Series: All!
Scripture: Matthew 1-1, 28:16-20; Genesis 12:1-3
Title: What is Jesus up to? (The Great Commission)
Bottom Line: “Jesus has all authority so that all nations might obey all he has commanded.” -Douglas Sean O’Donnell
Outline
Intro - Series title “All!” Credit Douglas Sean O’Donnell for the series title and bottom line for today.
Pop Quiz (index cards) (How many are in the room?)
Yes or no: Do you know where the phrase “the Great Commission” comes from?
Define, write or summarize the Great Commission:
According to the Barna Research group in 2018, “Only 17% of regular church attenders could identify and define the Great Commission.”
Jesus knows what we crave because he created us to crave those things. He wants us to obey all he’s commanded because he knows it leads to our greatest joy.
I. Matthew 28:1-10 - Come and see, go and tell
A. When we come and see what Jesus has done (Know gospel)…
B. We go and tell why Jesus has come. (Share gospel)
The book of Matthew is about the Great Commission. It’s about the
Calling of the disciples to the GC,
Counting the cost of following the GC, and
Content of the GC.
Transition: Matthew’s gospel is a gospel of discipleship.
Disciple = Someone learning with the intention to put into practice what they are learning.
II. Matthew 28:18-20 - tail end of the gospel of Matthew will reinforce front end of Matthew by design.
A. All authority
Jesus made the audacious statement, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (18)
Not even Obama would say that. Not even Trump would say that.
If he has ALL authority, then it means as his creation I am under his authority.
And, like it or not—believe it or not—one day I will bow to his authority. “Every knee should bow” “Jesus Christ is Lord” Phil 2:9-11
Don’t miss this: He’s sending us out as ambassadors UNDER AND EMPOWERED BY his authority.
B. All nations Therefore, in light of v. 18
“Make disciples of ALL nations—all ethnicities, peoples, tribes, languages, all nations
Why? Because this is what he’s doing—making all things new and placing them appropriately under his authority. (Eph 1, Col 1)
How? Baptizing them to obey “everything” (= All) “I have commanded you”
You have a decision to make here!
C. All allegiance
He calls us to count the cost and go to all nations with his authority to show and tell them the way to eternal life.
We pledge allegiance to the Lamb as he says surely he will be with me to the ends of the earth.
D. O’Donnell says it this way, “
E. Hughes also says that Matthew’s gospel is a gospel of discipleship meaning that Matthew speaks of
The Call of discipleship
The Cost of discipleship
The Content of discipleship
Transition: So if you want to learn why and how to follow Jesus Christ (as one of his disciples), his gospel is for you! You need to do more than just sit and listen. You need to get a good grip on it as you
Listen
Read
Study
Memorize
Meditate on
Transition: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all have a very similar baseline (bass-line). Life, death, resurrection of Christ. But they have different melodies as they sing the song and tell the story.
Matthew’s melody is Jesus as son, savior, and Christ/Messiah. We looked at these over Christmas (See December messages on YouTube.com under Grace Christian Fellowship Summerville)
III. Matthew 1 & 2 - front end of the gospel
A. Matthew 1 - From Genealogy to back from Egypt to Nazareth.
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ (anointed one or king), the son of David” - about King Jesus; 2 Sam 7 David’s offspring would establish God’s kingdom forever. Eternal, sovereign rule.
Then from son of David to son of Abraham. Why? Abraham was first non-Israelite Father of Israel. Abraham wasn’t a Hebrew until he became one. Abraham matters because of God’s covenant promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.
“The point of these 2 persons and promises is this:
Jesus will be that David King
who will reign over that eternal kingdom
that will be a blessing to all peoples of the earth.” -O’Donnell
B. Matthew 1-2 - From Birth to preschool (Jesus); From Naz to Bethlehem to Egypt back to Naz.
Jospeh accepts Jesus as his son.
Magi visit Jesus as king.
Jesus is king.
Jesus is king of Jews and Gentiles.
Therefore, this king is to be worshipped.
Matt 2:1-11 is maybe the best summary of how to worship Jesus well by very non-Jewish people.
They have come to worship Jesus and pledge their allegiance to him.
Have we?
Escape to Egypt
Return to Nazareth
Time passes…25+ years
IV.
Conclusion
What is Jesus up to?
Showing us how to bring glory to God in such a way that we find satisfaction in all our God-given desires.
Bottom line: “Jesus has all authority so that all nations might obey all he has commanded.“
Will you
Acknowledge Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth?
So that all nations (all peoples) will
Gladly submit and give all allegiance to him?
Pray
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“the Bible Exposition Commentary” & “NT Sermon Outlines” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount” by Daniel Aiken (CCE)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)