An Incomplete Comissioning

My sermon today is incomplete, at least this written form.  As often the case for me I write out the vast majority of my sermon, get stuck writing and then finish it as the Spirit so moves me during the sermon itself.  So below is my incomplete sermon, based on the Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20.  How did it end?  Well how do you need it to end in order to feel compelled to go fulfill our commission?

I always wonder what exactly the disciples were thinking during those moments when Jesus performed miracles in front of them or told them various parables or gave them specific instructions such as your gospel today.  And in today’s gospel, I picture the disciples having a “Wait, you want us to do what now?” type of moment.

Jesus just died a few days prior and now they had heard stories from the women in their group that he was now alive again, but they had to leave Jerusalem, go to Galilee, and to a mountain, in order to see him.  We are told that they 11 disciples worshipped him but some had their doubts.  Was this really him?  How could he be alive again? How did he beat them to Galilee?  Did he really die? 

But then he tells that it is now their responsibility to go out and make disciples.  Thus far, for about three years they have followed Jesus and Jesus has made disciples.  It was Jesus who spoke, it was Jesus who performed miracles, it was Jesus who people came to believe in.  And now Jesus was leaving them and now it was their job to go and tell others about Jesus. 

They had done that before, gone out and told others about Jesus.  Some of the disciples invited their friends to join them who then became disciples.  Jesus had send 70 out in groups of two to different towns and villages to prepare his way.  But in each case, they were inviting the people to come and see Jesus, to come and hear what this other person, Jesus, has to say, and that is so much easier than actually having to make disciples by baptizing and teaching yourself.

Isn’t it easier to tell others something like “Hey check out_____” this band, this play, this event, this speaker, even this church than it is to be in the band, a actor in the play, an organizer of an event, the keynote speaker or the preacher of a church yourself?  Isn’t easier to tell someone “oh you have to meet my friend” than it is to make a new friend yourself?

They had followed Jesus for three years and I imagine these disciples quaking in fear as Jesus tells them it is now their job, their responsibility to go out, alone, without him, and tell others about him.  They will no longer be able to say to someone, “why don’t you come check out what my friend Jesus has to say” but instead they actually have to be the one who is able to preach themselves about Jesus being the Son of God, the savior of the world.  They themselves now need to be the ones who can teach others about God’s grace and love.  They themselves now need to be the ones who baptize others in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  They themselves now need to be the ones who go out making disciples of all nations.  It is no longer solely Jesus’ duty but now it is their own. 

And this is now our job, our duty, our responsibility as well.  It is our job to go out and tell others about Jesus.  It is our duty as Christians to continue to make disciples of all nations.  It is our responsibility to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  It is our mission to teach others about Christ so that they too may obey his words. 

Is anyone afraid yet?  Do any of you feel like you are able to fully fulfill this task?  Do any of you feel like you can accurately answer all questions that people might have about faith?  Does any of you feel like you are completely able to make disciples by baptizing and teaching?  I, myself, don’t feel like I can all these things.

Just the other week as we had our Christian Education meeting, someone raised concerns they had about teaching fellow adults because they might not be able to answer all their questions.  People have expressed to me that they have a sense of failure because they do not know the bible as well as they feel they should, so how then can they tell others about it.  Others have mentioned to me doubts in their own faith lives that lead them to question their ability to call themselves a believer, a member of the body of Christ.

But that is the good news.  Jesus told all the disciples, both those who worshipped him and those who doubted, that they are to go out and make disciples.  And Jesus also told them that he is with them.  Jesus will be with them as they go out to make disciples, baptizing and teaching.

Jesus is with us as we tell others about Christ.  Jesus is with us as we teach others about Christ.  Jesus is with us as we baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is with us as we stutter trying to find the right words to talk about our faith.  Jesus is with us as we falter trying to invite someone to join us in worship.  Jesus is with us as we hesitate and wane in answer a question about faith.  Jesus is with us. 

And Jesus is with us as a community.  We don’t have to do it alone.  We each are given different spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit that allow us tell others about Jesus, about God and about our faith in different ways.