READING: MATTHEW 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

REFLECTION

Jesus has gathered his disciples in Galilee far away from Jerusalem. There are eleven of course because Judas –the one who betrayed Jesus has taken his own life.  The Bible says that there were two responses from his eleven disciples: they worshipped him but some doubted.

Jesus went onto to give them what is known as the Great Commission.  It’s very short but deeply significant.  He starts with this:  ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…’  Before the start of Jesus’ public ministry after his baptism – Jesus was tested by the devil to try and undermine his authority.  The devil had been wreaking havoc since the Garden of Eden in the Old Testament.  He was as Jesus describes the ‘prince of this world’.  Jesus brings a new humanity – a new rule – a new way of life under the kingdom of God.  It starts with people.  The new earth (that will come later).  Jesus’ new humanity lived out under the Kingdom of God heals people; it liberates people – it offers dignity to women; it offers radical transformation to the oppressed and shows there is a God life, a new humanity that is possible through Jesus – free from sin.

This week we’ve seen that Jesus going to the cross and rising to new life has defeated Satan.  Satan is not yet destroyed (that comes later too) but he’s lost his power, his authority – now Jesus has all authority and all power.

This is vital because it’s in the name of Jesus and in his authority the 11 are sent out: to make disciples – do what Jesus did – invite people into your life; your world – show them how to live this stuff out.  Go everywhere – baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  They were them as his in baptism.  Jesus sends them out not by themselves but in the power of Holy Spirit.  He has redeemed them on the cross – an act of Grace; commissioned them and then gives them his presence, the Holy Spirit to guide them and fuel them for the journey.  His promise is that he will be with them always until the end of the age.

Well, that’s all well and good but what is a disciple?  Let me illustrate with this story:

I’ve been driving now for 20 years.  I passed my test in November 1996.  I remember the day I passed my test. I could drive our family car all by myself.  I had been waiting for this moment - I made my tape mix of 90’s music so that I could have a soundtrack to my new found freedom.  The issue was that I was to do it in a 1985 1.0L Mini Metro.

The L plates were finally gone.  I was no longer a learner.  It was bliss.

For many years that was my view of discipleship.  Discipleship was a course you did after either first coming to faith.  In fact I can remember a Bishop coming to our church and on top of all his robes, he wore an L plate to prove a point – if you’re a new Christian, you’re starting out.

I’ve come to the understanding that discipleship - or disciples, in the Greek, 'mathetes' (learner, pupil or student) - is something we continue to do.

It isn’t just a course.  It’s not just the preserve of those taking a year out – it’s something we do or should do all the time.  We don’t have to be experts.  The disciples weren’t experts at all.  But we do read in the book of Acts the training Jesus gave them and the empowering of the Holy Spirit took these ‘Northern’ fishermen and made them a tour de force.  Peter, as the Bible says, ‘an unschooled man’, took on the principalities and powers of Jerusalem and such was his authority they knew he was one of Jesus’ lot.

Jesus has not stopped taking ordinary men and women and doing the same thing.  The key is to keep on learning.  Learn from the Bible; learn from church; learn from leaders – learn from everyone.  Then the challenge is do that with others.  Share it.  Live it out.  We never lose those L plates.

And we’re in good company.  Jesus started with 12.  It’s estimated there were 25,000 Christians by AD 100.  20,000,000 by AD 310 and it’s estimated there are 2.4 Billion Christians now.  There are more people coming to faith in Jesus than at any other time in history.

Jesus people are still making disciples.  Still bringing hope.  Still bringing transformation.

Where are you on your discipleship journey? Do you feel static?  If the answer is yes – ask this simple question:  What is God saying to you?  If you’re not sure, read the scriptures – read the passages we’ve looked at this week.  Ask him to speak to you.  Then the next key question: what are you going to do about what he is saying?  Listening and doing.  Discipleship in a nutshell.

PRAYER

I pray, Lord, that in this season of Advent as we prepare for Christmas you speak to us; you challenge us to walk as disciples working out the great commission.  Amen.