The Great Commission

Matthew 28: 16 - 20 (NIV): 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "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."

     I can't help but notice the first thing Matthew says here, that when they saw Jesus and most worshiped him, some doubted. There will always be doubters. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Even when seeing something for themselves. Not everyone is ever going to believe, at least here on earth.

    The doubters Matthew mentions may be part of the group of 500 that saw Jesus after his resurrection. Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians 15:6. When the eleven disciples went to the mountain to see Jesus, they may have had a mob of people with them. We can't be sure. The Bible pulls no punches about this: faith is messy and always was and always will be. Perhaps this is because it is impossible to please God without it (Hebrews 11:6). Perhaps God wants it this way -- at least for now.

    Then Jesus gives his marching orders to the believers: to make disciples around the world. Not just to evangelize people, but to make followers out of them. The disciples did pretty good! The gospel soon reached all around the world. Jesus told them to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity -- one God, three persons. I can't fully grasp this, but Jesus is clearly teaching it here. This great commission still stands today. This is our marching orders. It is up to us to disciple the world and there is no plan B. But we have the assurance that Jesus is with us and we can do it in his power.