The Great Commission
Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “Go… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18a, 19a,c
Our God made a promise many centuries before Jesus gave us His Great Commission that helps explain why He commands us to baptize people “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” It was a promise given when God gave His Old Testament people the Law. Moses preserved that promise for us in Exodus: “In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you.” (20:24b)
Our God is a God of great blessing! Those blessings are frequently tied to His name! Consider David’s words: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)
It is not surprising, therefore, that we are commissioned to make disciples and share God’s great blessings with others by baptizing them in our God’s saving name. He promised long ago that when parents bring their children to be baptized in that name, or when adults step forward with their baptismal requests, He will come. The apostle Paul assures us: “The kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) Let us, therefore, make disciples whenever or wherever God gives us the opportunity by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!
Dear heavenly Father, come to us with Your blessing as we baptize others in Your saving name. Amen.