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Matthew Chapter Twenty-Eight

 
The Significance Of The Resurrection (28:1-10)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. According to the four gospels, Jesus rose from the dead following
 His crucifixion...
 a. Matthew records how the women found the tomb empty and were
 instructed by an angel to tell the disciples - Mt 28:1-8
 b. Also how Jesus appeared to them while on their way - Mt 28:9-10
 -- In all, the New Testament records ten distinct resurrection
 appearances of Christ prior to His ascension to heaven
 
2. The significance of the resurrection of Jesus to the Christian faith
 cannot be overestimated...
 a. It has great significance for one who has yet to believe in Jesus
 b. It also has great significance for those who are Christians
 
[In this study we shall consider "The Significance Of The Resurrection"
for both unbelievers and believers...]
 
I. FOR THE UNBELIEVER
 
 A. IT VERIFIES THE DEITY OF JESUS...
 1. The resurrection proves that Jesus truly is the Son of God
 - Ro 1:4
 2. It also demonstrates that He truly has all authority in heaven
 and on earth - Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36
 
 B. IT VERIFIES THE TRUTHFULNESS OF JESUS...
 1. Jesus foretold His resurrection on three occasions - Mt 16:21;
 17:22-23; 20:17-19
 a. If Jesus was telling the truth in describing His suffering
 and resurrection...
 b. ...then He was telling the truth in everything else He said
 -- Would God raise a liar?
 2. Therefore the following teachings of Jesus are true:
 a. He was from the Father above, and spoke the words of the
 Father - Jn 8:28-29
 b. No one can come to the Father but through Him - Jn 14:6
 c. His blood was shed for the remission of sins - Mt 26:28
 d. He came to offer abundant life - Jn 10:10
 e. He went to prepare a place for us - Jn 14:2
 f. He shall come again - Jn 14:3
 g. There will be a resurrection of the dead and ensuing
 judgment - Jn 5:28-29; 12:48; Ac 17:30-31
 
[If Jesus was in fact raised from the dead, "The Significance Of The
Resurrection" for the unbeliever is enormous! It compels unbelievers
to come face to face with reality, and the need to accept the Lordship
of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus has even more significance...]
 
II. FOR THE BELIEVER
 
 A. IF JESUS HAS NOT BEEN RAISED...
 1. Gospel preaching is vain - 1 Co 15:14
 a. The preaching of the apostles is empty, meaningless
 b. There would be no purpose in preaching about a liar, or
 lunatic
 2. Our faith is vain - 1 Co 15:14
 a. Our belief in Christ would also be empty, meaningless
 b. For our faith would be in a liar, or lunatic
 3. The apostles were false witnesses - 1 Co 15:15
 a. They swore that God raised Jesus from the dead - Ac 2:32
 b. They claimed to spend 40 days with Him after the
 resurrection, eating and drinking with Him - Ac 10:39-41
 c. There is no way they could have been deceived or mistaken;
 either they told the truth or they were deliberate liars,
 deceivers, and frauds!
 4. We are still in our sins - 1 Co 15:17
 a. It would have been a liar or lunatic that died on the cross
 b. No such person could have provided a sacrifice that was
 holy and without blemish
 5. Believers have perished at death - 1 Co 15:18
 a. Their faith would have been in a false Messiah
 b. They would have had no atonement for their sins
 c. Dying in their sins, there would be no hope
 6. Christians are to be pitied - 1 Co 15:19
 a. Because we believe in a false Messiah
 b. Because our faith in Him leads us to refrain from much
 worldly pleasure
 c. Because we are often ridiculed or persecuted for our faith
 
 B. IF JESUS HAS BEEN RAISED...
 1. It verifies our justification - Ro 4:24-25
 a. Jesus claimed His blood would be adequate - Mt 26:28
 b. By raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated His
 acceptance of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins! - Ro 8:
 33-34
 2. It demonstrates the power available to the Christian - Ep 1:
 18-20
 a. Power available at our conversion - Co 2:11-12; 1 Pe 3:21
 b. Power available to live the Christian life - Ro 8:11-13;
 Ph 2:12-13; 4:13; Ep 3:20; 6:10
 3. It gives us hope concerning our own resurrection - 1 Pe 1:3
 a. His resurrection gives us a living hope! - 1 Pe 1:21
 b. Especially concerning the resurrection of believers! - 1 Th
 4:13-14
 4. It demands our complete loyalty to Him - Ro 14:9
 a. He was raised and then exalted to become our Lord - Ac 2:
 32-36; Ep 1:20-23
 b. Thus our lives and service belong to Him - Ro 14:7-8; 2 Co
 5:15
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The impact of the resurrection of Jesus should not go unfelt in our
 lives...
 a. As a historical event it has everlasting implications
 b. For both the unbeliever and believer
 
2. The unbeliever needs to examine the evidence for the resurrection
 carefully...
 a. The nature of the testimony provided by the witnesses
 b. The unfeasibility of alternative explanations for the empty tomb
 -- For if Jesus rose from the dead, one must believe in Him! - Jn 8:
 24
 
3. The believer must never lose sight of the significance of the
 resurrection...
 a. Do our lives demonstrate that we serve a risen Lord and Savior?
 b. Do we possess the hope, peace, and strength that the reality and
 power of His resurrection gives to the Christian?
 
May we never forget "The Significance Of The Resurrection" of Jesus
Christ in our lives!

The Witnesses Of The Resurrection (28:1-10)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. If the resurrection of Jesus Christ really took place, it has great
 significance...
 a. For those who have yet to believe in Christ
 b. For those who are Christians
 -- Which we examined in another lesson
 
2. Upon what basis should one believe Jesus actually rose from the 
 dead?
 a. The evidence presented in the New Testament involves eyewitness
 testimony
 b. Ten distinct resurrection appearances of Christ are recorded in
 the New Testament
 c. One such case is that found in Mt 28:1-10
 
3. It is clear from the Scriptures that our faith in Jesus is based 
 upon such testimony...
 a. As Jesus intimated in His prayer, and John in his gospel - Jn 17:
 20; 20:30-31
 b. Jesus expected His apostles to be His witnesses - Jn 15:27; Ac
 1:8
 c. Especially concerning His resurrection - Ac 1:22; 2:32; 3:15;
 4:33; 10:39-41; 13:31
 
4. Since our faith rests upon the testimony of these witnesses...
 a. Were they credible witnesses, that we should take them seriously?
 b. How strong is their testimony?
 c. How do we know they did not make it up, or were simply deluded?
 
[As with any event alleged to have occurred, there are a number of
factors to consider before we accept the event as a historical fact.
One such factor is...]
 
I. THE NUMBER OF WITNESSES
 
 A. WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT...
 1. The strength or weakness of any testimony is affected by the
 number of witnesses
 2. The Law of Moses required at least two or three witnesses 
 - Deu 17:6
 3. Today, the number of witnesses also plays a crucial role in
 our justice system
 -- The more witnesses you have, the stronger your evidence!
 
 B. THERE WERE MANY WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION...
 1. Paul lists many of these witnesses in 1 Co 15:3-8
 a. Jesus was seen by Cephas (Simon Peter) - Lk 24:34
 b. Jesus was seen by the twelve (apostles) - Lk 24:36-43; Ac
 1:2-3
 c. He was seen by five hundred people at one time (probably in
 Galilee) - cf. Mt 28:10,16-17
 d. He was seen by James, the Lord's brother
 e. He was seen by Paul, on the road to Damascus - Ac 22:6-10
 2. Other appearances are recorded in the Scriptures
 a. To Mary Magdalene - Mk 16:9; Jn 20:14
 b. To other women returning from the tomb - Mt 28:9,10
 c. To two disciples on the road to Emmaus - Lk 24:13-33
 d. To the apostles, Thomas absent - Jn 20:19-24
 e. To the apostles, Thomas present - Jn 20:26-29
 f. To seven disciples by the Lake of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee)
 - Jn 21:1-23
 g. To the apostles at the ascension - Ac 1:3-12
 
[So for a period of forty days (Ac 1:3), over 500 people had ample
opportunity to see Jesus, and determine for themselves if He was really
raised from the dead. They were convinced, but are they reliable
witnesses? How do we know they were not simply gullible, believing
whatever they wanted to believe? This leads us to consider another
factor important to accepting the testimony of witnesses...]
 
II. THE CHARACTER OF THE WITNESSES
 
 A. SOME HAD NOT BELIEVED IN JESUS...
 1. Like His brothers in the flesh - Jn 7:3-5
 2. They even thought Him crazy - Mk 3:21
 -- But seeing Him after His resurrection, they became His
 disciples! - Ac 1:14
 
 B. SOME WERE SKEPTICAL AFTER JESUS' DEATH...
 1. Thomas would not accept the words of others - Jn 20:24-25
 2. Not until he had empirical evidence would he believe - Jn 20:
 26-28
 3. This demonstrates witnesses who were not gullible or easily
 deceived
 a. Which is why the Lord appeared to select witnesses - Ac 10:
 40-41
 b. Witnesses qualified to know if it really were Jesus
 
 C. ONE WAS EVEN A FORMER ENEMY...
 1. Saul of Tarsus, who later became known as Paul the apostle 
 - Ac 9:1-2
 2. Until he saw Jesus raised from the dead, he believed it to be
 God's will to oppose Jesus and His followers - Ac 26:9-11
 
[These were not gullible witnesses, ready to believe any hint that
Jesus had risen. They required overwhelming evidence to convince them
that Jesus was truly raised from the dead. Now let's consider...]
 
III. THE STRENGTH OF THEIR WITNESS
 
 A. DEMONSTRATED BY THE NATURE OF THEIR TESTIMONY...
 1. Their testimony appealed to empirical evidence
 a. Evidence derived from experiment and observation rather
 than theory
 b. For forty days they were given infallible proofs - Ac 1:3
 c. They ate and drank with Jesus - Ac 10:41
 d. They saw, heard, and touched Him - Jn 20:24-28; 1 Jn 1:1-2
 2. There is no way they could have been deceived or deluded
 a. If all they had were individual dreams, visions, or
 hallucinations...perhaps
 b. But they testified that Jesus appeared to them in groups as
 well as to individuals
 
 B. DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR TRANSFORMATION...
 1. Prior to the resurrection, Jesus' disciples were afraid and
 without hope
 a. They fled at his arrest - Mk 14:50
 b. Peter cowardly denied Him three times - Mk 14:66-72
 c. The women mourned His crucifixion - Lk 23:27
 d. After His death, the disciples were sad - Lk 24:13-17
 e. After His death, the disciples hid behind closed doors, for
 fear of the Jews - Jn 20:19
 2. But after the resurrection, they fearlessly praised God and
 proclaimed Jesus!
 a. Praising God in the temple - Lk 24:52-53
 b. Proclaiming Christ, despite persecution - Ac 5:28-32,41-42
 3. This transformation in their lives is strong evidence for the
 resurrection, as admitted by one Orthodox Jewish scholar:
 a. "If the disciples were totally disappointed and on the
 verge of desperate flight because of the very real reason
 of the crucifixion, it took another very real reason in
 order to transform them from a band of disheartened and
 dejected Jews into the most self-confident missionary
  society in world history." - Pinchas Lapide, former
 Chairman of the Applied Linguistics Department at Israel's
 Bar-Iland University (TIME, May 7, 1979)
 b. He concluded that a bodily resurrection could possibly have
  been that reason!
 
 C. DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR HIGH MORAL STANDARD...
 1. They taught others to live holy lives - 1 Th 4:1-7; Ep 4:25
 2. They lived their own lives in unimpeachable way - 1 Th 2:3-12
 -- Does this sound like people who propagate lies when they know
 better?
 
 D. DEMONSTRATED BY THE PRICE THEY PAID...
 1. The apostles endured much suffering because of their testimony
 - 1 Co 4:9-13
 2. All but one died a martyr's death because of their testimony
 3. Even Jesus' brother, James, was thrown off the temple and then
 clubbed to death for his testimony
 -- There was no motive for them to persistently lie about Jesus'
 resurrection!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The nature of their witness does not allow for the option that they
 were simply deceived or deluded...
 a. Again, they professed empirical evidence
 b. They claimed to eat and drink with Him, touch Him, see Him
 
2. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, there is only one
 alternative...
 a. These witnesses were liars, deceivers
 b. Even Paul admits this is the only alternative - 1 Co 15:14-15
 
3. Is it reasonable to believe they successfully propagated a lie?
 a. Too many people attested to the same fact
 b. They were not the kind of people to fabricate such a falsehood
 c. They lived noble lives, and were ALL willing to suffer and die
 for their testimony!
 
When we carefully examine the lives and testimony of "The Witnesses Of
The Resurrection", the only reasonable conclusion to draw is that
they really saw what they claimed: Jesus is risen!
 
And His resurrection from the dead is assurance from God that Judgment
is coming and we must repent:
 
 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands
 all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on
 which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He
 has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising
 Him from the dead." - Ac 17:30-31
 
Are you ready for that Day?

Alternatives To The Resurrection (28:11-15)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. There are certain facts of history that no one can deny...
 a. Many people testified they saw Jesus raised from the dead
 b. These same people suffered greatly because of their testimony
 -- Such facts support the actual resurrection of Jesus from the dead
 
2. From the beginning, there have been alternative theories to explain
 the empty tomb...
 a. Matthew records the earliest theory: the disciples stole the body
  - Mt 28:11-15
 b. Other theories have been raised as well
 
3. Because of the significance of the resurrection (described in a
 previous lesson)...
 a. Those opposed to the gospel know this event must be discredited
 b. We who believe in Jesus must always be ready to provide a defense
 - 1 Pe 3:15
 1) Not only why we accept the testimony of the witnesses (see
 previous lesson)
 2) But why we find alternative explanations impossible to accept
 
[In this study, we shall consider various "Alternatives To The
Resurrection", and why they are inadequate to explain the empty tomb.
We begin with the first explanation...]
 
I. THE DISCIPLES STOLE THE BODY
 
 A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
 1. The disciples stole the body, then claimed He rose from the
 dead
 2. This was the "official" theory offered from the very beginning
 - Mt 28:11-15
 
 B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
 1. The explanation defies logic
 a. If the soldiers were asleep...
 1) How did they know it was the disciples who took the
 body?
  2) How could the large stone guarding the entrance be
 rolled away without awakening the soldiers?
 b. The soldiers guarding the tomb were Romans - Mt 27:62-66
 1) They were professional soldiers
 2) Charged to guard the tomb with their lives
 3) The punishment for falling asleep on duty was death
 2. This would make those who testified they saw Jesus liars and
 frauds
 a. As we saw in the previous lesson, they claimed empirical
 evidence
 b. Suppose just a few disciples stole the body, unbeknown by
 others...
 1) Such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, or the women
 2) Others still say they saw Jesus, ate and drank with Him
 c. You have to explain why they were willing to lie and die
 knowing it was a lie
 
[The likelihood of timid disciples stealing the body of Jesus out from
under the noses of highly disciplined and skilled Roman soldiers while
they slept (an offense punishable by death) is hard to believe! Perhaps
that is why those who refuse to believe in the resurrection have
proposed alternative explanations, one being...]
 
II. THEY WENT TO THE WRONG TOMB
 
 A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
 1. The women went to the wrong tomb, and found it empty
 2. They erroneously concluded that Jesus had risen, and their
 story spread
 
 B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
 1. The women had been to the tomb before - Mt 27:61
 2. The religious and political leaders could have easily silenced
 the apostles' claim
 a. If the women went to the wrong tomb, then the right tomb
 was still sealed and guarded by the Roman soldiers
 b. When the apostles' created an uproar with their story of
 the resurrection of Jesus (cf. Ac 4:1-2; 5:27-33), the
 Jewish leaders could have directed people to the right tomb
  and presented the body of Jesus!
 3. You still have the testimony of the apostles to contend with
 
[A more popular explanation in some circles is...]
 
III. JESUS SWOONED AND LATER REVIVED
 
 A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
 1. Jesus did not actually die on the cross, He only swooned
 a. Suffering from shock, pain, and loss of blood, He fainted
 (swooned) from exhaustion
 b. Thinking that He was dead, the Roman soldiers took Him down
 and buried Him in the tomb
 2. In the coolness of the tomb, Jesus revived
 a. Somehow He left the tomb
 b. Appeared to His disciples, then lived in obscurity to die
 years later
 
 B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
 1. Jesus would have had to revive sufficiently enough to:
 a. Break through the burial garments that bound Him, including
 a hundred pounds of spices used in preparing His body for
 burial - Jn 19:38-40
 b. Role away the large stone that sealed the tomb
 c. Fight off the Roman guards protecting the tomb
 d. Walk the seven miles to Emmaus where He was seen by the two
 disciples
 e. Walk back to Jerusalem where He was seen by the apostles
 -- All within the same day!
 2. Every effort was made to prove He was dead
 a. The Roman soldiers at the cross pierced His side - Jn 19:
 31-34
 1) Out of which flowed blood and water
 2) An indication He was already dead, having died of a
 ruptured heart
 b. Pilate made sure He was dead - Mk 15:43-45
 1) When Joseph of Arimathea wanted the body
 2) The Roman centurion confirmed that Jesus was dead
 3. Not only would this make the apostles liars and frauds, but
 Jesus also for allowing a lie to spread for years!
 
[Another popular alternative explanation is...]
 
IV. THE DISCIPLES HAD HALLUCINATIONS OR VISIONS
 
 A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
 1. All of Christ's post-resurrection appearances were only
 supposed appearances
 2. Those who claimed to see Jesus had hallucinations
 
 B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
 1. Remember that the appearances were not just to individuals,
 one at a time
  a. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus claimed to see Him
 - Lk 24:13-35
 b. Ten apostles claimed to see Him - Jn 20:19-25
 c. He appeared to over 500 people at once - 1 Co 15:6
 2. The hallucination theory contradicts laws and principles which
 psychiatrists say are essential to hallucinations:
 a. Only certain kinds of people have hallucinations
 1) These are usually high-strung, highly imaginative, and
 very nervous people
  2) Usually only paranoid or schizophrenic individuals have
 hallucinations
 3) The appearances were not restricted to people of any
 particular psychological make up
 b. Hallucinations are linked in an individual's subconscious
 1) An individual may have an hallucination
 2) But hallucinations do not appear to groups of people
 c. They occur in people when there is a spirit of anticipation
 or hopeful expectation
 1) The disciples had no such anticipation - Lk 24:13-21
 2) They were prone to disbelieve even after they were told
 of the resurrection - Jn 20:24-25
 
[Then there is the theory that...]
 
V. SOMEONE IMPERSONATED JESUS
 
 A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
 1. The appearances were not really Christ at all, but someone
 impersonating Him
 2. This is evident because in some cases they did not recognize
 Him at first
 
 B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
 1. The disciples were reluctant to believe in the resurrection
 a. Some were doubtful, such as Thomas - Jn 20:24-25
 b. It would have been hard to convince them unless it was
 really Him
 2. It would have been impossible to impersonate Christ's wounds
 a. This was Christ's proof it was really Him - Jn 20:26-27
 b. Which convinced doubting Thomas - Jn 20:28-29
 3. The apostles traveled with Jesus for three years
 a. It is incredible that anyone could have gotten away with an
 impersonation
 b. Which is why the apostles were witnesses of the 
 resurrection - Ac 10:39-41
 4. The one claiming to be Jesus performed miracles
 a. Suddenly appearing in locked rooms - Jn 20:19
 b. Directing them how to catch fish - Jn 21:1-7
 
[Closely related to this would be the theory that...]
 
VI. SOMEONE WAS MISTAKEN FOR JESUS
 
 A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
 1. The disciples simply mistook for Jesus someone who looked like
 Him
 2. For example, the women mistook the gardener for Jesus - Jn 20:
 14-15
 
 B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
 1. The same problems as with the impersonation theory
 a. Disciples reluctant to believe in the resurrection
 b. Impossible to recreate the wounds of Jesus
 c. Ample time with Jesus to verify His identity
 2. While Mary may have mistaken Jesus for the gardener, she was
 able to look through her grief and recognize who He was
 
[Finally, here is an alternative proposed by some theologians who just
cannot accept the idea of a physical, bodily resurrection...]
 
VII. IT WAS ONLY A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION
 
 A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
 1. Christ's resurrection was not a real physical resurrection
 2. Christ's body remained in the grave and His real resurrection
 was spiritual in nature
 3. It was only told this way to illustrate the truth of spiritual
 resurrection
 
 B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
 1. If it was only a spiritual resurrection, what happened to the
 body?
 a. The enemies of Christ were never able to produce a body
 b. Which they would have gladly done to discredit the apostles
 2. Again, the nature of the apostles' testimony is empirical:
 they ate and drank with Him, touched Him - Lk 24:36-43; Ac 10:
 39-41; 1 Jn 1:1-2
 3. Paul argued a bodily resurrection of Jesus as evidence for our
 own bodily resurrection - 1 Co 15:12-58
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The resurrection of Jesus has been variously interpreted as...
 a. A great hoax (the resurrection is false)
 b. Mythology (the resurrection is fiction)
 -- Therefore various alternatives have been proposed to explain the
 empty tomb
 
2. But there is only one interpretation worth accepting...
 a. It is the supreme event of history (the resurrection is fact)
 b. Supported by empirical testimony provided by reliable witnesses
 c. With implications of great significance for both unbeliever and
 believer alike
 
When you consider the strength of the apostles' testimony, and contrast
it with the weakness of the alternative explanations that have been
proposed, it leads an honest person in only one direction: to faith in
Jesus Christ as the Son of God...
 
 "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His
 disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are
 written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
 of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
 (Jn 20:30-31)
 
Are you willing to believe in Jesus, that you might have life in His
name? Then heed the words of the apostle Peter proclaimed in the first
gospel sermon:
 
 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
 has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
 to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what
 shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every
 one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
 remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
 Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to
 all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
 (Ac 2:36-39)

The Great Commission (28:16-20)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. The gospel of Matthew ends with Jesus meeting with His apostles in
 Galilee...
 a. Foretold by Jesus before His betrayal - Mt 26:31-32
 b. Announced by both an angel and Jesus after His resurrection - Mt
 28:7,10
 
2. It was a meeting filled with mixed emotions - Mt 28:16-17
 a. Seeing Jesus, they worshipped Him
 b. Yet some were doubtful
 1) It is unlikely this refers to the apostles, for they had seen
 Jesus earlier - cf. Jn 20:19-20,24-29
 2) This may have been the occasion where over 500 saw Him at
 once, and some may have wondered what they were seeing - cf.
 1 Co 15:6
 
3. It was a meeting in which Jesus gave His disciples a command - Mt
 28:18-20
 a. To make disciples of all the nations
 b. Baptizing and teaching them
 -- Ending with a promise to always be with them
 
[This command is commonly called "The Great Commission". As we take a
few moments to look at it more closely, we may better understand what
was so "great" about it...]
 
I. GREAT IN ITS AUTHORITY
 
 A. JESUS HAS BEEN GIVEN "ALL AUTHORITY"...
 1. As the Creator, He had the original right to all things - Co
 1:16-17
 2. As our Redeemer, even more so! - Ph 2:6-11
 
 B. "ALL AUTHORITY" BOTH IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH...
 1. He now rules in the heavenly realm - 1 Pe 3:22; Ep 1:20-23
 2. He also rules over the kings of the earth! - Re 1:5; Psa 2:
 1-12; 110:1-6
 
 C. WITH "ALL AUTHORITY" IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH...
 1. Jesus certainly deserves our obedience to Him as Lord - Ac 2:
 36; Lk 6:46
 2. Jesus certainly can deliver on His promises - 2 Pe 1:2-5
 
[On the basis of such great authority, Jesus gives "The Great 
Commission". As we continue, we notice that it is...]
 
II. GREAT IN ITS MISSION
 
 A. THEY WERE TO "MAKE DISCIPLES"...
  1. The KJV says "teach", the Greek word means "to make disciples"
 2. Thus they were to make "learners", "adherents", "imitators" of
 Jesus Christ
 a. Jesus had been inviting people to become His disciples all
 along - Mt 4:18-22; 11:28-30
 b. He expected His disciples to become like Him - Lk 6:40
 
 B. HOW THEY WERE TO "MAKE DISCIPLES"...
 1. First, by "baptizing them" in the name of the Father, Son, and
 Holy Spirit
 a. A baptism for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38; 22:16
 b. A baptism in water - Ac 8:35-38; 10:47-48
 c. A burial - Ro 6:3-6; Co 2:11-12
 2. Then by "teaching them to observe all things" He had commanded
 a. Baptism is only the beginning, teaching must continue
 b. Such was the case with the early disciples - Ac 2:41-42
 -- Both baptism and ongoing teaching is essential to true
 discipleship!
 
[We should also observe concerning "The Great Commission" that it
was...]
 
III. GREAT IN ITS SCOPE
 
 A. IT IS FOR "ALL NATIONS"...
 1. They were to go into all the world, and preach to every
 creature - Mk 16:15
 2. They were to be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth
 - Ac 1:8
 
 B. FOR "ALL NATIONS", NOT JUST ISRAEL...
 1. With the Limited Commission, it was just for Israel - Mt 10:
 5-6
 2. Now the Gentiles (all nations) could become fellow-heirs - Ep
 2:11-22
 
 C. FOR "ALL NATIONS", NOT JUST OUR OWN...
 1. Jesus would have us think "globally", not just locally
 2. While we should be mindful of our local community, we should
 also be thinking of those abroad
 
[Finally, we note concerning "The Great Commission" that it is...]
 
IV. GREAT IN ITS PROMISE
 
 A. "I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS"...
 1. A promise similar to those Jesus made earlier:
 a. To His apostles - Mt 18:20
 b. To those who keep His commandments - Jn 14:18-23
 2. A promise similar to those God gave to:
 a. Moses - Exo 3:11-12
 b. Joshua - Josh 1:5
 c. The nation of Israel - Isa 41:10
 3. A promise that ought to provide much comfort when oppressed
 - Ro 8:31-38; He 13:5-6