OceanSide church of Christ

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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXIOIN (35)

The Discussions Before the Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-17; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:44-46

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     We are nearing the end of our studies entitled:  “The Sayings of the Crucifixion.”

1.       We have seen Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

2.       We have been present as Jesus was tried by both the Jews and the Romans.

3.       We have looked upon the Christ as He was crucified.

4.       We have seen the numerous appearances of Jesus following His resurrection.

5.       Soon, He will ascend back to the right hand of His heavenly Father.

 

B.      Before He leaves the earth, however, He has a mission that He must given to His disciples.  We refer to it as “The Great Commission.”

 

C.     Before getting to the actual words of the commission itself, there are some other words that first demand our attention.  We have entitled this lesson:  “The Discussions Before the Great Commission.”

 

I.                    THE “WHEN” OF THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matt. 28:16; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:50)

 

A.     Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record “The Great Commission,” but it seems that the words they record were spoken at different times.

1.       Matthew’s gospel tells us that Jesus and the disciples were on a mountain in Galilee when He commissioned them (Matt. 28:16).

 

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

 

2.       Luke’s gospel indicates that the disciples were in Jerusalem when Jesus gave the commission that the doctor records for us.

a.       Luke 24:50 tells us that after speaking to the disciples, Jesus “led them out as far as Bethany.” 

b.      Bethany was a short distance from Jerusalem.  This could not have been done if Jesus and the disciples were in Galilee.

 

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3.       Mark’s gospel could be a completely different occasion than the ones mentioned above, or, it may have been on the same occasion that Luke mentions.  It is hard to determine.

a.       The setting is in Jerusalem as the disciples “sat at meat” (Mark 16:14).

 

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat…

 

1)      This seems to be very early after the resurrection.

2)      In the context, it appears to be immediately after the appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:10) and the men on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12).

3)      The disciples did not believe any of these witnesses, thus the Lord appeared to them and upbraided them for their unbelief (Mark 16:14).

b.      Notice, however, Mark 16:19.  The ascension appears to happen immediately after the Lord speaks to them on this occasion.

 

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

 

1)      If it were near the ascension, the disciples were no longer unbelievers.  Within the forty-day period following the resurrection, the disciples saw Jesus enough times to be convinced He as alive.

2)      Question:  Could the words “so then after the Lord had spoken unto them” refer to a time several days following the Lord’s upbraiding them for their unbelief?

 

B.      Jesus may have expressed the Great Commission several times to His apostles. 

1.       Mark’s account early after the resurrection.

2.       On a mountain in Galilee in the middle of the forty-day period.

3.       In Jerusalem just prior to His ascension to the right hand of God.

4.       NOTE:  If this is the truth, it would account for the different ways the Great Commission is revealed by each of the gospel writers.

 

II.                 JESUS MEETS HIS DISCIPLES IN GALILEE (Matt. 28:16-17)

 

A.     We noted that Matthew’s account of the Great Commission happens upon a mountain in Galilee (Matt. 28:16).

1.       Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus had told His disciples about His death and resurrection.  Now listen to Matthew 26:32.

 

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

 

2.       When the women came to the open tomb of Jesus on that resurrection morn, angels appeared to them.  They told them the Lord was alive.  They also gave them an instruction (Matt. 28:7).

 

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen form the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him:  lo, I have told you.

 

3.       Did the disciples go into Galilee immediately?

a.       Matthew’s gospel makes it seem as if they went immediately (Matt. 28:16).

b.      However, we know that Jesus appeared unto His disciples in Jerusalem on the night of the Sunday that He rose from dead (Luke 24:33-36).  This could not have been possible, if they had gone to Galilee immediately.  Galilee was a day’s journey from Jerusalem.  Too, they would have had another day to get home.

4.       All we do know is that the disciples went to Galilee at some point and met with Jesus.

 

B.      Their reaction when they saw Him (Matt. 28:17).

 

And when they saw him, they worshipped him:  but some doubted.

 

1.       They knew who this appeared to be.  Thus, He deserved their reverence and honor.

2.       However, they were not certain about what they were seeing.  There were some doubts.

a.       This had to be early after the resurrection.

b.      By the time Jesus was about to ascend to the Father, the disciples had seen Him multiple times and were convinced He was risen from the dead.

 

III.              THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES (Luke 24:44-46)

 

A.     Before discussing the Great Commission, Luke’s gospel has some other information that Jesus communicated to the disciples regarding the Old Testament (Luke 24:44-46).

1.       He reminded them that all of the things that had happened were a fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures (Luke 24:44).

 

And he said unto them, These are the words that 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.

 

a.       The Law of Moses was important in pointing individuals to the Christ.

b.      When Jesus came, He understood the importance of fulfilling everything that was found in the Law (Matt. 5:17-18).

 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

c.       Jesus discusses two subjects of Messianic prophecies with His disciples (Luke 24:46).

 

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day.

 

1)      Christ should suffer (Isa. 53).

2)      Christ should rise from the dead (Ps. 16:10).

d.      Remember:  Messianic prophecy is one of the most powerful proofs that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God.

2.       Another interesting aspect of Jesus’ words is Jesus’ three-fold division of the Law:  the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms.

a.       We divide the Old Testament into five sections:  law, history, poetry, minor prophets, and major prophets.

b.      The Jews had either a two-fold or three-fold division.

1)      Two-fold:  the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12; 11:13; 22:40).

2)      Three-fold:  the law, the prophets, and the psalms (Luke 24:44).

 

B.      One of the most interesting lines of this text is found in Luke 24:45.

 

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scripture.

 

1.       There are two ways that a person’s mind can be opened to understand the Scriptures. 

a.       It can be done miraculously.  Some refer to this as the doctrine of illumination.  Some religious groups teach that a person cannot understand the Word of God until one’s heart is miraculously touched and opened by the Holy Spirit of God (Ex. A proof-text that is sometime used, John 16:13).

 

Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth:  for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will shew you things to come.

 

1)      They say that Jesus taught that the Spirit will guide us into all truth.

2)      Four quick responses:

a)      Jesus is talking to His apostles about the events of Pentecost Day.

b)      If they are guided into all truth, they do not need the Bible.

c)       If the Holy Spirit is guiding them, they will never teach error.

d)     If the Holy Spirit is guiding them, they can predict the future.

b.      It can also be done non-miraculously.  This is done through the faithful teaching of the Biblical text (Ex., The Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:30-31, 35).

 

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  And he said, How can I except some man should guide me?...Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

 

2.       Jesus was the Master Teacher.  It would have been a joy and a privilege to sit at His feet and hear him expound the truth of God’s Word. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     As we study the Bible we realize how much there is to study.

 

B.      We are constantly reminded that it is a simple book, but it is also a complex book.

1.       The Bible is a book that springs from the mind of an eternal, all-wise God.  For man, its depths will never be completely fathomed.

2.       However, we are grateful that it is simple enough for all to learn how to be forgiven of sins and have a rewarding relationship with God.