Dear Family

The book of Matthews records the following words as being the last thing Jesus said before leaving:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Down through the ages this has come to be known as “The Great Commission”. And it most certainly appears to be! Consider for a moment: The Messiah breaks into human history to become one of us, fully God, fully human. After His supernatural conception and kitchen birth with the hoo haa of angels and the later visitation by some eastern mystics, He lives a relatively obscure life until he reappears at His baptism. He then goes on a flat out 3 odd years of ministry, gets falsely accused of crimes He did not commit, gets put to death, then rises again after 3 days. Around 40 days later He gives those gathered around Him this incredible, scary, seemingly impossible task – “go, make disciples, baptize them, teach them.” And then he floats into the air and gets hidden by a cloud. Poof! Gone!

Okay, so He did say He had “all authority” and that He would be with us “to the very end of the age” but all the other details are fairly sketchy to say the least. I mean “read between the lines” would be somewhat of an understatement indeed! The only good thing here is that He Himself did not name it “The Great Commission” so at least there’s some pressure off. Since he left the squeeze has been on to get to the “all nations” at any and all cost. Sweat! Sweat!

Except I do not believe the Saviour ever meant it to be a pressure thing. I think that’s our idea of what we have named “The Great Commission”. I think what He meant was that as we go about our lives, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we are to re-present Him to those around us. He has authorized us to, and He wants us to. Because He is with us, we rest in Him as we teach, baptize and obey. This is not just for a few missionaries or pastors or warmongers, but for everyone who has chosen to follow in His footsteps. Making the world a better place for individuals by demonstrating Jesus one person at a time as we move along through life.

Pressure off! Love Him, live Him, lead others to Him. You too can be a part of the “Great Commission”.

Paul