Good morning.
Around this time of the year back in 1988,
but a sunny afternoon during the weekday,
a couple of months before his 18th birthday,
a young Asian man was walking home in his high school uniform.
As he walked along the main street in Sydney, Eastern Suburb,
an Aussie man approached him.
With a bit of hesitation and a friendly smile,
the gentleman asked this young man,
Do you know Jesus?
Would you be interested in coming to my church to have a look?
The young Asian man was excited to be invited
because he was praying to God for forgiveness and direction
to get back to the right relationship with him
not long before their encounter.
The young man who recently just come from overseas
with his family has been exploring the freedom and nightlife
that the red light district of Sydney has to offer
for the last six months.
Still, he knows what he was doing was not suitable
for someone who calls himself a Christian
at the back of his mind.
So he got down on his knees and prayed.
Before migrating to Sydney,
he has been going to a youth group very irregularly
for about five years.
Over those five years,
at the beginning of each year,
he would set his New Year resolution
to read his Bible and go to church regularly.
But four flats on those resolutions
in the first quarter of the year.
This time, while he's in a foreign country,
God sent an Aussie to help him.
They studied the Bible together
and a young Asian man got baptized
two weeks before he turned 18
and committed his life to God.
Even though there were a few years
that he had slipped back to his own way,
God had not let go of him or forsake him.
Even after many life mistakes,
he was charged and convicted on a taxation issue
and ended up with a criminal record.
God is still using him to serve
in a local church today.
Today, after 30-odd years,
this now not-so-young man
got to enjoy worshipping God
with Christians in his church.
He gets to serve God
because an Aussie man
took up his courage to approach him,
give him an invitation
to look into the Bible together
and teach him to obey Jesus' teaching.
What that Aussie man did
was what we just read out
from Matthew chapter 28,
what Jesus commanded the 11 disciples.
It was part of the last words
spoken by Jesus before his ascension.
The ultimate goal of discipleship
is all people following Jesus.
Matthew recorded
during these final words of Jesus
spoken on a mountain in Galilee
at the end of the gospel.
He also recorded
at the beginning in chapter 4,
Jesus called the first four disciples
by the Sea of Galilee
to follow him
and he would send them out
to fish for people.
God's care for human beings
and all his creative work
works in a cycle,
in a circle.
He always brings to fruition
what he has started.
He called his first disciples
beside the Sea of Galilee
and called them
to the mountaintop of Galilee
to send them out
on a mission
to complete what he set out
for them to do.
So let's read again
from chapter 28, verse 16
in the book of Matthew.
Matthew 28, 16.
Then the 11 disciples
went to Galilee
to the mountain
where Jesus had told them to go.
When they saw him,
they worshipped him,
but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them.
When they saw Jesus,
they worshipped him.
The Jesus that they saw
is a crucified,
resurrected Jesus.
Three days ago,
he died on the cross
and was buried,
but now they see him.
And it is suitable
for them to worship him.
But at the same time,
some doubted.
Do you find it
somewhat unfitting
that the 11 disciples
would doubt
in the presence
of the risen Jesus?
What do you associate
doubt with?
The 11 disciples
were not in a
subtle opposition
or stubborn disbelief
towards Jesus.
There were hesitation
and uncertainty.
When they saw someone,
when you see someone
in a state of troubled,
indecision,
with hesitation
and uncertainty,
what do you feel?
Do you associate doubt
with a negative
or positive feeling?
Do you encourage others
to identify
and address
their hesitation
and uncertainty?
or do you get frustrated
with that person?
The 11 disciples
saw the risen Jesus
and worshipped him,
but some doubted.
Would it be because
they are not clear
or sure
that the one
they are seeing
is the resurrected Christ?
The passage say,
when they saw him,
they worshipped him,
but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them
to speak to them.
Would it be that
when they saw Jesus,
it's actually from a distance?
And from a distance,
being not so close
is where doubt
will trouble us.
How is your relationship
and intimacy with God?
Is it close enough
to make sure
you can identify
your doubts
about him
and address them?
Or is it so far
that it's full of space
that many things
can creep in
to block your view
and connection with God?
To cause you trouble
and heartache
in your journey
following him?
Proximity
can help us
see things clearer.
So Jesus came
close to us
to make sure
we can see things
of God clearly.
Looking at today's passage,
we should be encouraged
that we are like
these 11 disciples
in so many ways.
In our walk
with Jesus
on our journey
to be his disciple,
our worship
of this recent Jesus
is often mixed
with doubts,
hesitation,
and questions.
We should be encouraged
that Jesus gives
this great command
to these very
fallible disciples.
disciples.
He does not say,
because you have
doubted me,
I'm going to find
other disciples
to carry out
my commission.
It's simply
too important
to entrust to you.
No,
it's to this
very ordinary
group of people
that he entrusted
the mighty task
of telling the world
what he does
for them
and how to be
right with God.
Jesus entrusted
the gospel's
proclamation
to us
fallen human,
those that are
full of hesitation
and uncertainty.
Then Jesus
came to them
and said,
All authority
in heaven
and on earth
has been given
to me.
Therefore,
go and make
disciples of all
nations,
baptizing them
in the name
of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit
and teaching them
to obey everything
I have commanded you.
Then Jesus
came to them,
Jesus approached
them to make
sure they see
him clearly.
He came to make
sure there's no
space for any
God's unwanted
thing between
God and us.
He came to assure
the 11th disciples
of his authority
and with that
authority,
he sent them out.
So what kind of
authority does
Jesus have?
He has all
authority in heaven
and on earth,
given to him
by God,
even the power
and authority
to overcome
death.
Jesus said,
the reason
my Father
loves me
is that I
lay down
my life
willingly
and to
take it up
again.
No one
takes it
from me,
but I
lay it down
of my own
accord.
I have
authority
to lay it
down
and I have
authority
to take it
up again.
Because of
Jesus,
we can see
death
differently.
Because of
Jesus,
death no
longer
stings.
God has
given us
victory over
death and
sin through
our Lord
Jesus Christ.
God is
worthy of
all our
praises.
Jesus lived
a perfect
life and
died a
sinless death
on our
behalf.
He died a
sinless death
to replace
our disobedient,
sinful life
with his
perfect
obedience.
God
has
done for
us.
God
entrusted us
to tell the
world of
this good
news,
to tell of
who Jesus
is and
what he
has done
for us.
God's
authority is
the basis
of Jesus'
command to
make disciples
of all
nations,
of all
people.
We're not
only there to
go to all
nations because
Jesus has
all authority,
but we must
also go for
the Lord of
all has
commanded us
to do it.
Verse 19,
says,
therefore,
go and
make disciples
of all
nations,
baptizing them
in the name
of the
Father and
of the
Son and
of the
Holy Spirit
and teaching
them to
obey everything
I have
commanded you.
From the
original language,
make disciples
of all
nations is a
fundamental
driving force
of this
command.
Jesus is
commanding the
eleven
disciples to
make disciples
of all
nations by
going,
baptizing
them in
the name
of the
Father and
of the
Son and
of the
Holy Spirit
and teaching
them to
obey everything
Jesus has
commanded them.
Hesitate at
first, but
later we can
see these
eleven
disciples from
the book of
Acts and
from the rest
of New
Testament that
they obeyed
this command
of Jesus as
the Spirit
leads them to
break through
cultural barriers
after cultural
barriers in the
proclamation of
the gospel.
After their
encounter at
the mountaintop
of Galilee,
the disciples
went back to
Jerusalem to
wait for the
gift of the
Holy Spirit
from God.
After they
received the
gift, the
disciples proclaimed
the gospel from
Jerusalem to
Judea and
Samaria to
Asia Minor
and Rome.
The gospel
went from the
Middle East to
Africa to
Europe to
America to
Australia and
Asia.
The good news
of Jesus goes
from the East
into the West
and back into
the East in a
full cycle as
a rule of how
God cares for
human beings and
everything he
had created.
God never
stopped working
from the day he
created us.
Jesus said,
my father is
always at work
to this very
day and I
too am
working.
But today,
not many
Christians
consider this
command to
make disciples
of all nations
as a must
do.
Not many
Christians are
doing what
that Aussie
man did with
the young
Asian man in
the main
street of one
of Sydney's
eastern suburbs
30 years ago.
God's great
commission to
make disciples
of all nations
has become a
great omission
in many
Christians'
life.
We must be
clear from
today's message
that we are
not faithful
disciples of
Jesus if we
are not
intentionally
seeking to
make other
disciples of
our Lord
Jesus.
Becoming
and being
a Christian
is fundamentally
other person
centered.
We become
a disciple
to make
other
disciples.
Christian,
a follower
of Jesus,
a disciple,
is not just
a regular
church goer
that does
a good
deed to
tick the
box to
make us
feel good
about ourselves.
A faithful
disciple of
Jesus,
intentionally
seeking to
make other
disciples of
Jesus by
sharing the
confidence they
hold in
Christ,
their faith.
Some
Christians may
say,
I do invite
people to
come to
Sunday
service or
events.
I invite
them to
the activities
we have at
church.
That's a
good start.
But what
is the next
step after
they come?
what is
intentionally
seeking to
make them
disciples of
Christ look
like?
Do you
know what
barriers they
face and
what kind of
doubts they
might have?
Are you
speaking Jesus
into those
issues and
their lives?
What is the
next step for
you and
for your
friend in
being a
disciple?
What barrier
is God
calling you
to break
through as
you engage
in this
enormous task
of sharing
Christ with
all the
nations and
people?
We are to
make disciples
by going.
We must
go, make
a move,
reach out to
someone,
whether this
person is in
the other
land,
lives next
door to
us or
is a work
colleague or
someone in
your household
or your
relatives.
Whoever we
are, wherever
we live, we
need to be
ready to go.
Go to the
next bedroom,
go to the
next household
unit, go
around the
corner, go
to the
adjoining
workstation or
as God
calls you,
go to the
other side of
the world.
as we
go, we
are to
bear witness
to the
good news
of Jesus
by word
and deeds.
There's a
very well
produced gospel
material called
Two Ways
to Live.
If you're not
sure how to
tell others
what God
has done
for them,
this is a
very good
material to
pick up and
I have left
a few copies
out there for
you.
And there
will be a
workshop on
how to use
them very
soon as
well.
In terms
of bearing
witness by
our deed,
one thing
that makes
early Christians
stand out
among others
are their
benevolent
works and
their loving
actions towards
each other.
I have
spoken about
what action
to take
last week.
Please go
to our
website or
our app
to review
that sermon
from last
week.
We are to
make disciples
by going and
also to make
disciples by
baptizing.
Baptizing them
in the name
of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy
Spirit is an
outward sign
of the inward
reality,
an act of
initiation and
conversion.
Baptism
breaks through
any language
and cultural
barriers.
baptism
is one of the
most influential
and effective
show and tell
of the
gospel message.
It is such a
great joy to be
part of someone's
initiation into
a lifelong
journey with
God and
pledging our
support and
guidance along
the way.
We are to make
disciples by
going, we are
to make disciples
by baptizing,
and we are to
make disciples of
all nations by
teaching them to
obey everything
that Jesus has
commanded them.
And most
importantly,
we are to
teach, what we
are to teach
is not just
head knowledge.
We are to
teach them to
obey Jesus'
command.
In today's
culture and
setting, we
are all time
poor and
information
overloaded.
People
pursue head
knowledge and
quick results.
We want to be
seen as a well
to do.
And we
are concerned
about FOMO,
fear of
missing out.
It goes
against our
culture to
submit ourselves
to a person
or some
objective truth,
especially when
we uphold
Jesus as the
only way to
be saved and
get back in a
great relationship
with God.
In becoming
a disciple of
Jesus, it
takes time and
commitment when
obedience is
our goal.
And that's
why being a
disciple is a
lifelong journey.
And we need
external help,
the help of the
Holy Spirit to
ourselves to get
us through.
As we teach,
we must make
sure we include
the command in
today's passage
from Matthew 28.
disciples of
Jesus that we
made.
The disciples of
Jesus that we
made ought to make
disciples of all
nations by going,
baptizing in the name of
the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, and
teaching others to
obey everything Jesus
has commanded.
We ought to engage in
mission to make
disciples of Jesus,
whether cross-cultural
or otherwise,
with great
confidence,
because our
confidence comes
not from
ourselves, but
Jesus.
We can entirely
depend on Jesus
for our confidence
because he loves
all people,
even his enemies,
and is regularly
at work,
turning people to
him by his
mighty power.
And Jesus
told his
disciples to make
sure and look
out for one
thing at the end
of today's passage.
At the end of
verse 20,
after he
told them and
teach them to
obey everything
I have commanded
you, and
surely I am
with you always
to the very
end of the
age.
The original
language of
the word
surely have
a force of
making sure of
this.
Behold,
open your
eyes to
see.
Knowing some
of his
disciples
doubted,
Jesus gave
them an
antidote to
their doubt.
He gave
them something
to be sure
of or to
make sure
of.
Some scholars
have read
this sentence
as a promise
that conditioned
whether the
disciples obeyed
Jesus' command
to make
disciples of
all nations.
However,
it's more
appropriate to
look at this
as,
look at the
sentence,
I am
with you
always to
the very
end of
the age
as a
factual
statement.
Jesus
conquers
sin and
death by
becoming
obedient to
death,
even death
on the
cross.
And God
raised him
from death.
God was
pleased at
his
foolish
joy in
Jesus and
through him
to reconcile
to himself
all things,
whether things
on earth
or things
in heaven
by making
peace
through his
blood shed
on the
cross.
And with
all the
authority in
heaven and
on earth
given to
him,
Jesus is
confident
that he
has lost
none of
those the
Father gave
him.
He
has kept
all those
disciples God
called according
to his
purpose to
the end.
To make
disciples of
all nations
is to
confirm and
realize that
Jesus does
have all
the authority
in heaven
and on
earth.
As we
break all
the cultural
and ethnic
barriers to
make disciples
of Jesus,
we will
realize Jesus
is with us
all the
time to
the very
end of
the age.
That no
matter how
we are
failing,
whatever
doubt we
might have,
he will
complete what
he set out
to do.
And what
is being
with Jesus
all the
time to
the very
end of
the age
look like?
It will
be another
mountain top
experience as
proclaimed in
the Old
Testament
passage we
read out
today from
Isaiah 25.
Isaiah 25,
verse 6,
it says,
on this
mountain,
the Lord
Almighty
will prepare
a feast
of rich
fruit for
all peoples,
a banquet
of aged
wine.
He will
destroy the
shroud that
enfold all
peoples,
the sheets
that cover
all nations.
He will
swallow up
death
forever.
The
sovereign
Lord will
wipe out
the tears
from all
faces.
He will
remove his
people's
disgrace from
all the
earth.
The
Lord has
spoken.
All the
time to
the very
end of
the ages,
we'll be
enjoying a
feast of
rich food,
a banquet
of aged
wine,
with all
peoples from
all nations.
Multi-ethic,
multicultural
gathering,
who enjoy
each other's
company,
praising and
worshipping God
with great
multitude that
no one
could count.
From every
nation,
tribe,
people,
and language,
intentionally
careful and
encouraging each
other to
obey Jesus'
teaching and
command as
we gather
regularly in
groups of
various size.
Death has
been swallowed
up forever.
No more
fear of
death.
There will
be no more
tears or
disgrace,
for the
Lord has
spoken,
and his
disciples
proclaim,
surely this
is our
God.
We trust
in him
and he
saved us.
This is
the Lord.
We trust
in him.
Let us
rejoice and
be glad
in his
salvation.
Today,
the now
not-so-young
Asian man
is enjoying
the community
and fellowship
of a
multi-ethic,
multicultural
church in
the lower
north shore
of the
supper of
Chesterwood.
He's
looking forward
to that
great date,
the great
feast that
is promised.
Following his
senior minister
and other
purpose pastor,
he learns to
trust the
Holy Spirit
to encourage
and guide him
through life's
burden and
hardship,
a life full of
temptation to
stop obeying
the cause of
God.
Seeing the
great need
of Jesus
in people
all around
him from
all ages
and backgrounds
and motivated
by the love
of God
shown in
Jesus,
he stepped
out in
faith to
share about
Jesus as
that man
did for
him back
in 1988,
knowing that
God always
had his
work to
this very
day.
That man
is me.
And I
would love
for you
to join
me on
this journey
to follow
Jesus,
to be
sure of
the fact
that Jesus
is with
us always
and we
make disciples
for all
nations by
going,
by baptizing
and teaching
them to
obey everything
that Jesus
has commanded
us to the
very end
of the age.
Amen.