2016 - The Year of Influence

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)

Have you ever had that awkward moment when you meet a person who tells you that you were in the same class in primary or high school and you didn’t have the foggiest idea who they were? It’s always kind of embarrassing especially when they seem to know you more than you do them. Fret no more. The truth of the matter is that it may not be your fault. Some people are just so forgettable. They are neither scandalous enough to cause you to notice them nor are they geniuses enough to make you not forget them. They just coast through life. They are forgettable. They are simply not influential.

That’s not supposed to be the case for the believer in Jesus Christ though. Because, according to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus’ universal authority has granted the believer influence to transform the nations, not just their classmates. How does that happen? The text points us to the fact that this comes about by Jesus’ power, Jesus’ protocols, & Jesus’ presence.  In this post, I will deal with the first fact and follow up on the other two with corresponding posts in the days to come.

Jesus’ universal authority has granted the believer influence to transform the nations through His power and this is seen in the setting of the text, the addressees in the text, and the declaration in the text. Our passage is situated right at the end Matthew’s eyewitness account of Jesus’ life on earth. In fact, these are the very last words of Jesus as far as Matthew is concerned so they a very important meaning for Matthew, his original audience, and those of us who believe in Christ today. These words are so crucial to Matthew that he sets the scenery on top of an unnamed mountain back in Jesus’ home area of Galilee. Bear in mind here that in the Bible mountains are places of God-encounters. For example, it was at Mount Sinai that Moses received the law from God; it was on Mount Carmel that Elijah prayed to God for it rain again after three-and-a-half years. And so this is tantamount to an encounter with God Himself. So before Jesus opens His mouth to declare His authority, Matthew the author has already given us pointers as to who we are dealing with, God Himself.

The people addressed in the text are the 11 disciples. They were originally 12 disciples to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel, God’s chosen people through whom He would work out His purposes in saving the world. In choosing the 12, Jesus was definitely making the unmistakable point, from a Jewish perspective, that He was the promised Messiah through whom God’s promises of salvation would be worked out. Jesus had sent these 12 on an exclusive mission to the house of Israel with strict instructions not to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5, 6). He Himself had told a Canaanite woman who came asking for healing for her child that His ministry was to the house of Israel though He was impressed by her faith and proceeded to heal the child (Matthew 15:21-28). But with His resurrection from the dead, a new era has dawned in which His disciples are not just the chosen 12 or Israel but the 11 whose mission is going to extend beyond Israel to the ends of the world (Matthew 28:20). In other words, what is being addressed to the 11 is being addressed to all that will believe the message of the 11. The 11 symbolize all believers in Jesus’ name, Jew and Gentile.

Finally, there is the declaration of the resurrected Jesus’ universal authority. Having tacitly made His point about His power by the very location of His commission, Jesus goes on to declare what His death and resurrection have brought about: “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. He was resurrected by the “immeasurable greatness of His [God the Father’s] power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him as His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:14-21). He has all the power.

 

Because Jesus has all authority, those that believe in Him also share in that authority. It is authority to touch nations for the Gospel as His mandate to go to all the nations is clear in the Great Commission. May you remember that you are part of a very powerful kingdom whose King has all authority in heaven and on earth! May you know that your destiny is one of kingdom influence in the earth! May you make 2016 the Year of Influence!