“Let's Go!”
The Appomattox Court House Presbyterian Church Pulpit
Rev. Cameron S. Smith
The Lord's Day, August 26, 2007
RALLY DAY
Matthew 28:18-20
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." --John 14:27
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." These are the last words that Matthew records from Jesus just before his ascension. We know from the other three Gospels and the book of Acts that Jesus said other things on that occasion as well, but Matthew chose to highlight these particular words, words that have become known and cherished in the Church as the "Great Commission."
Last words are generally considered especially special because they are, well the last words that friends and family will ever hear from that person.
Speaking of last words, Martin Luther was especially moved by the prophetic words from the pen of the 15th century Bohemian reformer named Jan Hus. From his prison cell just before he was burned at the stake as a heretic, Hus penned some momentous words that Luther believed that he himself had fulfilled. Hus wrote "that they might now be roasting a goose (for Hus means goose), but in a hundred years they will hear a swan sing, which they will not be able to silence." (From Luther: Man Between God and the Devil, Heiko Oberman, p.55).
Those words proved to be right since no one can deny that we are even today still being moved, shaped and motivated by the writings of that "stupid monk" and the tidal wave of reformation he initiated on the castle door in Wittenberg that October day in 1517!
It is the same here with Jesus. In truth, all of his words are special and meaningful to us - but these are the words that have given us our marching orders, so to speak. These words have motivated the Christian Church for over two thousand years; motivated missionaries to go to every corner of the globe, inspired pastors to mount the pulpit faithfully Sunday after after Sunday; provided fodder for teachers and Bible Study leaders. The Saints of all ages have been commanded to go forth and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
These words are especially meaningful to this church today as we begin a new Sunday school year. They are meaningful as well as we receive two new families into the ranks of membership for there are four beautiful children represented in these families and we understand that we, alongside Tripp, Alysia, Jay and Michelle, have an obligation to pass the Faith on to their children.
We have an obligation as well to build up and equip men and women of all ages that come into our midst, and with God's help, we will endeavor to do just that. On this Rally Day, I recognize that we still have a long way to go before we have all of the pieces of the puzzle together to make this church what it needs to be when it comes to equipping all the Saints!
With this in mind, we must consider the Great Commission this morning in light of our task as a church here in Appomattox -- indeed, a church in 21st century America!
Of note this morning, there is a one word that occurs four times here the Great Commission that I want to draw your attention to: It is the Greek word pas which is translated as "all" or "always." It is an adjective that expresses fullness, wholeness, totality.
Jesus says that all (pasa) authority has been given to him. He says that we are to go to all (panta) nations with the Gospel. He says that we are to teach all (panta) that he has commanded. And finally, he says that he will be with us always (pasas), in each and every circumstance until the end of time as we now know it.
I want to suggest to you this morning that accepting and living by these four absolute and all encompassing commands from Jesus do not come naturally to us as fallen human beings! Far from it! The demand here seems too far reaching; too impractical in "a big world." As we go through the four "alls," I think you'll see what I mean.
Let's consider the first "all" statement: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
We struggle with this blanket statement, because after all, our time is characterized by change, uncertainty and even fear.
Think about, for instance, natural disasters: The flooding in the Midwest that we are hearing about now; the hurricanes that are beginning to brew once more in the waters southeast of Florida; the drought that we have experienced, and are still experiencing this summer; the wildfires that rear their head every once and a while.
There are human tragedies as well. We have all been disturbed over the loss of life in the Utah mine disaster and the Minnesota bridge collapse. Just yesterday, I saw footage of a hot air balloon going up in an inferno with two people reported to have perished.
Look at the uncertainty in world affairs: The war in Iraq and Afghanistan; the threat of religious extremists in Iran; the continuing development of North Korea as a world menace; and of course, the various terrorist organizations and their ubiquitous threats.
There are other, always ominous threats to life here on earth: Global warming; depleted natural resources; and man-made pollution problems.
There is even something there in our every day, personal life: Our own personal anxieties about life, work, school and family.
But to all of this Jesus says all authority in heaven and earth belongs to him. This is and always will be God's world. His children have been placed in the palm of the Savior's protective hand. God ordains all that comes to pass (cf. Isa. 45:7; Lam. 3:37-38).
This, to be sure, doesn't absolve us of stewardship responsibilities. It doesn't mean that we are free to "let go and let God." No, it rather gives peace, purpose and hope while the world stresses out over things which it can neither predict nor control!
To the child of God, it is total freedom from the tyranny of this same uncertain and ever-changing world. Ultimately, we are free for ministry. Free to fulfill the Great Commission, because all authority truly belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ who sends us.
Secondly, Jesus says that we are to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…." We do this by baptizing and then teaching. Baptism begins the lifelong process of discipleship and we are always in the place where we need to be taught. But the significant thing here is that this is a mandate for the nations of the world; it is not limited solely to only the religiously so-inclined here in "Christian America." The Gospel is to go unreservedly to all nations and all people. No group of people, no matter their religious sensibilities, are immune from or above an invitation to life in Christ.
The temptation today is to shirk this off as unworkable in an age where we are truly aware of a global village of diverse cultures and religious practices. How can we possibly, in this context, insist that we have the one, true way of reconciliation with God? How can we push Jesus on other good people who believe otherwise? Surely, there must be a better way? But no, the message is for all people, no matter where they are or what they might believe. Jesus calls us to make disciples of all people, every where, in every age.
Following closely on the heels of the second "all" is the third absolute "all": "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
I was amazed yesterday to hear a retired minister get up on the floor of our own Presbytery and say that he "hated" the word "standards." He disliked the fact that we have to have things written down because it stifles the living, presence of Jesus. He said, in effect, Give me Jesus, to heck with written standards!
My friends, you can't possibly or remotely know what Jesus says, or wants , or desires from you unless you know the written standards of the Word of God.
When you dispense with the written Word for a seemingly uncontroversial, commonsensical, spiritual statement that all you need is Jesus - Jesus and me - it's truly amazing how Jesus starts to reflect your own personal biases and opinions! Jesus believes what I believe. Jesus wants what I want. Jesus condemns what I condemn. Jesus would even vote for the same political candidate that I support!
We are to teach all that Jesus commanded, and we only know that solely through the Scriptures. While Romans 1 tells us that we can and should know God through the created order, we need the "spectacles" of Scripture to know the heart of God and hear the word of His Son, the Lord of all creation.
Furthermore, we are simply not given the option of picking out portions of the Bible that appeal to us while ditching the unpleasant or hard portions as primitive thinking. No, we are to wrestle with all of it, every single word; every single thought; down to the very last detail.
I gave you an example of this wrestling last week as we considered a very difficult passage from Exodus, namely God's dealings with Pharaoh and the Egyptian people. At issue was the tension between God's total sovereignty and humanity's personal, moral accountability. How do they go together? How are they both true at the same time? No easy answers here, but it is our calling to wrestle with it! [Check out that sermon!]
Finally, Jesus says, "behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." This is a comfort to us in the way of the world; In the grind of everyday life. I want to remind you as I close this morning of some other very important words that Jesus spoke regarding our mission in the world. They are found in this same Gospel of Matthew. It has sometimes been called the "mini-apocalypse." Sort of like the book of Revelation condensed into part of one chapter!
Upfront, you are accustomed to hearing this passage explained as a prophecy of the end times -- with all of this chaos still yet future to our own day -- ultimately ushering in the return of Christ.
However, I believe that while this passage may indeed allude to some sort of unpleasantness just before the consummation of the new heavens and new earth; there is no question that Jesus was warning us as well of the uncertainties that would characterize the entirety of life in the "last days," i.e. the entire time between his ascension and his second coming.
With that in mind, please listen to Jesus in Matthew 24:3-8:
"As [Jesus] was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us…what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?' And Jesus answered and said to them, 'See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.'"
But Jesus, in all of these extreme, dire circumstances, is with us always. We know this to be the case because Jesus himself has told us as much in his Word. John 14 is probably one of the most direct passages in the New Testament testifying to this intimate reality.
Through "the Helper," who is none other than the Holy Spirit, God is working in us to will his good pleasure and plan in all things. That is our comfort. That is our hope. That is what motivates us to keep on working faithfully even when it seems like darkness will prevail and dawn is a distant memory.
Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
What a joy it is to be able to know this for sure! Therefore, on this Rally Day, let's get to it! Let's go!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, your last words before you ascended into heaven are ever before us. We confess that all authority in heaven and here on earth have been given to you. Your Gospel is to go unashamedly and with great power into the world; indeed, into our own personal world as we make disciples by baptizing our children and teaching them the ways of Covenant life and as well, building up ourselves in this good way; the way of life.
We rest assured in all of these things. We delight in the reality that we are free to minister just as you have called us to do, taking solace that even in uncertain times, political treachery and backbiting; natural disasters; and national tragedies; you are with us until the end of the time as we know it. You have promised that you will be with us always, and we understand as your plan has begun to unfold that this presence is manifested through your Holy Spirit, as He empowers us and wills that the work of the Kingdom of God takes root and continues in growth and spreads.
We ask blessings upon this church as we seek to be faithful and obedient to your Great Commission. We ask blessings in particular upon the leadership of this church, our elders. We ask blessings upon our teachers who have graciously given of their time and energies for no better reason than to share the love of God in Jesus Christ with our kids. We give thanks to the many faithful members of this congregation who have served this church through good times and bad, having kept their eyes fixed on you rather than the ever-changing landscape of human failures in leadership, both personal and corporate. We give thanks for the collective wisdom and seasoning that we have among our membership. We thank you for their wit, wisdom and experience. May we use this to build up those families who you will bring to us in the coming year. We give thanks for all of our dedicated members who serve so faithfully on various committees. We have been blessed in this fellowship with so many good men and women who have the gifts and resources to make this congregation truly a solid outpost of the Kingdom of God in the midst of this community.
Amen.
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