LESSON 10 THE GREATEST PROJECT OF HISTORY

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1 LESSON 10 THE GREATEST PROJECT OF HISTORY "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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. " (Matthew 28:18-20) 55

2 LESSON 10. THE GREATEST PROJECT IN HISTORY CONCEPT OF THE PICTURE 1. Four people playing trumpets The Great Commission is indicated in 4 places. 2. Crown on Earth The Great Commission is ensured by the authority of Jesus Christ. 3. Fire above 4 people The power of the Great Commission is the Holy Spirit trumpets The contents of the Great Commission are expressed with 4 verbs. ( 1)First trumpet go ( 2)Second trumpet baptize ( 3)Third trumpet teach ( 4)Fourth trumpet make disciples 5. 5 planets surrounding Earth The Great Commission has 5 motives. ( 1)Person in prison Humanity is facing demise. ( 2)Zacchaeus We are indebted. ( 3)Prodigal son The love of Christ is coming. ( 4)Centurion It is Christ s command. ( 5)People looking at sky Christ s Second Coming is near. 56

3 LESSON 10. THE GREATEST PROJECT IN HISTORY INTRODUCTION Human history has seen a number of people and nations that held the vision of world domination, i.e. Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Mongols, Napoleon, and Hitler. In Japanese history, Hideyasu Toyotomi, Ieyasu Tokugawa, and modern Japan between the Meiji and Showa eras are great examples. All of their attempts, however, ended in failure. Today, corporations aim for world domination through economic advancement. Jesus Christ s project (the Great Commission) is greater than any person or nation we ve mentioned in its scale, motive, and influence. 1. The Great Commission is recorded in 4 places. The resurrected Christ appeared in front of his disciples for forty days to teach and guide them. The focus of his teaching was the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3) He gave the Great Commission to his disciples as He rose to heaven so that they can bring the kingdom of God to the world. This incident is recorded in 4 different places in the Bible. By Matthew (Matthew 28:18-20) By Mark (Mark 16:15-18) By Luke (Acts 1:8) By John (John 20:21-23) 2. The Great Commission is ensured by the authority of Jesus Christ. In order for a project of this magnitude to succeed, it must have a guarantee. Is it: Money? People? Organization? 57

4 The Disciples had none of those. Their guarantee was Jesus Christ s authority. He gave the Great Commission to his disciples as He rose to heaven so that they can bring the kingdom of God to the world. This incident is recorded in 4 different places in the Bible. "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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. " (Matthew 28:18-20) Reference Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 2:15, 1 Corinthian 15:55-56, Ephesians 1:21~23, Revelation 15:3~4 3. The power of the Great Commission is the Holy Spirit. The Disciples spent a total of three and a half years with Jesus Christ, and also became witnesses to His death on the Cross and his resurrection. But that wasn t enough for them to be witnesses to Christ. They required the help of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4) If those who lived in the first days of the church required the power of the Holy Spirit for evangelism, then how much more do us modern people need the help of the Holy Spirit? 4. The contents of the Great Commission are expressed with 4 verbs. If we consider the contents with a focus on Matthew 28:18~20, the purpose and the method of the project planned by Jesus Christ himself becomes clearer. (1)Go It does not mean going to a specific destination. The Disciples were broken up by persecution. (Acts 8:4, 11:19-21) You must be the Lord s witness no matter where you go. Evangelism through existence. 58

5 (2)Baptize Baptism with water is the representation of spiritual union with Christ. Baptism occurs only once. (3)Teach To teach is an act that is repeated. Teach the Great Commission of Christ. Teach all, rather than choosing what to teach. (4)Make disciples The only command in the 4 verbs. A keyword in the Great Commission. Jesus method: discipleship. Paul s method: discipleship. "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Timothy 2:2) Paul Timothy reliable people Other people (parent) (child) (grandchild) (great-grandchild) 5. The Great Commission has 5 motives. The greatest project in history differs from every other project in its motives. The Church is the only organization that, with a clear motive and without personal gain, tries to spread the kingdom of God. (1)Humanity is facing demise. If we knew that a person directly in front of us was about to face his demise, what sort of actions would we take? Alfred Russel Stone (aged 25 at the time), who, in a shipwreck in Japan in 1954, was martyred because he gave his life preserver to a stranger, continues to bring inspiration to many even today. (2)We are indebted. "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-greeks, both to the wise and the foolish." (Romans 1:14) "For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16) 59

6 "Then they said to each other, What we re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let s go at once and report this to the royal palace. " (2 Kings 7:9) (3)The love of Christ is compelling. "For Christ s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) (4)It is Christ s command. "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, Go, and he goes; and that one, Come, and he comes. I say to my servant, Do this, and he does it." (Matthew 8:9) (5)Christ s second coming is near. The reality of the end of the world is being felt on a global scale. In 1743, when King George II first heard Handel s Messiah, he stood up during the chorus and said how could I remain seated in front of the King of Kings. The day when people will sing the great choir in front of the King of Kings will surely come. Are you ready? 60