These five verses are the cornerstone of every church that proclaims discipleship as part of its mission. And in this season of graduation, the Great Commission feels like Jesus’ commencement speech – telling his students to go and used what they’ve learned to make the world a better place. How incredibly cool would it be to have Jesus as your graduation speaker?!? I imagine the disciples listening intently to his every word, soaking up his wisdom before they're tossed into reality.
Let me jump back a bit to verse 17 which makes reference to some of the disciples doubting. It’s no secret in my family that I’m a pessimist who can find the negative in any situation. And these days it’s easier and easier to live in that place of negativity. As I was reading the passage, I underlined the following words… all, everything and always. Counselors are taught to be on the lookout for these words because people often say things like, “All of them hate me” or “Everything went wrong” or “I always screw things up.” When used as generalities, these words can distort our view and trap us in negativity.
If I were present at the Great Commission - as cool as it would be - I’m pretty sure I’d be sitting there thinking to myself, “Oh no, he wants me to go out there and tell all nations to obey everything. How am I going to do that? I can’t do that! I’m not going to be any good at it.” Panic would set in before the words even left his mouth.
But then his parting verse (v. 20) would hit my ears, “And surely I am with you ALWAYS, to the very end of the age.” Here is my breathe moment.
“Hey, wait… maybe I CAN do this with HIS help.” So each day when I’m tossed into reality I repeat to myself, “He is always with me. He is always with me.” And I begin, along with my fellow disciples, to use what I've been taught to go and fulfill his great call.
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