Committed to Christ’s Mission
Matt.28:16-20

After the resurrection of Jesus, he began to appear to his disciples; they had expected Jesus to be a political leader.  When they saw Jesus alive, they thought that their plan was back on tract.  In fact, Luke tells us that they even asked Jesus if he was going to restore the kingdom to Israel now that he was alive and back with them.  The disciples of Jesus wanted to know that the plan was now; Jesus gave them the mission, which is the mission of every follower of Jesus.
Matt.28:16-20
-They saw Jesus and worshiped him.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  He is in charge in heaven and on earth.  After the resurrection the apostles preached Jesus as Lord.  This Jesus whom you crucified, God raised him from the dead and made him both Lord and Messiah. Acts2:36  All authority belongs to Jesus.
Rom.14:9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.  All authority belongs to Christ.
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Php.2:10-11  All authority belongs to Jesus.
In his authority, Jesus commissioned, or we can say authorized or commanded his disciples to his mission.  Make disciples of all nations.
Therefore, Go and make disciples. (As you go, where live takes you, where you live make disciples)  Go multiply yourselves.  Disciples are commanded to make more disciples, to multiply themselves.

Disciple: follower (one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another Merriam-Webster). A disciple is a learner, a student.

Make disciples of all nations (make disciples in every nationality)
This task is global. (all nations)  It includes people from all over the world, all walks of life.  The word here for nation is ethnos (ethnicity).  God is calling people from all ethnicity to become his followers.  In God’s overarching plan, all people matter; all lives matter and he wants all people to become his disciples.  Jesus was talking to Jewish followers at the time he gave this command.  Disciple the whole world, all people groups, all people no matter who they are or where they come from.

Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of The Son and of the Holy Spirit. (v19) Why baptism?
     a) Jesus commanded us to do it. This task has been appointed to us by Jesus himself. “All authority” is his, he is in charge.
     b) Every disciple was baptized. Baptism was the sign that showed people were truly committed as followers of the one in whom you were baptized.
Baptism is a public declaration that we have accepted Jesus and are turning our back on the old life of sin and are now trusting Jesus to live a new life as his followers.

John the Baptist Baptized his followers and they were known as followers of John
The Pharisees baptized their followers. John 4:1-2 the Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John.
Every believer in Jesus was baptized (immersed in water) in the name of the Triune God, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.Committed to Christ’s Mission
The apostles preached repentance and baptism. Acts 2:38
Acts 2:41  Those who believed the message were baptized and joined their number.
Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ.  Rom. 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
It reminds us of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  The gospel re-enacted.
Gal.3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Baptizing them and teaching them everything I have commanded (v.20)
Jesus commanded his disciples to teach others everything he has commanded.  Not just some things, everything.
As a follower of Jesus, if you are not learning his teaching and teaching others then you are not fulfilling his mission.  Disciples are learners, students of Jesus and they are to pass along Jesus’ teaching to those who become followers. 

The first century disciples were committed to Jesus’ teaching.  Jesus taught the apostles and they taught others everything Jesus had taught them.  Disciples making disciples, who make disciples…. (Multiplying themselves).  The first church devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles.

“We all have a responsibility to study and we also have a responsibility to teach.”  Francis Chan
There are so many “so-called Christians” today who consider themselves disciples of Jesus, but don’t even know what Jesus taught.  They don’t even know what they believe; they were baptized but show no desire to grow in the knowledge of Jesus; they have no desire to learn God’s word.  I would doubt your commitment to Jesus if you are not finding out what he taught.  If you don’t know what or why you believe, how then would you disciple others?
You are disobeying Jesus’ command; you are disrespecting his authority.

The great commission has become the great omission in some churches today.
Some people think it’s not their job to disciple those they meet.  Many Christians don’t see themselves as missionaries in the culture and therefore, neglect the opportunity to introduce people to Jesus.
To make disciples is the mission of the church and the mission of every Christian today.

Jesus’ mission is global, he wants every nationality.  When the church began in Acts, they were very comfortable doing church among their own people.  They got very complacent being the Jewish church until God allowed persecution, suffering and death to come in their midst so that they would mobilize and be uncomfortable.  This is how Jesus mission was accomplished.  Jesus is so serious about his followers fulfilling his mission that he will use any circumstance in your life or around you to mobilize you to become missional; to be the church rather than do church.
All authority belongs to Jesus and he is calling you and me and make disciples of those we meet.
He promises to be with us always, until the very end of the age, that is when our mission is finished.