Following In His Steps
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matt. 28:18-20)
The resurrection of Jesus is surely the greatest feat ever accomplished by any man at any time in our world. He told His disciples ahead of time that He must suffer and die and be crucified but that He would also be raised from the dead. He said it. He did it! We benefit from it!
For the next 40 days, Jesus would appear and disappear as He would show Himself alive "by many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3). This began a transition of Jesus doing the final preparations with His disciples before ascending into heaven and showing them that they would need to follow in His steps by obeying all His teachings and trusting and depending upon the Holy Spirit from this time forward. They once followed Jesus in the flesh by going wherever He walked. Now they would follow Jesus by the Spirit dwelling inside of them.
The Apostle Paul said, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). And the Elder ApostleJohn put it this way, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (1 John 2:6).
Jesus knew that the disciples needed to behold Him as One who conquered death in bodily resurrection but He also knew how each of them needed some more personal ministry. Jesus always knows what each of His disciples personally need. He knew it then. He knows it now and He is ready to work in each of our lives from one day to the next.
Jesus fulfilled all that the Father had given Him to do but He had some unsettled business with some of His disciples to get them ready before giving them their final commission.
To Mary... Jesus REDIRECTS her and us to be on Mission.
He tells her to tell others what she knows of Him and to not cling to the old way of doing things.
John 20:17 - “Don’t cling to me…but go to My brethren…"
To Thomas... Jesus REVIVES him and us to be Believing.
He re-builds up his faith by addressing his doubts and to believe even when we don't see.
John 20:27 - “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but BELIEVING.”
To Peter... Jesus RESTORES him and us to live a life of Serving Others.
He forgives him after his personal denial and reminds him He lives in others.
John 21:15-17 - “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?
“...FEED My lambs..TEND My sheep...FEED My sheep.”
The reality of it all is that no one who thought they were qualified would be qualified...BUT those who knew that were not qualified were the ones qualified. Jesus desired His followers to put no confidence in the flesh but to be fully dependent on Him as they would continue His ministry in the supply and power of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle John said, "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." (1 John 2:27)
In order to make disciples everywhere, they had to be disciples first. They were to be just like their teacher and learn to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him and [His teachings]. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (Luke 9:23-24)
They were to fulfill what was given to the first man and woman who were commanded to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28. However, this time it was to "be fruitful", bearing the fruit of the Spirit and to "multiply....disciples". When there is an inner spring of life, we can produce godly offspring in the world...until we see ALL OF JESUS FOR ALL THE WORLD!"
Finally brethren, remember the three "ALLs" in the Great Commission:
When these three are put together in one, we will see the purpose of the mission:
God desires to expand His Kingdom reign...In every tribe, people, tongue, and nation...until Christ is seen in full exaltation!
This is our Mission Possible! Let's get to it church!
For...“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37).
The resurrection of Jesus is surely the greatest feat ever accomplished by any man at any time in our world. He told His disciples ahead of time that He must suffer and die and be crucified but that He would also be raised from the dead. He said it. He did it! We benefit from it!
For the next 40 days, Jesus would appear and disappear as He would show Himself alive "by many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3). This began a transition of Jesus doing the final preparations with His disciples before ascending into heaven and showing them that they would need to follow in His steps by obeying all His teachings and trusting and depending upon the Holy Spirit from this time forward. They once followed Jesus in the flesh by going wherever He walked. Now they would follow Jesus by the Spirit dwelling inside of them.
The Apostle Paul said, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). And the Elder ApostleJohn put it this way, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (1 John 2:6).
Jesus knew that the disciples needed to behold Him as One who conquered death in bodily resurrection but He also knew how each of them needed some more personal ministry. Jesus always knows what each of His disciples personally need. He knew it then. He knows it now and He is ready to work in each of our lives from one day to the next.
Jesus fulfilled all that the Father had given Him to do but He had some unsettled business with some of His disciples to get them ready before giving them their final commission.
To Mary... Jesus REDIRECTS her and us to be on Mission.
He tells her to tell others what she knows of Him and to not cling to the old way of doing things.
John 20:17 - “Don’t cling to me…but go to My brethren…"
To Thomas... Jesus REVIVES him and us to be Believing.
He re-builds up his faith by addressing his doubts and to believe even when we don't see.
John 20:27 - “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but BELIEVING.”
To Peter... Jesus RESTORES him and us to live a life of Serving Others.
He forgives him after his personal denial and reminds him He lives in others.
John 21:15-17 - “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?
“...FEED My lambs..TEND My sheep...FEED My sheep.”
The reality of it all is that no one who thought they were qualified would be qualified...BUT those who knew that were not qualified were the ones qualified. Jesus desired His followers to put no confidence in the flesh but to be fully dependent on Him as they would continue His ministry in the supply and power of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle John said, "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." (1 John 2:27)
In order to make disciples everywhere, they had to be disciples first. They were to be just like their teacher and learn to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him and [His teachings]. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (Luke 9:23-24)
They were to fulfill what was given to the first man and woman who were commanded to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28. However, this time it was to "be fruitful", bearing the fruit of the Spirit and to "multiply....disciples". When there is an inner spring of life, we can produce godly offspring in the world...until we see ALL OF JESUS FOR ALL THE WORLD!"
Finally brethren, remember the three "ALLs" in the Great Commission:
- ALL Authority
- ALL Nations
- ALL Teachings
When these three are put together in one, we will see the purpose of the mission:
God desires to expand His Kingdom reign...In every tribe, people, tongue, and nation...until Christ is seen in full exaltation!
This is our Mission Possible! Let's get to it church!
For...“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37).
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