The Great Commission

Binhi sang Pagtuo

May 17, 2010

Dear Centralians and Friends,

Greetings from the campus!

Yesterday, the Christian church celebrated the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He left an imperative command to His gathered disciples. This command is now famously called, “The Great Commission.”

I once heard a sermon illustration that is about a gathering of ministers in a mission conference under the theme “The Great Commission.” On their opening celebration, a wind passed by and the letter “C” in the cutout letters fell off. Although the spelling is wrong, the congregation understood the message – the Great Commission has oftentimes become the Great Omission.

What is the message of the Great Commission for us?

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This is a very revolutionary statement from Jesus. The emperor of Rome during the time of Jesus was the one considered to be the authority under heaven and on earth. By declaring this statement, Jesus has declared that nobody should usurp the authority of God, and that His disciples must be courageous enough to stand on this declaration. True enough, the disciples of stood on their faith and were martyred because of it.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus is expecting us to be this kind of example: “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, and pick up his cross. Any of you who do not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Paul reminds us the meaning of baptism – we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during immersion and rising up from the water.

“And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Let me refer you to Matthew 5 to 7 for the commands of Jesus. These chapters are a constant source of reminder of what Jesus demands of us.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In doing the mission that Jesus has commanded us to do, He promised to be with us. We can just imagine the comfort of these words during the times of persecution in the early church. This promise continues to be true until today.

Happy Ascension celebration!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Assistant Chaplain