Go! And Make Disciples - Matthew 28:19
Introduction: A Commission, Not a Suggestion
When Jesus speaks His final words before ascending to heaven, we must lean in with reverence. Last words carry weight. And what were the last words of our risen Saviour to His followers?
Matthew 28:19 (NLT): “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
This is not a casual suggestion. This is the Great Commission. Jesus does not say, “If you feel like it, go.” He does not say, “If it’s convenient, go.” He says, “Go!”
This morning, I want us to hear Jesus afresh. To hear not just the word go, but also the command to make disciples. Our calling is not just to fill pews but to multiply followers of Christ.
And to truly obey this commission, we must understand its depth, its urgency, and its power.
Point 1: The Authority of Christ in the Commission
Before verse 19, we must not miss verse 18:
Matthew 28:18 (NLT): “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
The Greek word for authority is exousia—it means the rightful, sovereign power to act. Jesus is not commissioning His disciples on shaky ground. He is commissioning them with all the authority of heaven and earth behind Him.
That means when you share the Gospel, you are not speaking on your own authority—you are backed by the authority of the risen King.
Charles Stanley once said, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” That is the spirit of the Great Commission. When we go, we trust the outcome to the One with all authority.
Don’t let fear silence you. If Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth, then He is Lord of your conversations at work, in your neighbourhood, and even with strangers. His authority emboldens our witness.
Point 2: The Command to Go and Make Disciples
The central verb in the Great Commission is not go. In the Greek, the main imperative is matheteusate—make disciples. The word disciple, mathetes, means learner, follower, apprentice.
Jesus doesn’t call us to make converts alone. He calls us to make disciples—men and women who follow Him daily, who are shaped by His Word, who grow in His likeness.
Think of Acts 1:8 (NLT): “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Notice—it’s a ripple effect. Start where you are, but don’t stop until the ends of the earth are reached.
John Piper said, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” The reason we go is because there are still people who have not bowed the knee to Jesus. They were made to worship Him, and until they do, our mission continues.
Illustration 1: The Domino Effect
Imagine lining up a row of dominoes. One small push sets off a chain reaction that travels far beyond the first touch. When one person truly becomes a disciple of Jesus, they touch others, who touch others. One faithful witness in a workplace, school, or family can change generations.
Who are your dominoes? Who has God placed in your path to touch with the Gospel?
Point 3: The Call to Baptise and Teach
Jesus goes further in Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT): “…baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
Baptism is not optional. It is the public declaration that a person has died to their old life and risen with Christ. It is identification with the Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit.
The Greek word for baptise is baptizo—to immerse, to submerge. In the early church, baptism marked a radical break from the past. To be baptised was to declare, I belong to Christ now.
But baptism is not the end. Jesus commands us to teach. Discipleship is lifelong learning.
2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT): “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”
R.T. Kendall once wrote, “Discipleship is not a course; it is a lifestyle of walking daily with Jesus.” Baptism begins the journey, teaching sustains it, obedience proves it.
In old trades, a young apprentice would live with the master craftsman. They didn’t just learn skills—they absorbed the master’s way of life. That is discipleship. We don’t just learn about Jesus—we learn to live like Jesus.
Are you discipling anyone? Who are you pouring into? And equally important—who is discipling you? Every Christian should be both a learner and a teacher.
Point 4: The Promise of Christ’s Presence
The Great Commission ends with this assurance:
Matthew 28:20b (NLT): “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The Greek word pasas—always—means “on every occasion, without exception.” Jesus is not just occasionally with us—He is constantly with us.
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) reminds us: “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”
Max Lucado beautifully put it, “You’ll get through this. Not because you are strong, but because God is. Not because you are smart, but because God is. Not because you deserve it, but because Jesus does.”
As you go and make disciples, you are never alone. When you feel inadequate, Jesus is with you. When you fear rejection, Jesus is with you. When you step out in faith, Jesus is with you.
The Gospel Presentation: The Message We Carry
Beloved, we cannot make disciples unless we know the message we carry. The Gospel is not advice. It is not a self-help plan. It is the good news of Jesus Christ—crucified, buried, risen, and reigning.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (NLT): “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
At the cross, Jesus bore the punishment for our sin. In the grave, He lay in our place. In the resurrection, He conquered death. And now, all who repent and trust in Him will be forgiven, restored, and given eternal life.
Romans 10:9 (NLT): “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
That is the message we carry. That is the reason we go.
Call to Action: Go! And Make Disciples
So what do we do with this?
Go. Don’t wait for a mission trip to Africa—start in your neighbourhood, your workplace, your family.
Make disciples. Invest in people. Share the Gospel. Walk alongside them. Don’t just aim for decisions—aim for transformation.
Baptise and teach. Encourage believers to publicly declare faith in Christ. Walk with them in obedience to His Word.
Trust His presence. Step out boldly knowing Jesus is with you.
Tim Keller once said, “God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything He knows.” In making disciples, trust that God has gone before you, preparing hearts and opening doors.
Invitation to Salvation:
Maybe today, you are not yet a disciple. Maybe you know about Jesus, but you don’t yet know Him personally.
Friend, Jesus is calling you. He died for you. He rose again for you. And today, He invites you to repent of your sins and trust in Him as Lord and Saviour.
Acts 3:19 (NLT): “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
Don’t leave this place unchanged. Don’t ignore the voice of the Spirit. Today can be the day you begin following Jesus.
Conclusion:
The Great Commission is not a burden—it is a blessing. It is the privilege of joining God in His mission to redeem the world.
So, beloved, go this week with courage. Go with love. Go with the Gospel. Go and make disciples. And know that as you go, Jesus is with you—always.
Benediction:
“Now may the God of hope fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NLT)
Amen.
