Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20

Can you imagine being told by your Lord (who was just recently lying dead in a sealed tomb) to go and make more disciples in “all nations”?! Considering the fact that some of the apostles did not even believe that he was Jesus at first (vs. 17), and that the others were no doubt trying to adjust to the idea that Jesus was alive, the command to go evangelize the world must have caused sensory overload!

It is interesting to see how Jesus tells them to do make these extra disciples. The first thing that everyone must understand is that Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (vs. 18). He is the supreme ruler and king over all that there is. So any understanding of how to follow God must come through a knowledge of Jesus’ right to rule over us and command us.

The importance of baptism is also highlighted in this place. How do these “nations” become “disciples”? They’re baptized (immersed) in the name of the three parts of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Throughout the New Testament, when converting to Christ is discussed, water baptism is heavily emphasized as the way we obey God’s invitation to be saved.

In Romans 6:3-7, the transformation from sin to righteousness is accomplished by being “buried in baptism” and being raised to “walk in newness of life.” In Colossians 2:11-14, baptism is described as circumcision, the way that God surgically cuts off our sinfulness and makes “alive… with him.” Also, in the book of Acts, example after example implies that our obedience in baptism is essential for God to give us his salvation. This obedience certainly does not mean that we earn God’s grace, or that we deserve it. In order for us to reach him, however, we must do what he wants because Jesus holds “all authority.” He makes the rules.