Resurrection Life: The Unfinished Task – Matthew 28:16-20 – Rev Andrew Fitzgerald

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“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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.’” (Matthew 28:19-20)

We continue on this journey through the resurrection appearances of Jesus in the New Testament. And following Pentecost last Sunday, rewind a little bit to another (pretty famous) resurrection appearance of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20 where Jesus shares three instructions with His disciples. They are: 1) to make disciples all nations, not only Jews. This is the message of the Gospel, highlighted by John 3:16, Galatians 3:26-28 and Revelation 7:9. God’s eternal family being made of people from every nation, tribe, people and language; 2) to baptize disciples in the Trinitarian name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Following the footsteps of Jesus in Matthew 3; and 3) to teach all disciples to obey everything He had commanded them. Not only the Sermon on the Mount or the bits that we prefer or like but “everything”. The question is whether this great commission continues to be our responsibility today? Well, as we obey everything Jesus commanded, I would say absolutely yes. The task of this great commission remains unfinished in our day. How will we play our part? Remembering that God is with us (by the Holy Spirit) as we do so.