Matthew 28:16-20 The End: Make Disciples, Baptize, and Teach
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 30, 2019 Matthew 28:16-20
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Understanding the Text) Again, Matthew glosses over a lot of details. He tells us that Jesus said to meet Him in Galilee and that the soldiers spread lies about Jesus’ resurrection. Then he takes us to a mountain in Galilee. He tells us that when they saw Him, they worshiped, but there were others who doubted. Because of the way that Matthew summarizes, I wonder if the doubting refers to a time period before the mountain. Maybe, Matthew is referring to the doubting Thomas incident, as well as some of the other doubts while they were still in Jerusalem. Why include the doubting? Maybe, it was to show the doubting Jews that the disciples were not gullible, but instead had had to have their own suspicions allayed. One indication in the text that there were more meetings before this even if we did not have the other gospels is Matthew’s statement that the disciples went to the mountain that Jesus had directed them to, i.e. they had to speak with Jesus before going to the mountain for Him to direct them there.
The way Matthew summarizes, it is not clear if Jesus gave the commission on the mountain or elsewhere. I think it was on the mountain. All of the gospels mention that the disciples are supposed to meet Jesus in Galilee. Matthew skips over all the other encounters to mention this one meeting. I think there was something special about this meeting more than the others. This is where the disciples became apostles, something like a formal graduation ceremony or an investiture ceremony to tell them that they were no longer students; now they were the teachers.
(Revelation of God) Jesus tells them that He has received all authority on heaven and earth. Before He became a man, He had all authority on a higher scale, but His sacrifice on the cross give Him direct oversight of humans. He became our direct representative in the heavenly courts and our leader on earth. In a way it was a step down, except that He still had all authority at the higher level also.
(Understanding the Text) Their command was to go to all the peoples of the world, baptizing them in God’s name (Father, Son, and Spirit), and teaching them the lessons that Jesus had taught the disciples. Jesus said that He would still be with them as they did this. What does to the end of the age mean? Until Jesus returns? Forever?
(Application) My application for myself is just as Jesus took on whatever task that was necessary for the salvation of His creations, I should be willing to follow wherever He commissions me to go. The disciples gladly followed the course that Jesus put before them even when they were out of their league. The organization of the deacons shows that there were situations that the apostles ran into that were uncomfortable or unforeseen. They were just dealing with situations as they developed and trusting Jesus to lead them through the Spirit. I need to do the same thing.
(Prayer) Help me to see Your leading in all situations. Teach me to have confidence in You even when I have no confidence in myself. I want to follow where You lead, but I am often hesitant because of fear, laziness, stress, and discomfort. Teach me to ignore those feelings and trust You.