The Great Commission: Believers Call To Action - Go Therefore

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14‭-‬15 NKJV.

These are the words with which Jesus initiated His public ministry. Jesus began by calling people to repentance and to believe the gospel, good news. This wasn't only His initial remarks, but also the core of His mission on earth. The bible says, "When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 2:17 NKJV. Jesus spent about 3.5 years working hard by the grace of God to accomplish His mission and He indeed accomplished it. The bible declares, "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." John 19:30 NKJV.  Thanks be to God because of His life and sacrifice, today we can be reconciled to God! However, as far the salvation of the lost, the mission was not over, and Jesus knew it.

Before dying, Jesus had prepared His disciples to carry on the mission, and even after He rose from the dead, He appeared to the disciples for 40 days and gave them further instructions (Acts 1:1-3); He opened their eyes to comprehend the scriptures and understand that He was the Messiah who had been promised. Then prior to His return to heaven, He gave a final instruction to the disciples saying, "[...], “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’”. Mark 16:15-16. However, Matthew 28:18-20 narrates this final instruction as follow, “'And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.'” 

The verses above became known throughout church history as the great commission, and the reason being is because it was larger in scope compared to the lesser commission first given by Jesus in Matthew 10 and Luke 10. While the lesser affected only the disciples then and the local Jewish community, "'These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'" (Matthew 10:5-6), the great commission affected the disciples then present and all the disciples throughout all ages, its scope is all the nations, and it is the very final command from Jesus, "standing orders". Therefore, it came to be known as "great commission". Let's zoom in and observe 4 main aspects about the great commission:

1.  “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Meaning, whatever He was commissioning His disciples to do was on a legal basis; in another words, they were authorized to do make disciples and it was and is still legal. Neither satan, demons, or men have the legal power or authority to stop or hinder this commission of Jesus. Believers operations to spread the gospel are legitimatized by Jesus Himself.

2. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,”. On the basis of Jesus' authority we are entitled and empowered to go. Jesus who has all authority says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” not just some but all nations. The gospel came first to the Jews but didn’t stop there. Jesus said it was supposed to be from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, until the uttermost parts of the earth- meaning, the gospel is for people from all nations, tribes, and tongues, He purchased us all (Revelation 5:9).

3. “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;”  With these words, Jesus now tells us how to make disciples; it’s a two fold process: i. You baptize them and ii. You teach them all things Jesus taught so they can observe or obey them not just know. Here we have a definition of a disciple. “It’s one who is saved, baptized, and taught to obey the commands of Jesus”. It’s not one who simply goes to church.

4. “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.'” In so saying Jesus assures us that as we go about taking care of this business we are not alone, and we are not indeed, He is with us. Mark 16:20 says, “'And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.'” Glories be to God. As we go out, Jesus goes, He works actively with us, and confirms the Word, His Word we with signs and wonders by His Spirit, for the repentance of unbelievers and the display of God’s kindness toward them (Mark 6:34).

The apostles then took up on this mission and turned the world upside down. Many believers throughout church history took on this mission and gave their lives to the preaching of the gospel, and every believer in every era is called to do the same in obedience to our Lord. Evangelism is indispensable for the power of the gospel to be manifested. Paul said, "'How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”' Romans 10:14-15

It’s true that these days, people can have access to the gospel in so many different ways, specially through the internet, and many have been saved by simply coming across an “unintentional” youtube video or a gospel tract, but yet it still required someone to do something on the other side: make the video, print the material, or else. You can be the someone on the other side, you can do something. Evangelism is needed, and you can make a difference. Jesus said, “lo, I am with you all the days of your life.” Hallelujah. You will not be alone, God can equip you, call upon Him and lay your life at His altar and be used for His glory.

Jesus spoke of the readiness of the fields in John 4:35, "they are already white for harvest", He said. Many people are seeking, hungering and thirsting for truth, specially young people, not only in America but around the world, and it seems like God made and is making it very evident for us since the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk. Saints, this is warfare, but what the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good. In addition to the conservative and patriotic message Charlie shared, the preaching of faith he did is being sought after by hundreds of thousands. Many people have been awaken to the reality of evil with Charlie's murder, and they are looking for answers beyond the conventional's, and you can be used by God to meet them at the point of their needs. May we be inspired by Charlie's preaching of and discussion about faith in unconventional spaces with the younger generation.

God opened the eyes of people, and we need to take the opportunity to meet them with the life changing message of the gospel, the power of God for salvation of anyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Jesus said, "'And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” 'John 4:36-38. We can join the labor of Charlie and labor of many men and women who have been sowing seeds for years in the hearts of people here in America and around the world.

Again, we cannot do this work by ourselves, according to our intellect and/or abilities, we need help, and we can count on help, Jesus will work with us: it's not by power nor by mighty, but by the Spirit of God. For this reason, Jesus Himself told the apostles, "'Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”' Luke 24:49. Same is applicable to us, Jesus wants to help you and me, anoint us with the Holy Spirit and send us to advance the Kingdom in His name or character - preaching the gospel, teaching the word, healing the sick, and casting out demons to deliver the oppressed (Matthew 4:23). Let's believe it, grow on it, be available, and get the job done.

May you and I carry out the great commission forward, may we start where we with what we know and trust God for increase, and may we always be assured that Jesus is with us as we go about doing His business. God bless you!

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