The “Great Commission” has been used to the point it has faded into familiarity for many believers. In some ways it has for me simply because so many have miss used it, calling themselves “Great Commission Churches” but seeming to leave out the foundation of the “sending”; that all power was given to Jesus. It’s as if they are saying, “we have the commission, so let’s go, we got this!” The commission is not “power” but direction, and not even complete direction.
One element of the commission discussed ad nausem is the grammatical structure. It’s a difficult structure to disentangle. But the meaning is fairly straight forward, regardless of how the grammatical structure is understood. It seems like a procedural command, laying out the process used to reach the world. In Luke Jesus gave the geographical picture, here He gives the procedural. Regardless of how the grammar is understood, one element not open for debate is the foundation that all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. That much is crystal clear.
So, when I read the procedures, I see procedures that stem from the power of my Master. It’s not my ability or talent for making disciples (or even going), but His power. It’s not my knack for teaching or communicating that transmits what I have been taught, but the power of my Master. And it is not my presence in the lives of others that tips the scales of their heart toward Jesus, but the powerful presence of Jesus; right up to the completion of this age.
The power wielded by Jesus sends me out, enables all peoples to become disciples, emboldens all peoples to be baptized, opens hearts and minds to learn, and awakens souls to the presence of my Master. I have little to do with it. I am a spectator of the power at work around and through me. It is and always has been Jesus saving the world; including my community. The question is not “can He” or “will He”, but will I join Him obediently, will I submit to His sending me out into the community. It is when I go obediently that I witness the power of my Master at work in the lives around me, and in my own.
The going, the discipling, the baptizing, the teaching all enables me to behold that Jesus is with me all the way; that it is Him at work all throughout. Without His power and presence there would be very little of the discipling, baptizing, teaching and no witnessing of the power of my Master. It can’t be about me, my church, my pastor, or my small group. It must be about my Master and stem from my connection to Him; that my name is written in the book of life.
So, when the Great Commission is again pulled out and examined, let me start with the power of my Master, and end with His presence. The stuff in the middle is encompassed in those two things. Very little else is important. Jesus is Master and King, let me be the servant introducing others to an audience with Him, bowing out and shutting the door, allowing them to speak together in peace.
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