On Mission - Matthew 26 - 28

There are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament, all written by Priest, Prophets, Kings and others who were chosen by God to look into the future to the day in the life of a virgin girl who would birth the only ‘God-man’ baby ever born. None of these writers ever knew this ‘Messiah’ personally; and therefore they had to rely on the Holy Spirit, signs and wonders, angels and the actual voice of God to direct them in their writing about the creation, and history of the early generations of which there were forty-two in all. In one way or another every word of the OT was written to direct the attention of all nations to that historic day—when The Lord Jesus Christ was born in a manger, in Bethlehem of Judea; who would be the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Savior of the world which was lost in sin. For about six-thousand years, people looked forward in faith to that blessed and historic day.

There are twenty-seven books in the New Testament, and every word was written by an eye witness who lived during the time of the birth and life of Jesus which took place in and around the religious capitol of the world, Jerusalem. Every word in the NT conveys the historical truth of the birth, life, death, resurrection and second coming of Jesus as eye witnesses through the resurrection; and then on through the ‘last days,’ the judgment, and eternity by God chosen Christian men who were privilege to listen to and record the message of Jesus Christ regarding our future during time and eternity. We can be assured of the absolute truth as we study this eye witnessed message that points us back to that blessed and historic day when Christ was born.

Jesus had and still has only one mission. He said, “I came to seek and save the lost.” Christ had only about three years to personally seek and save the lost, and for many reasons, including the vast opposition of his own people, he was able to reach only a few people when compared to the multitude that lived during his earthly ministry. Therefore, he had to establish his church to fulfill or complete his mission. We will study today how he dedicated his trial, death, burial, resurrection and the last forty days of his life on earth to the establishment of his church—and how he gave the church the responsibility to carry out his one and only mission.

The ‘gospel’—His ‘good news’ is recorded in the first four books of the NT, as recorded by the eye witness of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Think how fortunate we Christians are today as compared to those who could only look forward to an event that had not happened before or during their life time, and could only ‘through their faith’ accept it as truth, established and proven. These four writers [and many more including a throng of witnesses] have recorded for us what actually happened just as it had been prophesied. Without contradiction, they all tell us how all Christians are ON MISSION as our feet, hands and heart united with all of his people everywhere are his only instruments that will bring success. We must sacrifice our life for the very thing that he gave up is life to accomplish. I personally feel so fortunate and give Him all the glory for the fact that my church is ON MISSION—is a mission minded people.

Let us be very specific in determining who is to be responsible for carrying out the Great Commission. Some church members who take no part in Missions must think that they are not responsible—and that only the church staff and appointed leaders are to bear the responsibility. Some may not know how to do mission work and need only study to show themselves approved. For sure, the unsaved need to place their faith in Jesus in order to serve Him as their Savior. In Matthew, our lesson today, the time has arrived for him to ascend back to his father and leave his mission unaccomplished at that time; therefore he designed a way to make sure every person has the opportunity to be saved. He told us—all who are saved—to be involved in everything their churches do to carry out the Great Commission.

Jesus knew that his greatest opposition was concentrated in Jerusalem during this pass-over week. He knew that the Jewish leaders were working around the clock in search of a way to trap him into a final and fatal conflict with the Roman Government. Why do you think he forged ahead and entered the city in a bold last effort to proclaim his Lord-ship—knowing all the while that it would be his last days on earth? Please do not just guess why—you should know for sure that He was there ‘on purpose’ making Himself available to be offered as the Passover sacrifice for the sin of all humanity through his death on the cross. Your faith in Christ’s horrible death, the Old Rugged Cross, with his blood streaming down it to the ground stands now, and will always be your only passport to heaven.

These last three chapters in Matthew contain several major topics; His betrayal and arrest, the trial, the treatment, the last supper, prayer, tears, the cross, His death, burial and resurrection—and finally his appearance and commission just before his ascension. Oh, how I wish we could cover the waterfront, but time prevents... Be sure you read these chapters prayerfully expecting God to reveal in depth even the hidden messages contained. I will add a few thoughts that are relevant, but require extra study.

[Josephus, in Wars of the Jews, 6. 9. 3] says that the governor Cestius was afraid that Nero did not realize the vast numbers of Jews that would be in the City and the problems that this mass of people could cause, so he arranged for a census to be taken. Time would not permit a count of people so he directed the High Priest to take a census of the lambs being slain for the sacrifice. “A company of not less than ten must belong to every sacrifice [for it is not lawful for them to feast singly by themselves] and many of us are twenty in a company.” It was found that on this occasion the number of lambs slain was 256,500. It is Josephus’s estimate that there were in the city for that Passover some two and three-quarter million people. So it is little wonder that Caiaphas sought some stratagem to take Jesus secretly and quietly, for many of the pilgrims were Galileans who considered Jesus to be a prophet and would surely rebel. Plans were made to wait until the masses left the city…but Judas provided them a solution to the problem.

[John 12:6] says Judas was a thief that had stolen money from the money box. Matthew and Mark say that Judas’ betrayal came immediately after the anointing of Jesus at Bethany where Judas complained about the waste of the expensive anointing. Therefore he must have acted because of his greed, and struck one of the most dreadful bargains in history selling out, both Jesus and his own soul, for thirty pieces of silver. He realized his fate, threw the money on the floor at the feet of those who had paid him and went out and hanged himself. It is a strange thing with a sinner, but he usually comes to hate the very thing that causes him to be caught in sin.

We are all aware of Peter’s three denials and the crowing of the rooster, and some may have had harsh thoughts about what he did. There is one thing that I want to point out in behalf of Peter, and that is that he is the only one of the eleven disciples that even had enough courage to go to the temple that night where the trial was in progress. All of the other disciples had already sneaked off into the night…and left Jesus to fight his own battle from here on. They ran away but at least you must give Peter credit for not running. He has one more credit coming. As huge, hard and strong as he was, just at the moment that he realized what Christ had told him he would do, and he realized that it had come true…he went out and cried for forgiveness.

The most of us at one time or another have had some hard things to say about Pilate for his decision to allow the crucifixion to take place; but in-depth study shows that his heart was never really hardened against Jesus. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent; and the Jews never really convinced him otherwise, but the Jews caught him in crossfire and compelled him to do their will against his wishes and what he knew to be justice. Actually Pilate was clearly impressed with Jesus and did not feel that the charges brought of Him being the King of the Jews was a serious threat to him. He knew a revolutionary when he saw one, had dealt with many in his day, and he knew that Jesus was not a revolutionary. He sought an escape and tried to get them to let Christ go free.
This it is the most compelling story about the most important four days in all of human history. This story contains the most gruesome combination of hatred, mistreatment, carnage, and death, and then finally, it describes the unprecedented resurrection. It is very likely that absolutely no one has ever fully grasped all that is contained in this short scripture—from the trial to Easter morning. Please obtain a good study bible and a commentary [I recommend * bottom of page] and study these four days in depth. Just a few important questions to answer are: Why did another man carry his cross? Who drove the nails? Who recognized him as Savior of the World? Why did he die quickly? Why was there complete darkness? Why earth wake? Why was the vale rent? Where did his soul go? Why was He buried in a borrowed tomb? Why was he for only three days? Why is it imperative that we know and believe this story? “And now the rest of the story.”

Two special women were recognized and rewarded during the four days. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were at the cross, at the burial in the tomb and now the first to visit the opened tomb. They were the first to get the Good News of the Risen Lord. There are at least three imperatives that resulted because of their faithfulness. First, they were taught the necessity of faith. It is only when we truly believe in the risen Lord that he can enter into our life and work through us. Secondly, they were taught to share. Their first thought was that they should share their good news with others. And last, they were instructed to rejoice. The first word that Christ said to them was “Chairete” which in his language was a greeting which literally means “Rejoice.”

Now we come to the end of our lesson—and to the end of Matthew’s gospel—and hear his last words. [Read verses 16-20] The first thing he did was assure his disciples of his unlimited power proven by his life, death and resurrection. They were now the servants of the Heavenly Master whose authority was beyond question on earth and in heaven.

Then he told them what his mission had been and what their mission was from this day on—“Therefore go into all the world and make all nations my disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—And teach them to keep all the commandments that I have given you.” So: We must be saved. We must obey. And we do not have to do it alone because he made us a promise—“And surely I will be with you always [every day, hour and second] to the very end of the age.”

[* Commentaries: Tyndale Commentary by R.V. Tasker; Moffatt Commentary by T. H. Robinson: Black New Testament Commentary by F. V. Filson; if you have a computer, there are several commentaries available for your study.]
MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND
PLEASE, LET US ALL EXPRESS OUR THANKSGIVING PRAISE!