The Great Commission
The Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 is sometimes called the marching orders of the New Testament Church. Its initial fulfillment can be seen in the Acts of the Apostles recorded by the Gospel writer Luke.
Its ultimate fulfillment is being completed by the Holy Spirit through the acts of the disciples ever since – and you as a believer in Jesus are part of the “apostolic train” picking up fellow passengers on the way to our ultimate destination of the new Heaven and new Earth.
Matthew 28:19
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.
~ Jesus
Pondering Point
The life of Jesus is a clear display of one fulfilling the call to ‘go and make disciples’, a command He received from His Father.
The Bible describes the Father as giving individuals to Jesus and then Jesus shaping them as disciples (John 17:6-8). When we consider the life of Jesus from our perspective, He “comes” to earth. But from Heaven’s standpoint, Jesus is one who “goes” and makes disciples; He then asks those same disciples to make more disciples in His name (and in His Father’s name).
Does this make you wonder which people God has placed in your world for the purpose of getting instructions on being followers of Jesus? He did say, “Go and make disciples of all nations…”
Matthew 28:19
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
Footnotes:
[a] John 17:6 Greek: "your name"
Prayer
Lord Jesus, after you discipled those given to you by God, you commanded them to do the same for others. Help me learn to effectively disciple those whom Father God has placed in and around my world. Amen.