Go and Make Disciples of All Nations – Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commission appears toward the end of Matthew’s Gospel (28:19-20). It is the final commission Jesus gives to his followers before he ascends to heaven.
The phrase “go and make disciples of all nations” identifies the commission as a missionary endeavor, one that involves travel to people who may not have been Christian before. The command also calls for a particular mindset and lifestyle in disciple-making, one that is patterned after the example of Christ.
Moreover, the commission to go and make disciples of all nations can be understood as an ongoing challenge that is not necessarily about traveling to Africa, South America, or Asia. Many believers who feel called to this challenge are already going in their own communities to those who have not yet heard the Gospel of Jesus.
Discipleship is a process that begins with someone hearing the gospel and continuing to hear it. It is a process that includes steady feeding, a believing response in those who hear, and overcoming. It involves a life of obedience to the commands and teaching of Jesus, modeled by the example of Christ, to cling to his sacrifice, believe in his resurrection, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and live to do his work.
The command to “go and make disciples of all nations” can be misunderstood by some in the Christian world as a command to simply go and spread the gospel of Jesus. However, this does not mean that the task of spreading the gospel is unattainable or difficult. This commission, while requiring physical and financial resources, is still doable.
