{"id":6897,"date":"2026-04-19T16:53:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T22:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmccnow.com\/cms\/?p=6897"},"modified":"2026-04-22T17:01:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T23:01:46","slug":"following-king-jesus-the-important-parting-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmccnow.com\/cms\/following-king-jesus-the-important-parting-words\/","title":{"rendered":"Following King Jesus: The Important Parting Words"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>I remember watching a tv series that came to a cliff-hanger at the end of the season. Cliff-hangers are a great tool to keep you interested in the new season. Unfortunately for that series, the new season never happened. Filming was interrupted, probably by Covid, and by the time everyone could get back to filming, all the actors had committed to other projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t remember much about the series now, but I do remember the strong disappointment in knowing that we\u2019ll never know what happens next!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-79b4f84f\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-93b8059d\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-93b8059d videoandaudio\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Video:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Following Jesus: Parting Words\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1182424660?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The above is for the message only. You can watch the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iBsuEGpWbzM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">entire April 19, 2026 service here on Youtube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-486956ef\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-486956ef videoandaudio\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audio only<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/sermons.logos.com\/embed\/sermons\/1754059\" width=\"600\" height=\"392\"><\/iframe>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A fitting End<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is our series on Matthew is drawing to a close and there is no cliff-hanger. In fact, Matthew wraps up his gospel very neatly with a very clear imperative from Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve been looking at Matthew through a very particular lens this time. We\u2019ve been looking at with this view of what does this mean about how to follow Jesus?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we look at His parting words, we see a very clear message about what Jesus asks of us as followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.<strong> <\/strong>When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, \u201cAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The importance of the Kingdom narrative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We started this series by looking at the coming of the promised King. God had promised for centuries that He would send a Messiah, a King descended from the line of David, to restore His people. Jesus began His ministry by announcing the Kingdom was near.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kingdom narrative really plays out in Easter week. By riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus acknowledges He is that promised king. His Triumphal Entry can be seen as a march on Jerusalem, where He would begin the process of establishing His kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That narrative continues into Holy Week. Jesus wrangles with religious leaders, then is put to death. He fights the battle for His Kingdom through humility, suffering, and death. And then with Easter, the tomb is empty! The last enemy to be defeated was death, and coming out of that victory Jesus announces in our passage that all authority and power in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A narrative of liberation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand the Kingdom narrative further, pay attention to what Paul says about the Kingdom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. <\/p>\n<cite>Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This wasn\u2019t just Jesus making Himself King. He established His Kingdom to liberate people from the realm of darkness and bring them into a Kingdom of life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most, if not all, of Jesus\u2019s followers were confused about this. They expected a physical Kingdom. However, Rome was never the enemy. Death and hell have always been the enemy and Jesus fought a war of liberation to set people free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A narrative of urgency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul continues his thoughts in Colossians:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. <\/p>\n<cite>Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul saw his mission as rescuing as many as possible from the kingdom of darkness. In fact he says he\u2019s not there just to rescue but to present everyone perfect or mature in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul\u2019s mission sounds an awful lot like something else we just looked at: Make disciples.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A narrative of authority<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Going back to the Great Commission, notice how Jesus prefaces everything? I have all authority and power, both in heaven and on earth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s in light of this authority that He calls His followers to make disciples.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve won the victory. I\u2019ve established my Kingdom, and I\u2019ve defeated death and hell and have set the captives free. In light of this, you must make disciples.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Could there be any more weight given to a command? Could Jesus have added any more authority to what He asks of His followers? I don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Making disciples, not converts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus didn\u2019t say make converts. He didn\u2019t tell people to grow their local congregations. He never asked to bring people into a new religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus commanded us to make disciples. This is the goal He wants us to strive for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve looked before at how Jesus provided a definition of discipleship when he called Simon and Andrew:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cFollow me\u2026\u201d That speaks for itself: Follow Jesus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c&#8230;and I will make you\u2026\u201d Jesus will make us into who we need to be. Be transformed by Jesus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c&#8230;fishers of men.\u201d\u00a0 He asks us to be committed to the mission of Jesus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Following Jesus. Transformed by Jesus. Committed to the mission of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That sounds a lot like being presented perfect or mature in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kingdom narrative and the importance of discipleship<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why is Jesus so adamant? Why does he demand discipleship, not simply mental assent?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It goes back to the Kingdom narrative. Because the stakes are so high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People are lost in darkness. People are oppressed and enslaved. This is a battle of liberation, and when you go into battle, you don\u2019t go in untrained, unarmed, and unprepared.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We cannot do this casually. This is all or nothing and when the stakes are that high, can we do anything less than go all in on making disciples and preparing them to join the mission of Jesus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Our number one priority as a church should be to lead people to following Jesus, bring them into a relationship that transforms them, and prepare them to join the mission of Jesus. In other words, it\u2019s to make disciples.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s it. Nothing else is remotely close to that. Everything else is just window dressing. If we are not making disciples, we are failing in our mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no easy way to put that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are we making disciples?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We should constantly ask that question. Who are the disciples we\u2019ve made recently? How have we helped prepare people for the mission of following Jesus? As a neighborhood church, have we made disciples from within the neighborhood?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those are hard questions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our series we\u2019ve asked about what Jesus taught, said and did. Have we considered the one thing that Jesus did above all else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He made disciples. He focused most of His time relationally bringing His followers to a place where they were ready to take on the reigns when He was gone. Do we want to follow Jesus? That involves making disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How did He make disciples? He did it through relationships. We might be afraid we can\u2019t learn the strategies and say the right thing, but one thing we CAN do is form relationships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s one last point when we feel like we\u2019re in over our head. I believe there\u2019s another reason he emphasized His power and authority. If He has all that power and authority, it means he can equip us to do what He calls us to do (remember that part about \u201cI will make you into fishers of men?\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The stakes are so high that we cannot do this casually. But in the big climax where Jesus conquered death and hell and put Himself in the position of all power and authority, do you think those parting words of his mean anything?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make disciples.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I remember watching a tv series that came to a cliff-hanger at the end of the season. Cliff-hangers are a great tool to keep you interested in the new season. Unfortunately for that series, the new season never happened. Filming was interrupted, probably by Covid, and by the time everyone could get back to filming, &#8230; <a title=\"Following King Jesus: The Important Parting Words\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/gmccnow.com\/cms\/following-king-jesus-the-important-parting-words\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Following King Jesus: The Important Parting Words\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6894,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[191],"tags":[130],"class_list":["post-6897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-following-jesus","tag-matthew-28","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Following King Jesus: The Important Parting Words - Green Mountain Christian Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"April 19, 2026. 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