Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project® for Kids. This week, we will learn about Jesus giving the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:15-16.
After Jesus’
death and resurrection, He appeared to His disciples over a 40 day period. At
one point, He appeared to over 500 disciples. Then He appeared to James, His
half-brother, and the rest of the apostles. (1 Cor. 15:5-7) During that time,
Jesus taught them about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3) Some disciples wondered
if Jesus was going to restore the kingdom of Israel. (Acts 1:6)
But Jesus and
the Father had another plan for the disciples. Jesus directed the Eleven to go
to a mountain, where He appeared to them again. When Jesus appeared, they
worshiped Him, but some still doubted. (Matt. 28:17) Before we condemn the
disciples who doubted, remember they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.
(Luke 24:49) Without the Holy Spirit, the message of the cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing. (1 Cor. 1:18)
On the mountain,
Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission. First, Jesus stated that all
authority had been given to Him. Before the resurrection, Jesus had authority
as God the Son. Through the resurrection, however, the Father gave Jesus far
more than even Satan had promised. (Matt. 4:8-9) Through Jesus’ death and
resurrection, God subjected everything to His beloved Son. (See Heb. 2:5-9.)
Jesus commanded
His disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel, the good news about
Him. The Great Commission is not just for missionaries far from home. All
believers are called to share the gospel with others, to teach them to obey
God’s commands, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. Jesus finishes His commission with a profound promise: “And remember, I
am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
The good news
about what Jesus has done to rescue us from our sins is too great to keep to
ourselves. Before Jesus went back to heaven, He gave the disciples a job to do.
Jesus wants His followers to teach people everywhere about Jesus so they will
trust in Him as their Lord and Savior.
Reinforce
learning with the following activity:
Make a list as a
family of all the things you like to talk about with family or friends. Beside
that list, make a list of the people you see often that you talk with or could
talk with. Read Matthew 28:16-20. Discuss how you might talk about Jesus with
the people on your list.
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