The Great Commission - June 1

Read Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflect

According to today’s passage, what mission did Jesus give believers? Is that something you are actively participating in?

Back in 2018, Barna research group conducted a study about Christians engaging in outreach and evangelism. Then, they compared their findings to a previous study done in 1993. In 1993, 89% of US Christians surveyed agreed with this statement: “Every Christian has the responsibility to share their faith.” But in 2018, only 64% of US Christians agreed. That’s a 25-point drop in 25 years.

More recently, Barna published research in 2022 in which 56% of US Christians told them that their spiritual life is entirely private. When asked about barriers to sharing their faith, 24% of US Christians said that no one had suggested discipleship to them and 22% had simply never thought about it.

That is really interesting because when we read today’s passage of Scripture, we see that Jesus Himself told us to make disciples. This is often referred to as “The Great Commission.” According to the dictionary, commission is “an instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people.”

In other words, Jesus wasn’t simply suggesting that we make disciples. He commanded it. It was an imperative statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”. That is our mission! Those are our marching orders from our Commander in Chief!

Jesus gave us this commission after His resurrection, right before He ascended into heaven. In his Gospel account, Mark also recorded the Great Commission: “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16). Mark records that after Jesus gave this command, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. The Great Commission is Jesus’ last recorded words to His disciples—His final instructions!

Thankfully, in today’s passage, Jesus told us how to make disciples. First, we are to go. We are supposed to be out in the world, interacting with people. Some of us make disciples out in our own communities but other believers are called to travel around the world. Second, we are to baptize believers in the name of the Triune God. Finally, we are to teach everything that Jesus taught.

Mark’s account of the Great Commission helps us with what we are supposed to say. We are to proclaim the Gospel to all of creation. That means we are supposed to tell the whole world the Good News which is most simply put by John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

You see, outreach and evangelism isn’t optional. As the Barna survey put it, “Every Christian has the responsibility to share their faith.” As followers of Christ, it’s our most important job. It’s our Great Commission.

Respond

Lord, I want to faithfully obey all of Your commands. I especially want to fulfill my duty to proclaim the Gospel to everyone who will listen. Please give me the wisdom and courage to do my most important job. Amen.

Reveal

Is there a unbeliever in your life that has been on your heart and mind lately? Pray for that person right now, asking God to soften their heart to the Gospel. Then, find a way to share the truth of John 3:16 with them today.