Vince Lombardi, renowned Coach of the Green Bay Packers
Matt. 28:16-20
For Sunday, June 15, 2014
Trinity Sunday
Vince Lombardi was famous for starting every Green Bay Packer season by holding up a football and saying, “Gentleman, this is a football.” The point was to get back to the very basics of the game to provide a sure foundation for everything that would follow. Jesus conversation with his disciples on the mountain of Galilee was his “this is the football” speech.
The text says, “They worshipped him but some doubted.” Jesus wanted them to be crystal clear on who he was, what he was calling them to do, and where he would be while they did it.
Who Jesus was: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Think about this. The one we follow has been invested with all authority, not only on earth but also in heaven. This ought to give us confidence as we represent him to a broken world. We don’t need authority to be conveyed on us by the media, by elites, or by anyone or anything else, for all authority has already been vested in him.
What he was calling them to do: He was calling them (and is calling us) to make disciples. We know this is the focus of v. 28 because in the original language this is the only finite verb in the sentence. The other actions are all subsidiary being denoted as participles (going, baptizing, and teaching). What is a ‘disciple’? A follower. As Christians, at the very foundation, we are followers of Jesus. And we are to make other followers.
But how do we do that? The participles have already made this clear. First, we go to them. This is what Jesus himself did. He went to others and invited them to follow. Second, we baptize them. To baptize to call to a symbolic and public proclamation of burying an old life and rising to a new one. It is to say, “I am all in.” How today’s church desperately needs leaders who will call others to commitment, especially men. Third, we teach them to obey. To teach to obey is not to impart information but rather to train for action. Navy Seals do not sit in a classroom. They train for action; so do Christian disciples.
Where he would be while they did it: Where would Jesus be? What does the text say? “I will be with you.” Now wait a minute. After Jesus ascended doesn’t the Bible say he sat down at the right hand of the Father in heaven? So if he’s there, how can he also be here? He is there in the person of Jesus, yet he is also here, in the person of the Holy Spirit. How easily we allow ourselves discouragement. We say to ourselves, “I can’t really follow Christ wholeheartedly. It’s too hard. It’s too uncomfortable. It’s too inconvenient.” Too hard? Too uncomfortable? Too inconvenient?! With God himself in the person of the Holy Spirit in residence in our own souls?!
Brothers and sisters, this is our mission. Time to get into the game.
