The Word Tells Us How To Make Christians
Posted: January 3, 2006
Matthew's Account of the Great Commission
Matthew 28:16-20 says, "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. v.16
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. v.17
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. v.18
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: v.19
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." v.20
Mark's Account of the Great Commission
In Mark 16:14-20 it states, "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. v.14
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. v.15
We see clearly that this commission was given to the eleven and that signs follow them the preach the gospel. The signs are listed in verses 17 and 18.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. v.16
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; v.17
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. v.18
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. v.19
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." v.20
We see that they went forth and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming the word with signs.
Luke's Account of the Great Commission
In Luke's writings, we see a broader understanding of the commission.
Luke 24:1-53 says, "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. v.1
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. v.2
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. v.3
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: v.4
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? v.5
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, v.6
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. v.7
And they remembered his words, v.8
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. v.9
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. v.10
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. v.11
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. v.12
Luke's Account of the Two on the Road to Emmaus
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. v.13
And they talked together of all these things which had happened. v.14
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. v.15
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. v.16
And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? v.17
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? v.18
And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: v.19
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. v.20
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. v.21
Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; v.22
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. v.23
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. v.24
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: v.25
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? v.26
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. v.27
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. v.28
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. v.29
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. v.30
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. v.31
It is spiritually clear and has been my experience, that unless God opens our eyes we will never see what the word says.
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? v.32
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, v.33
Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. v.34
We see in verse 34 that they proclaimed the resurrection to the eleven and their company.
And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. v.35
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. v.36
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. v.37
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? v.38
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. v.39
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. v.40
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? v.41
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. v. 42
And he took it, and did eat before them. v.43
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. v.44
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, v.45
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: v.46
Verse 46 tells us that Jesus preached the gospel to them.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. v.47
And ye are witnesses of these things. v.48
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. v.49
In verse 49, Jesus tells them to wait for the day of Pentecost. Acts 2 describes the events of Pentecost. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. v.50
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. v.51
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: v.52
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. v.53
John's Account of the Great Commission
John 21:1-25 states, "After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. v.1
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. v.2
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. v.3
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. v.4
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. v.5
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. v.6
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. v.7
And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. v.8
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. v.9
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. v.10
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. v.11
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. v.12
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. v.13
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. v.14
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. v.15
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. v.16
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. v.17
It is clear to me that Peter had received a revelation of feeding God's flock with the word of God. We see in I Peter 5 that Peter, who is an elder and an apostle, is exhorting the elders to feed the flock of God.
I Peter 5:1-3 says, "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: v.1
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; v.2
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. v.3
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. " v.4
These verses reveal to us the true conduct of an elder.
In Jeremiah 3:15 it states, "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."
A true pastor is a feeder given by God to his people, and they will feed them with knowledge and understanding.
Ephesians 4:11 says, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
The meaning of this word pastor is a feeder. It is also clear to me that a true apostle, prophet, and teacher will have the heart of a pastor and will feed God's people. I also believe that scripture teaches clearly that apostles, prophets, and teachers are elders. I Timothy 5:17 states, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."
This verse clearly tells us that not all elders teach the word.
John 21 continued
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. v.18
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. v.19
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? v.20
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? v.21
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. v.22
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? v.23
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. v.24
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. v.25
See also: John 15 (Posted April 2, 2006)
God bless you,
Doyle Davidson