Vocation: The Great Promise

By Rev. William Cwirla

You may have heard Matthew 28:19-20 called the “Great Commission.” It is part of our Lord’s farewell address to the 11 apostles 40 days after Easter. He speaks to them just before He ascends into heaven and establishes the purpose and duties of the apostolic office; namely, to baptize and to teach.

It is the passage Luther uses in the catechism as the Word of God that establishes and defines Baptism. “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” (Matthew 28:19), is the Word of God that is commanded and combined with water. It is the formula for, and the actual words of, Baptism. It is the Word of God that makes Baptism what it is.

But there is more to the verse than Baptism. Verse 20 continues the address with these words, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Disciples are made by God through the baptizing and teaching of the apostles. Luther rightly quotes this as a foundational verse for Baptism. But it is also a foundational verse for preaching and the Ministry.

And still there is more. For the command to go was spoken to the 11 in the midst of a promise. Before issuing the command, He declared: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (verse 18). That is what comes before “therefore.” “Therefore” means “for that reason” or “consequently.” He is saying “Because I have all authority in heaven and on earth, your baptizing will be My baptizing. Your teaching will be My teaching. It will work according to My promise. It will make disciples. I have the authority to send you and I have the authority to make it work, so go.”

In the same way, He wraps up the command with this promise: “Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age” (verse 20). The risen Lord who overcame death and washed them in His blood is removing His visible presence, but He is not leaving them. He is with them always. Their baptizing and preaching work is because He has the authority and is present to make it so.

In the kingdom of heaven, sheep do not reproduce and make more sheep. Neither do the under-shepherds somehow produce them. Sheep are created out of nothing by grace. Even as He called the light to be and it was, so God calls the names of His adopted sons and daughters and they are. The Christian first hears his name, first hears His Shepherd’s voice, in the waters of Holy Baptism. There God gives the Christian His own Name, the Name above all other names, and a disciple is born.

To this day, God carries out His missionary work through His Church. Disciples are made through Baptism and preaching. I suppose you can call Matthew 28:19-20 a commission or a commandment if you want. But I think we should include verse 18 and call the whole thing the “Great Promise,” for lo, He is with us always. The authority and power are His. The mission is His. Our task is nothing more than declaring to the world this reality and hope, extending this holy invitation. God will do the work.

Rev. David Petersen is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.