Now the eleven disciples went to
Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw
him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you. And, behold, I am with you to the end of the age” – Matthew
28:16-20, The Holy Bible (English
Standard Version)
At
the heart of a believer’s influence to transform the nations is Jesus’ presence
which is mediated by the Holy Spirit who empowers the believer for witness.
Authority and protocols have their place in a formal relationship but a
personal one requires intimacy. So it is not surprising to find that Jesus
promises His very presence to the eleven on their mission. Since their mission
is to replicate themselves in the lives of others, by extension this means their
mission is also the mission of every disciple. That is, you and me. Jesus had
told His disciples that He is like a vine and they are like its branches so
that apart from Him they can accomplish nothing (John 15:4). He had also told
them that He would not leave them alone as orphans but that He and the Father
would send the Comforter/Counselor / Helper ( literally
The-One-Who-Stands-Beside, paraklētos in the Greek) who would be with them (John
14:12-20). He had even said that they would do greater things than He did
because He was going to return to God the Father in heaven (John 14:12)
referring to the worldwide scope of their ministry as opposed to His ministry
that was restricted to the nation of Israel (Matthew 15:21-28) and the many
powerful miracles the disciples and their followers would perform as recorded
in the Acts of the Apostles. The
secret of their success would be the Helper,
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send and Who would guide them in
all things and bring to remembrance the teachings of Jesus (John 14:25, 26; 1 John
2:26, 27). The Holy Spirit would bear witness about Jesus and, in turn, the
disciples would bear witness about Jesus too (John 15:26, 27). In fact, it was
to their advantage that Jesus should go to the Father because, if Jesus did
not, the Holy Spirit could not come to them because Jesus would not send Holy
Spirit to them (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit’s work as regards the unbelieving
world was to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John
16:8)
It
is small wonder then that Jesus had to emphasize – He actually says “behold” or
“look” in the last sentence Matthew records Him saying – His continued presence
with them. Luke emphasizes that Jesus told His disciples not to depart from
Jerusalem because Jesus was sending them the “Promise of the Father” so that
they could be “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This Promise of
the Father was the baptism in the Holy Spirit that John the Baptizer had spoken
of (Acts 1:4, 5; Matthew 3:11). Specifically, it was the reception of spiritual
power to be global witnesses of Jesus when the Holy Spirit would come upon them
on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:8). And come, He did (Acts 2:1-4). It was on
the Day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they
started witnessing to the greatness of God as they spoke in other languages speaking
of the mighty works of God (Acts 2:5-12). Filled with the Holy Spirit, Apostle
Peter stood up and preached a powerful sermon that day that called people to
repentance, to be baptized in water, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
which he said was promised to all who believe in Jesus (Acts 2:37-40). Whether
one thinks of this empowerment as being evidenced in the charismatic/spiritual
gifts (which I believe) or not, the point here is that the Holy Spirit is the
one who empowers Christians to witness and so influence the nations.
In
this year of influence, may you seek a close walk with Jesus through the Holy
Spirit because Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven but it
is the Holy Spirit who is with us and mediates Jesus’ presence (Acts 2:32, 33)!
May you seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (whether you believe that is evidenced
in charismatic gifts or not) as you influence the nations! May you remember
that the Holy Spirit is your Helper in your mission of influence this year!
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