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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFICION (37)

 

The Discussion after the Great Commission

Matthew 28:20; Mark 16:17-18; Luke 24:48-49

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     All three synoptic gospels record the Great Commission.  However, it appears that each one of them may have been spoken on different occasions during the forty days Jesus was alive on the earth following the resurrection.

 

B.      As we studied these accounts, we divided this section into three lessons:

1.       The Discussions before the Great Commission.

2.       The Great Commission

3.       The Discussions after the Great Commission.

 

C.     In this lesson, we want to focus on the discussions that took place immediately after the Lord issued the Great Commission to His apostles.  Each one of the gospels presents its own unique discussion.  So, we will look at Matthew, then, Mark, then Luke.

 

I.                    DISCUSSIONS AFTER THE GREAT COMMISSION IN MATTHEW:  Teaching

 

A.     Matthew’s gospel only gives us one verse to discuss (Matt. 28:20).

 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

 

1.       The Scope of Their Teaching (Matthew 28:20a)

 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…

 

a.       Continual Effort:  teaching them

1)      Once a person has obeyed the gospel, he has only begun the Christian life.

2)      New converts need to be taught and grounded in the truths of God’s Word.

a)      “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled…” (Col. 1:23).

b)      “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught…” (Col. 2:7).

3)      Often churches will have a New Coverts Classes in order to develop new Christians.

b.      Complete Obedience:  to observe all things

1)      Some seem to have the idea that God’s word is simply to be believed.

2)      Jesus, however, reveals that He wants His followers to observe all things.

a)      Christians have a big responsibility to fulfill.

b)      They are not to be hearers only, but doers of the Word (James 1:22-25).

c)       The Lord does not want partial obedience.  He desires for His disciples to observe “all” things.

c.       Certain Authority:  whatsoever I have commanded you

1)      The only thing that was to be taught was that which had been commanded.

2)      If it has not been commanded, we should not demand for it to be done.

3)      Examples:  The Sabbath Day, circumcision, the Sinner’s Prayer, denominationalism, sprinkling for baptism, clergy-laity system, the Pope, the Rosary, referring to ourselves by man-made names

4)      1 Peter 4:11

 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…

 

2.       The Support Given by the Lord (Matt. 28:20b)

 

…and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

 

a.       The Lord promises to be with them unto the end of the world.

b.      This means more than merely having a spiritual presence among them.

c.       The words, “unto the end of the world,” refer to the end of the miraculous age.

1)      The word “world” is defined as “age.

2)      Mark’s gospel is a good commentary on this verse (Mark 16:20).

 

And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.

 

3)      The apostles were not just spokesmen.  They were also miracles workers who could confirm their divine words with powerful signs.  These signs were evidence that the Lord was with them.

 

II.                 DISCUSSIONS AFTER THE GREAT COMMISSION IN MARK:  Signs

 

A.     After Jesus gave the Great Commission, He promised signs to those who believed (Mark 16:17-18).

 

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

B.      Five unique signs are promised in this verse.

 

C.     The question is:  “To whom is the promise given?”

1.       A casual reading of the text seems to indicate that the promise was to all baptized believers (Mark 16:16-17a)

 

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe…

 

2.       However, in the full context, the words could also apply to the apostles.

a.       The context:

1)      The apostles had been told by both Mary Magdalene and the two men on the road to Emmaus that Jesus was raised from the dead.

2)      The disciples, however, did not believe these witnesses (Mark 16:11, 12).

3)      Therefore, when Jesus appeared to them, He upbraided them “with their unbelief and hardness of heart” (Mark 16:14).

4)      If these men were going to be successful in taking the gospel to the world, they  had to firmly believed.  If they did believe, Jesus promised them that signs would be given to them that would confirm their teaching.

b.      Proofs that these words apply to the apostles.

1)      In the context, the apostles used “signs” to confirm their words (Mark 16:20).

 

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.

 

2)      The signs found in Mark 16:17-18 are much different than the nine gifts of the Spirit given by the laying on of the apostles’ hands (See 1 Cor. 12:8-10).

3)      In 2 Corinthians 12:12, Paul refers to “the signs of an apostle.”  These could be the five that are mentioned in Mark 16:17-18.  We only read of the apostles performing these signs.

a)      Only Peter (Acts 9:36-42) and Paul (Acts 20:7-12) raised the dead.

b)      Paul was bitten by a venomous viper and did not die (Acts 28:3-5).

 

III.              DISCUSSIONS AFTER THE GREAT COMMISSION IN LUKE:  Pentecost Day

 

A.     Luke 24:48-49

 

And ye are witnesses of these things.  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:  but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

 

B.      Two important points:

1.       Once Jesus ascended to heaven, the only ones who could testify to His resurrection were “witnesses.”

a.       These were eyewitnesses of the events to which they would testify.  NOTE:  Witnesses for Christ do not exist today.  There is no one alive who is an eyewitness of the baptism, ministry, miracles, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ.

b.      Thus, Jesus tells His apostles:  “And ye are witnesses of these things.”

2.       The apostles were the ones who were to receive “the promise of my Father.”

a.       The promise of the Father was the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, about whom Jesus had spoken in the upper room with these men.

1)      John 14:16-17a

 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth…

 

2)      John 15:26-27

 

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

 

b.      The promise would be fulfilled in the city of Jerusalem. 

c.       The promise would be accompanied “with power from on high.”

1)      It was the Holy Spirit who would provide this power.

2)      It was power that enabled the apostles to do many things:

a)      Speak with tongues (Acts 2:4)

b)      Speak divine revelation (Eph. 3:3-5)

c)       Perform miracles (Acts 3:6-7)

d)     Pass on miraculous gifts by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17).

e)      Set forth the terms of divine pardon given by God (Acts 2:38)

f)       Prophecy the future (Rev. 1:3)

g)      Read the hearts of men on certain occasions (Acts 5:3; 8:21)

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     We will come back to Luke’s words in our final study. 

1.       However, we will not be looking in the gospel of Luke. 

2.       We will be examining the opening chapter of the book of Acts.

 

B.      In that lesson, we will also look at the ascension of Jesus into the heavens.