Method of the Great Commission: A Comprehensive Approach
- Rev. Dr. Vivek A Gundimi
Introduction: The Gospel of Matthew ends with a responsibility that the resurrected Jesus gives to his disciples - called the Great Commission. And because of this - a small band of followers would spread around the globe.
You see the Jews who had killed Jesus were equally ready to do away with His disciples now. And the Roman empire on the other hand was a strict regime that didn't like people causing any problems. And it was into this world, that Jesus commissioned his disciples to talk about the new life to conquer sinful nature and to be fruitful. Their commission was difficult....
Verse 16 says, "… the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated."
You see the mountain is often used in the Bible to designate a meeting with God. Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai for example. This meeting with the disciples was not in hiding.
When you come to Verse 18, we read that "… Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
This is one of the most crucial statements that Jesus ever made. Jesus has all the authority... in heaven and on earth. This verse is possibly an allusion to Daniel 7:13-14 indicating that Jesus has begun His messianic sovereignty. But this authority that Jesus speaks about is in what significance? Well it means that Jesus has:
- Authority to forgive sins (Luke 5:20; 7:48).
- Authority to mediate to the Father (1 Tim. 2:5).
- Authority to send the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26).
- Authority to open the hearts and minds of His people (Luke 24:45).
- Authority to reveal the Father (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22).
- Authority to give eternal life to whom He chooses (John 10:27-28).
- Authority to raise us up on the last day (John 6:40).
And so with this authority, Jesus says in Verse 19f, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…”This commission applies to us as well. The Great Commission is about making disciples for Jesus.
But I want to re-look at this mission given by Jesus so that we can be reminded and motivated to act in discovering what our mission is in this Great Commission – because it’s a command for all Christians.
It is interesting that in the original Greek, the only direct command in the Great Commission
Matthew 28:19–20 is “make disciples.” A disciple is a learner, one who understands and obeys the teachings of Jesus.
To “make disciples” means to teach or train people to know and obey Christ completely and broadly. The mission is to make people radical followers of Jesus. Therefore, making disciples is the central mission of the church. All our Church activities should be penetrated into making disciples as well as edifying the church on the whole. Because of disciples such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, Europe was opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Reformation. Bible came to our hands because of such disciples such as William Tyndale.
The instructions to “go,” “baptize,” and “teach” are indirect commands—participles in the original.
But why ‘Making disciples’ is important? Making disciples is important because it is the Lord’s method of spreading salvation through Jesus. And as a result of that we introduce to people about the true life and about the ability to bear fruit (Jn 15) and also about Eternity in heaven. (Eph.2:8-10).
So how are we to make disciples? By baptizing and teaching them all that Jesus commanded. You see the primary command of the Great Commission is “Make disciples”. “Going,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” are the means by which we fulfill the main command which is to “make disciples.”
In order to make disciples it is wise to see how Jesus discipled. His disciples literally walked with him, lived with him, watched how he made decisions, saw how he interacted with different people, they saw how he interacted with people from different social status and they observed His prayer and moral life.
As disciple makers we share our lives with others. We study the Bible together with them; we pray for them, we meet for Tea, play games together, go excursion together. Disciple making is investing in the life of another with the intent of both getting to know Christ better and follow Him closely. These days many Christians have become secluded because of their attachment to Smartphones and online shopping, and club mentality that they feel insecure to share their lives with others. But on the contrary, making disciples is about sharing our lives with others.
Discipleship is further fleshed out with two other participles of baptizing and teaching.
Baptism is closely linked to discipleship in the Bible, that you really cannot have one without the other. It is a sacred act whereby a person publicly identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism powerfully communicates the importance and the depth of one’s commitment to Christ.
Central to this discipleship is the calling to also teach people what Jesus said. But notice that the teaching is not just focused on the accumulation of content; learning alone is not the goal, but true discipleship is teaching people how to obey (v20). For. e.g.: The 8th Commandment teaches “Thou shall not steal”; well if one is not supposed to steal then what is s/he supposed to do - is the question. Well, s/he is supposed to work and create what s/he does not have!
It’s not enough to get information disseminated; truth has to impact a person’s life. That’s what making disciples is about. Its more than just memorizing the Bible. The goal is – transformation!
The world is not completely evangelized, the challenge is as viable now as ever before. But bear in mind that the Great Commission is enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
Throughout the book of Acts, we see how the apostles began to fulfill the Great Commission. In one city the opposition said, “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here.” (Acts 17:6 ). Multitudes placed their faith in Jesus, and they also became disciples.
When persecution came from false leaders, they dispersed to other areas and continued to obey Christ’s command. Churches were established throughout the Roman Empire, and eventually other nations.
And today, we continue to act as ambassadors for Christ, and “we plead on Christ’s behalf: ‘Be reconciled to God’” (2 Corinthians 5:20, CSB).
The Great Commission reveals the heart of God, who desires “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). We are to be about the business of the kingdom, making disciples of all nations. (Luke 19:13).
When Jesus said, “Go into all nations”–He meant that disciple-making efforts should not become internally or nationally limited; but in any arena that may not have the light of the Gospel; for e.g.: in Art, literature, Drama, Theatre and so on...
So “Go”in this verse is not just an activity; but a mind-set and a philosophy. It means that we should never treat the Gospel as if it was just meant for us – to make us complete. Though that is true, yet it was meant to be given away.
Therefore, every follower of Jesus has a disciple-making, gospel-spreading duty.
We have to give the-gospel away in the midst of a culture that pulls us the other way.
This Great Commission is externally-focused and it means you invite people who are different than you. It means you serve in an area of the city that isn’t familiar with the Gospel. It means that sometimes you go to places that people do want you there. And that’s is why we need: His Help!
If you really understand the Gospel, and the nature of human culture then you know why you
need the universal help viz.: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (v 20).
Jesus knows that we are weak and prone to fear. On the mountain there were some who were doubting (v 17). And that is why he gave us this promise.
The promise here is that he will be with us always. This is not just a future hope but a present reality. Every risky step of the way, every uncomfortable moment in sharing the Gospel and every situation where you feel stretched to make disciples – Jesus is there. And this promise in v20 says that his presence can overcome our weakness.
And because of this promise God’s mission of making disciples is unstoppable, and the message has to go global. And in this your never alone!
Conclusion: Jesus wants us to finish what He began. He will not ask us to do the impossible. You need to know that to make disciples is something that you can do with His promise and with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Make disciples where you are, with those whom you meet, with the those whom you work, with those you go to college. We need to be creative, wise and passionate as we witness for Jesus through our life and words. This is because we want the world to receive what we have received and know to be the true freedom and true peace as we talk to them about the true and new life, the ability to bear fruits, and to have eternity with God through the man and the glory Jesus Christ our LORD. This can happen when we are anointed by the Holy Spirit.
- Pastors who preach weekly the Biblical text are fulfilling the Great Commission.
- Parents who teach their children how to grow i the Lord are fulfilling the Great Commission.
The Great commission is possibly not something that we are about to start, we may be already doing it as stated above, but perhaps God wants us to make disciples in a new arena and a new area.
In the 18th Century, William Carey responded to the Great Commission to make disciples and God used him to transform the British attitudes on India from imperial exploitation to civil service. And Missionaries who responded to the Great Commission were the pioneers in abolishing the cruel ‘sati’ custom in India.
Friends, when we seek to accomplish the Great Commission, He will bless our efforts because we are seeking to obey Him.
