“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mat. 28:19-20)
This is the last command that the disciples heard upon Jesus’ ascension into Heaven. If I was in this position I have no clue what my reaction would have been. Just think about it. Jesus had been crucified. The disciples’ minds were all over the place. They were full of doubt and had no idea what to do next. They had spent the last couple years giving up everything for Jesus and it all had come crashing down in front of them. And then He rose again. “It is finished.” And commanded them to go and make disciples themselves. The past couples days had been insane for them and they were only getting started.
The Great Commission has seemed to change from when it was first commanded for our modern-day churches and us. As Chan says, we “pay ministers to do the ministry, show up and put money in a plate, and leave feeling fed.” It’s ridiculous for us to feel as though the Jesus’ command has changed for us. I know for me that I have spent way too much time just relaxing on the sidelines, showing up to services and going home. Hell, I’ve even been sitting on the bench during mission trips but haven’t had the initiative to put myself in the game. It’s an unfortunate truth that is present everywhere today.
The Great Commission can be broken up into three key commands.
Baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Teach them to obey everything He has commanded
Focusing on the baptism aspect, this is a ritual that was crucial back to the early followers of Christ. This event was HUGE for the person being baptized. It immediately marked them down for martyrdom, and cast the whole worlds persecution onto them. It was an extreme profession of faith and has seemed to almost die out as of late. No one should fail to recognize the importance and symbolism of this act. I myself even should probably be baptized again. When I was 8, what did I know? I definitely didn’t realize the significance it once had, and knowing this now has produced the urge to possibly do it again.
In order to fulfill His command to the best of our abilities, we need to make sure we continue to spend as much time as possible in the scripture. By equipping myself with His word, I will gain the wisdom He has in store for me and fully reach my disciple-making potential. He didn’t create the Bible for no reason. We were meant to read it. Preparation through scripture is a crucial key to successful discipleship, and without it our efforts will come short.
We all have excuses that will get in the way of our effort to make disciples. “Oh yeah, I’ll get around to it, I just have so much school work.’’ Or “Yeah, I just haven’t felt the Holy Spirit yet, it isn’t my time to share the Gospel.” When it comes to it, there is no excuse. The Holy Spirit is always working, even in our extremely busy daily lives. Just slow it down and listen. The simplest instances in our everyday lives can be prime opportunities to share the joys of Jesus Christ and further His kingdom.