Jesus’ Last Words
Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:46-53; John 20:21; Acts 1:4-9
Usually a person’s “last words” are very significant. In this message we will take look at the last words Jesus spoke before ascending back to heaven, commonly referred to as “the Great Commission.”
Doctrinally or dispensationally, Christ’s commission to the apostles is different from the commission and ministry of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles (cf. Acts 9:15; 22:15-21; 2 Cor. 10:13-16; Col. 1:25-29 cf. Rom. 11:13; 2 Tim. 1:11).
For example, Jesus said apostolic signs would accompany the preaching of the “eleven” (Mark 16:14-18). These miraculous signs confirmed if a man was truly an apostle (2 Cor. 12:12; Rev. 2:2). They were prevalent in the first part of the book of Acts while the Apostles were mainly dealing with the Jews. But by the end of the Book of Acts, as God turned unto the Gentiles, these “signs” were almost non-existent (cf. 1 Tim. 5:23; 2 Tim. 4:20). The apostolic signs ceased when the last Apostle, John, died.
In Christ’s commission to the disciples, He told them to teach their converts “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:20). That would include foot washing… healing the sick… raising the dead… observing the Passover… offering gifts at the altar, among other things that no Christian is commanded to do under Paul’s ministry.
Also, Jesus commanded the disciples to baptize. But Paul said, “Christ sent me not to baptize” (1 Cor. 1:17). While Paul DID perform baptisms (1 Cor. 1:16), baptism was not part of Paul’s commission.
So, why do we baptized? Because…
- The practice of baptism was established and practiced throughout the book of Acts (Acts 8:12, 36-38; 16:14-15, 32-33; 18:8; 19:1-5).
- Paul, who is our pattern, was baptized (Acts 9) and taught baptism.
- Baptism is commanded in Acts 10:47-48,
However, there are several things we can learn from Christ’s last words that transcend dispensations and applies to us today. WE LEARN…
I. It starts by GOING (Mt. 28:19).
- We go in Christ’s authority(v.18).
- We go in obedience to His command (John 15:16; 20:21).
- We go as His ambassadors (Isa. 6:8-9). This is not just the job of foreign missionaries. It is the responsibility of every Christian as an ambassador of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).
II. It extends GLOBALLY (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8).
A. God so loved the whole world, not just the 4% of the earth’s population that live inside the borders of the USA.
B. Jesus Christ died for the world—that includes people both near and far—Your neighborhood, your workplace, your school, your family, AND those in “the uttermost parts of the earth”—Siberia, Africa, South America, or inhabitants on the Fiji islands.
Partial Sermon: Jesus’ Last Words PDF
