“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15 (NRSVUE)
Commissioning generally means granting authority to an individual or group to carry out a specific task. In the military, a commissioning ceremony recognizes the authority of officers to serve and lead in the armed forces. Engineers, architects, and project managers may be commissioned to undertake specific projects, giving them command and responsibility to complete particular work. As a licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church, I am entrusted by the Bishop with the sacred duties of administering the church's ordinances—baptism and communion—and proclaiming the gospel.
In today's verse, we witness Jesus conferring His divine authority upon His disciples, empowering them to share the good news of God's kingdom with all of creation. In the named Gospels, while the stories of the sending out differ, they all contain instructions on how the disciples are to continue Jesus' mission.
The commissioning stories in Matthew, John, and Luke each highlight unique aspects of the mission and authority given to the disciples. In Matthew, Jesus emphasizes the authority given to him and commands the disciples to make disciples of all nations. In John, Jesus imparts peace and the Holy Spirit, stressing the continuity of the mission as the Father sent him. Luke, continued in Acts, underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the coming of the Holy Spirit, providing the disciples with power from on high. These accounts collectively emphasize the importance of the disciples’ mission and the empowerment provided by Jesus and the Holy Spirit, forming the foundation for the Christian faith’s global outreach.
Matthew says, “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 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (28:18-20)
In John, Jesus says, “‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that, he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’" (20:21-22)
Finally, in Luke, which is continued in Acts with the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus prepares them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (24:46-49)
As modern-day disciples, we are commissioned to continue Jesus' mission, sharing the gospel and living out our faith daily. As the original disciples were empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, we too can draw strength and inspiration from God's presence in our lives. We are sent out to be bold in sharing the message of the good news—our deliverance from sin and death, a gift of God’s grace available to all. May we embrace this divine commission with courage and compassion, remembering that God's promise to be with us always remains true.
Most Gracious God, we thank You for the privilege of being Your disciples and for the divine commission to share the good news of Your kingdom. Empower us with Your Holy Spirit, as You did with the first disciples, to boldly proclaim Your message of love, forgiveness, and salvation. Guide us in our daily lives to be faithful witnesses to Your truth and to live out our faith with courage and compassion. May we always remember Your promise to be with us to the end of the age. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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