Title: OUR MARCHING ORDERS
Focus: The marching orders of the Christian church, in essence, is to teach the good news worldwide, with a view to make disciples of Christ.
Function: To encourage the people to take seriously Christ’s marching orders in making disciples worldwide.
Text: Matthew 28:16-20
In 1972, when I got my first job on this side of the ocean, I learned the meaning of the phrase “your marching orders.” I applied for a job at a sheet metal factory. The foreman hired me; and on my first day on the job, he came to me and said: “These are your marching orders for today: use this blow press machine and this particular blue print of a piece of metal; then punch out 1000 brackets of sheet metal to be used for the assembly of 100 vending machines.” I knew what to do.
Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan also know the meaning of the phrase “your marching orders.” As their superiors assign them to certain tasks and duties, the soldiers receive their papers which stipulate their mission: It may be patrolling the streets of Baghdad; it may be the pursuit of insurgents in a particular district; or it may be such tasks as defending and guarding government buildings and the like. In any case, it is vital for soldiers to know their marching orders or mission.
So it is also with the inner circle of Jesus’ friends. For about 3 years, Jesus has been teaching them, and now it’s time for their particular mission. As Jesus is about to ascend to heaven to be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords, his disciples receive their marching orders. They need to know their task. And Jesus makes it clear: The marching orders of the Christian church, in essence, is to teach the good news worldwide, with a view to form disciples.
As Matthew, the gospel writer, has come to the end of his story about Jesus Christ, Matthew relates to us the marching orders of the church. In 28 chapters, Matthew has emphasized that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, who took on our human nature and became one of us, except for sin. Matthew emphasizes in his gospel that Jesus’ mission was to proclaim the kingdom or rule of God on earth.
Having told the story of Jesus’ resurrection, Matthew now underscores that Jesus is the King to whom all the earth owes their allegiance. And thus we notice that this final passage in Matthew’s gospel has three parts: The first part is a declaration or claim: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” says Jesus.
By his sacrificial work on the cross and in the tomb, the Lord Jesus paid the wages of our sins. His life blood atoned for our sins. And by his resurrection the Lord Jesus broke the power of sin, Satan, and death.
From Scripture we learn that Satan has a throne (Rev. 2:13); it’s where we live, here on earth. But through his resurrection, the Lord Jesus dealt Satan a fatal blow, crushing his head, assuring his destruction and the resurrection of mankind and the earth. Satan’s grip on this world “has loosened. It’s still strong, but once he is cast into the lake of fire and God refashions the old Earth into the New Earth, mankind and Earth will slip forever from Satan’s grasping hands, never again to be touched by him” (Randy Alcorn). We may take heart, because now Jesus is on the throne: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus.
The second part of the text centers on the marching orders for the church. Having made the claim that he is sovereign King over all, the Lord Jesus says: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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.” It’s a tall order. The church’s task is world-wide. But it can be done in the name or power of God the King. All authority is vested in Christ, the Son of God; and he authorizes the church, his disciples to carry out the marching orders.
The third part of the passage is all about reassurance and comfort. Listen: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In World War II, soldiers under the command of General MacArthur were willing to go anywhere he commanded them to go. Why? Because their commander was not afraid to lead them in battle. Jesus assures the church that in carrying out our marching order he will not abandon us; in fact, he is right there with us.
Now when you take a good look at the marching orders of the church, you will observe that the essence of our task is to teach with a view to make disciples. In verse 19 the Lord Jesus says: “Therefore go and make disciples.” Literally, he says “teach people for the purpose of making them my pupils, my adherents, my followers.” Making disciples is all about telling the story of the Christian faith; it’s all about inviting people and helping them to see the light, to hear the good news of salvation, and to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
In verse 20 the Lord Jesus further explains what it means to form disciples; he says to us that we are to teach people to obey everything Jesus has commanded us. It’s one thing to tell the story of Jesus; it’s another to live the story. It’s one thing to pass on information about Jesus’ death and resurrection; it’s another to live out of the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s one thing to say that you believe in Jesus; it’s another to show your faith in Jesus by making him the center of your life. It’s one thing to recognize Jesus as King; it’s another thing to show him allegiance. It’s only when we pledge our allegiance to him and live Christ-like lives that we may see ourselves as disciples of Jesus.
I admire certain people very much, but I’m not their disciple. Martin Luther King, Ghandi, President Reagan or John F. Kennedy, John Calvin, St. Augustine, even my grandfather, to name a few—all these have some features or characteristics that are admirable. But I am not their disciple. Jesus, however, is different. He is our sovereign King; and to him I pledge my allegiance. Clearly, the essence of our marching orders is to teach people with a view to form adherents or disciples of Jesus.
Here’s another observation from the text: the sacrament of baptism takes place in the context of teaching the Word of God. Teaching and baptism go together. For adults who learn about the Lord Jesus and respond to him by faith, baptism is a sign and seal by which they enter the community of faith. Baptism sets us apart and calls us to live under the umbrella of God’s covenant faithfulness and promise.
For children of believers, likewise, baptism is a sign and seal by which they know their identity (they are children of the Lord set apart to live for him); for children of believers, their baptism is also a daily call to become disciples of Jesus as they grow into adulthood. Either way, whether a child born into a Christian family, or whether an adult drawn to a public profession of faith in Christ—teaching and baptism go together in the formation of disciples.
If you are a child, your baptism cries out: You belong to God. You have received God’s promise of salvation in Jesus Christ; you have been given the Holy Spirit to live in obedience and love of God. Now go and live that way! Be who you are! A disciple!
If you are a baptized adult, your baptism carries the same promise, the same claim and the same call: Go and live as a follower of Jesus Christ. For you belong to him!
So then, the sacrament of baptism takes place in the context of teaching the works and word of God; it sets us apart; and it calls us to live as disciples of Christ.
Another important observation from the passage is Christ’s assurance: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” All of us have moments that we wonder if our efforts of teaching the Scriptures and modeling the Christ-life really make any difference. Missionaries find themselves in strange, even dangerous places; and even though they work so hard, they often can’t claim more than 10 converts in 10 years. How discouraging that can be!
Parents show their kids the way of Christ—years of Sunday School, public worship, prayers and Bible readings at home, even years of Christian education—only to discover in later years that their son or daughter has left the church and has given up on Christ.
Pastors and church leaders, too, have moments when they wonder if their efforts and their faithfulness make any difference, for we live in a time of apostasy. And many who hear about Christ, and who have tasted his goodness, fall away or remain lethargic in their devotion to Christ. They call themselves Christians, but they are not disciples.
It’s at those moments that we do well to hear again Jesus’ words of reassurance: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” As we faithfully carry out our marching orders, we need not despair. We are not alone. The King is with us. And in his power and under his umbrella of sovereignty we persevere.
Here are some applications from the text:
a. Making disciples is evangelism in its most expansive scope. Some of us have the gift of evangelism; they share the gospel with people around them, and they lead some of them to a faith response. That’s evangelism in a narrow scope; it’s needed and thank God for the gift of evangelism. But making disciples of new Christians calls for more than the gift of leading someone to a response of faith in Christ. Making disciples is the task of the whole church; that task is reflected also in our mission statement: “to lead people to a committed and growing relationship with Christ and his Church.” The gift of evangelism is a gift for specific moments; the task of making disciples, however, builds upon the gift of evangelism and is the church’s task for a lifetime.
b. Making disciples takes faithful effort and time. Raising children takes time. Teaching them to become responsible citizens takes years; in order to mature, our children go through stages; that’s normal. So it is with us, adults; we go through stages; and each stage of life helps us to mature, to ripen, to grow in stature, wisdom, and knowledge.
So it is also with believers: born-again Christians grow in faith; they learn to walk with Christ; at times, they stumble, they fall; then they confess, pick up the pieces, and assured of Christ’s forgiveness and abiding presence, they continue to grow in him and to live for him. Discipleship is a life-time journey; forming disciples takes faithful effort and time.
c. Making disciples calls for discipline. Our children need discipline in order to obey their parents and to function ably in society. Discipline involves sacrifice, and efforts, and correction. So it is also with being a disciple of Christ. I need discipline—the discipline of prayer, and of developing prayer and Bible reading habits; the discipline of study and Christian reflection; the discipline of making sacrifices, of serving, of giving of my resources and talents.
Forming disciples also calls for the discipline or formative habit of telling the story of faith. I must learn to speak the language of faith—language that includes, for example, such words as resurrection, redemption, renewal, atonement, kingdom, covenant, and salvation. For in doing so, we become strong and articulate in telling the story to others, and we learn to live the story by example.
Surely, the marching orders of the Christian church is to teach the good news worldwide, with a view to make disciples of Christ.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.