There are two things in these four commissions that make them alike.  The same two things are in each.  The first thing is this:  they are bidden to “go.”  That ringing word “go ye” is in, each time.  “As the Father hath sent Me even so send I you.”  It is a familiar word to every follower of Jesus then, and now, and always.  A true follower of His always is stirred by a spirit of "go." A going Christian is a growing Christian.  A going church has always been a growing church.  Those ages when the church lost the vision of her Master’s face on Olives, and let other sounds crowd out of her ears the sound of His voice, were stagnant ages.  They are commonly spoken of in history as the dark ages.  “Go” is the ringing keynote of the Christian life, whether in a man or in the church.

The second thing found always in each of these commissions is this:  they were qualified, or empowered to go.  Whom God calls He always qualifies.  Where His voice comes His Spirit breathes.  If there has come to you some bit of a call to service, to teach a class, or write a special letter, or speak a word, or take up something needing to be done.  And you hesitate.  You think that you cannot.  You are not fit, you think, not qualified.  The thing to do is to do it.

If the call is clear go ahead.  Need is one of the strong calling voices of God.  It is always safe to respond.  Put out your foot in the answering swing, even though you cannot see clearly the place to put it down.  God attends to that part.  Power comes as we go.

The Parting Message.

Just now I want to talk with you a bit about the last one of these commissions, the Olivet commission.  I do not know just what day it was given or at what hour.  But I have thought it was in the twilight of a Sabbath evening.  There’s a yellow glow of light filling all the western sky running along the broken line of those hills yonder, and through the trees, and in upon this group of men standing.

Here in full view lies little Bethany fragrant with memories of Jesus’ power.  Over yonder, those tree tops down in a bit of valley with the brook—­that is Gethsemane.  And farther over there is the fortress city of Jerusalem.  And just outside its wall is the bit of a knoll called Calvary.  Here under these trees every night that last week of the tragedy Jesus had slept out in the open, with His seamless coat wrapped about Him.  This is the spot He chooses for the good-by word.  It is full of most precious, fragrant memories.

Here is the man who has been Simon, but out of whom a new man was coming these days, Peter, the man of rock.  And here are John and James, sons of fire and of thunder, sons of their mother.  And there, little Scotch Andrew.  At least our Scotch friends seem to have adopted him as their very own.  And close by his side is his friend with the Greek name, Philip.  And here the man to whom Jesus paid the great tribute of naming him the guileless man.