I wanted to follow. It hasn’t been easy but it’s been good.
And since baptism is part of the Great Commission and in good Baptist church fashion, I was encouraged to partake in that sacrament. Just as we partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to say, “I remember what you did,” we partake of baptism to say, “I belong to you.” I was baptized on August 24, 1980. The date is written in a dog-eared copy of one of my old Bibles.
What were some of God’s movements in moving me into this journey?
Certainly, a big part was those who befriended me, accepted me and invited me to church.
There were two adults working with the youth group that I got to know. They knew I was a shy nerd science kid who had questions but would be too timid to ask with other people around. And so they listened in some one-to-one conversations. They gave me a space to ask my questions. They offered what answers they had and they had some good ones. But other times, for those unanswerable questions, they just listened. They gave me a space to ask my questions and explore and grow in faith.
There was a well-to-do businessman in the church. He exhibited such joy when he would talk to people and when he would lead singing. He saw his money as a gift from God to be used generously to support humanitarian organizations and Christian missions work. This man taught me about the ways of Jesus by his example.
There was a pastor. I estimate he preached maybe 30 sermons a year over a 7-year period. Throw in a few church camps and youth group talks; I probably heard maybe 250 sermons from him. I may remember perhaps half a dozen specific sermons.
But by faithfully opening up the Bible each time he preached, he set an example to me that the Bible contained what God wanted me to know. In the pages of Scripture, truth could be found, wisdom for life could be gained and comfort for difficult times was available. He said preaching is like going to a restaurant where a chef prepares the meal for you. And that is fine and good, but you also need to learn to cook for yourself. He encouraged us to read and mediate on the Scriptures consistently for ourselves and as a result God’s truth slowly works in our lives changing us from the inside.
God is often working slowly in His mysterious way through multiple people in multiple situations. This is how disciple making happens. I would imagine many of the stories in our community are the same.
Reconciliation is slow sledding.
The Good News often works quietly and imperceptible to our eyes but not to God’s.
The metaphors in Matthew’s gospel tell us that that is how God works. Matthew 5 describes kingdom people as “salt of the earth” and “lanterns not to be hidden.” Matthew 13 describes the kingdom as like “a mustard seed” and “yeast in flour.” These are all plain ordinary things: salt, lanterns, mustard seeds and yeast. But they are purposeful things and they accomplish their purpose usually slowly and almost unnoticed.
Verse 20, And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
As we reflect on the core value of Commission, let us remember God is with us when we go forth. We don’t go forth on our own. Jesus has the power. What we supply is the willingness. The disciples obeyed enough to show up at Galilee. Their hearts were convinced enough to worship. And Jesus commissioned those disciples 2000 years ago and he commissions us today.
The Holy Spirit is with us and gives us power.
God is already on the move. A river of life is already flowing out from God. The tide of reconciliation is already flowing and rising.
Remember the lightness of being we felt when we experienced forgiveness? Think of how the world seemed totally different when Jesus liberated us from something that chained us down? Recall the joy we had when we first realized that God had welcomed us home?
The Good News of the Gospel can do all this and more.
God is already on the move. The question for us is whether we will join him?
We need to decide if we want to be a part of what he is already doing and in doing so share in the incredible joy God has when the lost is found.
Our Father, thank you for bringing us home through Jesus. My you renew within us the joy of the salvation you have given us. May we allow the Holy Spirit to have his way in our lives. Help us be people who exhibit grace and truth. Let us be beautiful music to the people we meet and when the time is right to share the lyrics of the Good News. Thank you that you are at already at work. Thank you for inviting us to join you in your work. In Jesus name, amen.
Northland Village Church
Los Angeles, California
October 14, 2012
UPDATE: This presentation is on iTunes podcast! At iTunes, type in "Northland Village Church" and look for Matthew 28.
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