Matthew 28: 18-20 “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[a] 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.”"

They were commanded to go to all nations in their generation… Jewish fishermen, tax collectors and a killer of tax collectors (Simon the zealot) were to go to every nation. I can’t imagine the feeling these guys had in the pit of their stomach when Jesus was lifted up into heaven after those words. I believe the reason they didn’t go straight back to fishing and hiding behind closed doors is right in the passage. Firstly they realized that their problem was a lack of obedience. Secondly that they didn’t need to worry about tomorrow, Jesus was with them every step of the way. Obedience to the mission without worrying about tomorrow… that’s how amazing things get done. Since the age isn’t over, the promise still stands and that is so encouraging.

(more…)