Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
28:18-20
Footnote: When someone is dying or leaving us, his or her
last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples with these last words
of instruction:
they were under his authority;
they were to make more disciples;
they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to obey
Christ;
Christ would be with them always.
Whereas in previous missions Jesus had sent his disciples
only to the Jews, their mission from now on would be worldwide. Jesus is Lord
of the earth and he died for the sins of people from all nations.
We are to go -- whether it is next door or to another
country -- and make disciples. It is not an option, but a command to all who
call Jesus "Lord." We are not all evangelists in the formal sense, but we have
all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission. As we
obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with
us.
The disciples were to baptize people because baptism
unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his or her death to sin and resurrection
to new life. Baptism symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live
God's way, and identification with God's covenant people.
How is Jesus with us? Jesus was with the disciples
physically until he ascended into heaven, and then spiritually through the Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be Jesus' presence that would never leave them.
Jesus continues to be with us today through his Spirit.
Keep reading -- 70 days left!
All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV
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