Episode 41

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41 Disciple Up Show Notes
Great Commission Month – Commissioned Times Five!
By Louie Marsh, 1-30-2018

The Five Great Commissions:

 18  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

 15  And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17  And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18  they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18 (ESV)

 45  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46  and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48  You are witnesses of these things. 49  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49 (ESV)

21  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:21-23 (ESV)

8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)

What About the Timing & Differences?

 John’s “great commission” is said during Jesus’ resurrections appearances, so it’s actually not what we think of as THE great commission. It’s Jesus being the Master Teacher and repeating what he’s saying so we’ll get it.

Luke’s Great Commission seems to be at a different time also. Luke merges his resurrection appearances together perhaps to save space and move the narrative forward. The opening of the minds and the being witnesses could be referring to John’s commission? Either way it’s clear from Acts that Luke is very focused on them being empowered by the Spirit for this calling.

Mark and the textual difficulties. Go here to read some excellent summaries of different points of view: https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/3973/is-the-ending-of-the-gospel-of-mark-169-20-original

Great Commission Quotes:

 “Rather than give me one thousand who have gained a vision for the world, give me one who will keep that vision.” Ralph Winter

 “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”      William Carey in his so-called Deathless Sermon, Isaiah 54:2-3

 Shout the victory of Jesus Christ!”  John Hyde “Praying Hyde” – Missionary to India – while he lay dying.

No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.   William Borden

 Highlights of Each Commission:

In Matthew the disciples were charged and commissioned to…

  1. Go out and share the Gospel.
  2. Disciple of all nations (all ethic groups).
  3. Baptize all new followers of Jesus,
  4. Teach them to obey the things that Jesus taught.
  5. Jesus would be with them always as they carried out this command.

 In Mark the disciples were…

  1. to proclaim good news to all creation.
  2. to baptize all new believers.
  3. Were told supernatural signs would accompany and protect them.

 In Luke the disciples were called to…

  1. proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations.
  2. To wait for the Holy Spirit to empower them and then do these things in His Power.

 In John the disciples…

  1. Like Jesus, they were being sent to speak for God.
  2. The Holy Spirit would empower them to fulfill this command.
  3. They were to proclaim forgiveness of sin and release people from it’s power.

 Finally, in Acts the disciples were commanded by Jesus to…

  1. They were to receive the Spirit’s power.
  2. To be His witnesses everywhere.

Summary of all five:

 1) Preach the Gospel Everywhere

2) Baptize new disciples.

3) Teach them to obey

4) Do it all in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Disciple Up Low Down On Being Commissioned

Please Get In Touch!

Email – louie@discipleup.org

 

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