Matthew 28:16–20, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
Thought:
The Great Commission is the end of Matthew’s gospel but it is the beginning of faith in action for all Christians. Jesus did not tell us to build extravagant buildings, gather large crowds, or sing contemporary songs. Jesus gave us one goal: make disciples. Furthermore, he did not say that it is only the job for pastors and missionaries; it is for all who are followers of Jesus.
Just like the commandments were not the “ten suggestions,” the great commission is not just a good idea. J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an English missionary to China who founded the China Inland Mission, which at his death included 205 mission stations with over 800 missionaries and 125,000 Chinese Christians. He said, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed."
Our assignment is to carry out God’s mission, which includes two primary objectives: 1) to spread the gospel to all nations, and 2) to nurture those who receive the gospel so that they grow into spiritual maturity. It is about evangelism and discipleship.
I love being part of a great fellowship called the Assemblies of God. We are committed to the work of missions. In 2000, a vision statement was written that included this passage:
We commit ourselves with an unrelenting passion to the great cause of worldwide missions. The Lord of the harvest clearly spoke to the hearts of our founding fathers that our church shall, without reservation, be of one mind in the task of world missions. We pledge the greatest of all investments—men and women who will take their places in the vast, unreached fields of end-time harvest.
Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to him. It is this authority that sends us and empowers us to carry out God’s mission to the nations, both at home and abroad.
Reflection:
When you leave our times of corporate worship and teaching, how are you investing in others?
Is the Great Commission a part of how you conduct your life? If not, how can you incorporate the commissioning of Jesus into your lifestyle?
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