Shortchanged (Matthrew 28:16-20)
Listen.May 18th, 2008
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
It’s confession time! I must confess that I am rather numbers challenged. I have difficulty with numbers especially in such places as restaurants where I have to leave a tip for the wait staff. It takes me several minutes to determine the exact amount of the gratuity because dealing with percentages is cumbersome for me. However, I discovered something that is really useful to me in those situations; it’s called my cell phone! In fact, my phone has a built in tip calculator program. I can punch in the total of the bill and then the percentage of tip I want to leave and can even split the bill with others in my party. It’s a great invention for me. Of course, it only took me just shy of two years to discover this little feature.
Another place I have difficulty with numbers is when I receive change at the store. Giving change is easy if you have the right cash register that tells you, but I often receive change and fail to count it. Every once in a while I’m shortchanged in the process.
Today is Trinity Sunday. This is the only day in the church liturgical year that emphasizes a doctrinal concept rather than an event in the life of Jesus or the life of the church. It is not a day for the numerically challenged as we highlight the concept that our God is one God but revealed in three persons; the three in one! We do the math in trying to figure this out: 1+1+1 = 3 but then 1x1x1 = 1. Beyond that my head begins to spin. Yet, in our passage we shortchange ourselves if we ignore one aspect of the Trinity in favor of another, or if we fail to hear the Great Commission to which Jesus calls us. This morning we want to recognize the power and authority of the Trinity in all of God’s fullness and to respond with the fullness of our lives as Jesus’ disciples.
The Great Commission
As our passage opens today, we discover that the 11 disciples of Jesus, the inner core, have gone to a mountain in Galilee. Jesus had told the women on that Easter morning to tall the disciples that he would meet them in Galilee. The disciples did as Jesus directed them through the women of the group!
We note that there are only 11 disciples, again with the numbers. But this reminds us that Judas is no longer with the group having betrayed Jesus. It was also before the election of Matthias to take Judas’ place in the inner circle. I find it also very interesting that Matthew is a realist. He tells us that even as the disciples worshipped Jesus when they saw him, some still doubted. Faith is not always certain. There is often time of doubt as well as times of a deep certainty of faith. Yet, they were in Galilee, a place of refuge for Jesus in his earthly ministry and for the disciples. They would often return to Galilee when things were difficult for Jesus.
As they climbed up the mountain, or hill, they would perhaps remember some significant events in Jesus’ life that related to mountains. The first thought is that this mountain would remind them of Jesus’ third temptation by the devil when he took Jesus up on a mountain to show him all the kingdoms of the world only now Jesus truly says that he has all authority and power as part of the Trinity.
The second association is that of the Sermon on the Mount. When Jesus called his disciples around him and taught them about the Kingdom of the Heavens. Now the mission is for the disciples to continue teaching new disciples to obey what the Lord had taught in that sermon.
The third association with the mountain is the transfiguration of Jesus when he was transformed in appearance before Peter, James and John. His appearance reflected heavenly glory and now he appears to the 11 following his resurrection. Mountains were certainly places for revelation and the manifestation of the presence of God.
On this mountain in Galilee Jesus gives his disciples their marching orders. They are to go out and to make disciples of all nations – a universal aspect in this mandate. They were to do that by baptizing people into the family of faith using the powerful name of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But that wasn’t all. They were to teach the new converts using the same message that Jesus used in his sermon on the mount. They were to call these new disciples to lives of obedience and dedication to the Christ. Then these new disciples would go out and make new disciples who would make new disciples and so on.
Jesus’ presence, God’s presence would be with them always. The power was there. As they taught they called for obedient, dedicated, disciples. Anything less would have been to shortchange the new believers. For to be filled with the power of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit is amazing if a person truly contemplates the dwelling of God within a person.
Shortchanged
On this Trinity Sunday we are challenged, not simply to get our minds around the math of the Trinitarian formula, but to begin to understand the significance of God’s revelation as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father and the work of creation, the Son and his work of redemption and the Holy Spirit and his work of sanctification (making us holy and acceptable to God) is a revelation that needs to be emphasized without leave out a part of God’s revelation.
Often in churches, one aspect of the Godhead is emphasized over another: for example in traditional mainline churches, we have done well with the concept of God the creator and with Jesus the redeemer, but have not often emphasized the Holy Spirit and the spiritual aspects of our faith. In so doing we have shortchanged ourselves. We have often failed to experience the fullness of the Spirit in our lives.
So, part of the teaching moment this morning is to call each one of us to acknowledge the concept of the trinity and to allow the wholeness of God to touch our lives. Where that is missing, I pray that we confess our shallowness and our lack of understanding and allow God to fill our heart and our lives. And then move us into mission – sharing God’s words and love with others.
We need to be careful that we do not simply pick or choose our favorite aspect of God’s revelation. “I love creation and so I can just go out and worship God in his creation.” That doesn’t say anything about the rest of the Trinity. “I love Jesus – it’s me and him walking hand in hand through this world and into the next.” How selfish is that picture? Or “I am just so filled with the spirit but I wonder why you aren’t?” Emphasizing one aspect does injustice to God and shortchanges what could be fullness of life in a believer.
We are baptized in the name of the Trinity – Trinity signifies community. Our faith is not lived in isolation but in community. When people are baptized they become part of the family of God. Once in, they are taught the commands and teaching of God in Christ Jesus. And the mission for those first disciples continues – it is our mission, too.
Get a mission
When thinking about the Great Commission, it is interesting to note that the disciples were not called to proclaim “the gospel” or for the “repentance of sins.” They are not to be witnesses to the resurrection, rather they are sent to teach people. The teaching is not mentioned before the baptism as one would suspect, but rather the teaching begins following baptism. Believers become part of Jesus’ school. This was so important in Matthew’s day, and still is for us in the church today. We are baptized, become part of the family and then we go to Jesus’ school; disciples are learners. Notice that when Jesus called his disciples they first responded to the call and then he taught them.
The teaching is described as obedience. We are to know what Jesus taught and share that with others. The fellowship expands. Do we know what Jesus taught? Are we familiar with scripture so that we can then teach others? We are called to be disciples who make disciples who make disciples and so on; this is our command.
The disciples on this mountain in Galilee numbered 11. There ranks were declining. Just imagine if they continued at that rate, perhaps the church would be over in 11 weeks. Jesus didn’t tell them to go out and begin new programs, have more pot-lucks or self-study and improvement circles. They were to go out and to baptize and teach. And they did. The power came from on high and moved them to share the fullness of the word and people were touched to the heart and became followers.
Tom Bandy, church growth expert, says that many people lament that their church numbers are declining. He said there is only one thing that can turn around a declining church: “Get a Mission.” Our mission is to make disciples; to baptize, to teach, to obey and to follow the one who brings fullness and joy into people’s lives; the one who provides his people with all eternity; the one whose presence is with us forever. How exciting is that to share and to teach?
Someone once said that without enthusiasm we are doomed to a life of mediocrity, but with it miracles happen. The disciples went from the mountain into a mission filled with excitement and enthusiasm and they changed the world.
Conclusion
We live by numbers, don’t we? I have a social security number, a house number, a zip code, a zip code plus four, credit card number, pin number and a cell phone number that I can hardly remember. In the midst of all the numbers comes the one number that is above all; the three in one. One God revealed in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Knowing of God’s power and presence in our lives guiding us, directing us, teaching us, inspiring us to lives that are lived for his glory and in a mission that is eternal in scope makes all the difference in living a mundane life and one filled with enthusiasm for the kingdom of God. Trinity Sunday may be focused on a doctrine but it comes alive in the hearts and lives of the disciples including you and me. To God b the glory! Amen.