The Lukan Commission is quite different from the Matthean Commission (which is usually the one we think of when we think of the Great Commission). This series of posts is intended to help broaden our understanding of what Jesus wants us to do with our time, our talents, our resources, and our passions. Jesus gives His disciples a purpose. The Matthean Commission is extremely important and should not be diminished by this series of posts, but the other commissionings of Jesus are equally informative and important and help us to have a more robust understanding of our role in God’s plan.
Luke 24:44-49
Then He told them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
Context: This commissioning took place on the same day as the resurrection and it happened in Jerusalem with the 11 “and those with them” including Cleopas and his friend who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. When Jesus appeared in the room they were startled and thought He was a ghost. So He confirms His humanity by asking for some food. He also confirms that the cross wasn’t an illusion by showing them His scars.
Here are a few insights from this passage:
- Jesus first says that everything that has happened is a fulfillment of prophecy.
- He opens their minds to understand the Scriptures. By doing this, Jesus is confirming the role of Scripture in the life of the disciple. (Note: The Matthean Commission also points us to Scripture when it says we are to teach disciples “to observe everything I have commanded you”.)
- Jesus’ teachings are then summarized by Luke: “This is what was written…” 1) The Messiah would suffer, die, and rise in three days (meaning that a child of God cannot deny the resurrection of Jesus). 2) Jesus’ death and resurrection accomplishes forgiveness to those who repent (meaning that a child of God is one who has repented from sin and has received forgiveness from God). 3) This repentance and forgiveness are to be extended to all nations beginning in Jerusalem.
- There is no command here, just a simple statement that “You are witnesses of these things.” You can’t be a witness of these things and not experience transformation. Unlike the Matthean Commission, the Lukan Commission focuses on who we are as a result of walking with Jesus. There’s no need to remind them, at this point, of what they should be doing, instead, there is simply a reminder of who they are: witnesses.
- To those who are witnesses of these things, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit because He promised to do so. Meanwhile, the disciples are to “stay” in the city until they are empowered from on high. In our hurry to “go”, Luke emphasizes Jesus’ command to “stay” and wait on the Spirit. In fact, “stay” is the only imperative in this passage. This staying resulted in the Day of Pentecost when they were truly empowered to be witnesses. In other words, it’s not enough to just be a spectator, we also need God’s Spirit to give us words to say, to draw people to Himself, and even to give us opportunities to “bear witness” to that of which we are witnesses.
Conclusions: One of the intriguing things about Jesus’ mission and the subsequent commissioning of His disciples is that his birth, life, death, and resurrection were all the fulfillment of prophecy. But until it actually happened with witnesses, it was only a future hope. The resurrection inaugurated an “already but not yet” era that would be corroborated by His witnesses. That present reality still exists today by those of us who are also witnesses and disciples of Jesus.
What insights have you gleaned about the mission Jesus has called us to from Luke 24:44-49?