These last two chapters contain what most call the Great Commission, but what I call the Great Culmination. These two chapters are the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, and the culmination of His ministry until He returns. The commission and culmination are one in the same. Namely, that Jesus died the death He came to die, He was buried, and He rose again. He conquered death and sin, and provides life and forgiveness. The life of Christ on earth culminates with one last statement by Jesus Himself in 28:18-20.
Remember, the message of Jesus was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The King of the kingdom is now letting His followers know that indeed all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Because of this reality Jesus tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. That’s the commission! That’s the command!
A few things Jesus didn’t say with His last words:
• Guys, try to plant a church and see if you can get it as big as you can.
• Guys, there is a lot of social injustice in this world, consume yourself with righting the wrongs of people.
• Guys, there are people that are hungry and thirsty. I want you to work hard at solving this problem.
• Guys, I’d like for you to go to your churches and make sure you have the best programs for children you can, and the best Christmas pageants you can.
• Guys, I’d like for you to make Sunday school classes the biggest and best ever.
Jesus doesn’t say any of these, even though these are not necessarily bad things. Jesus says to make disciples of all nations. This is the grid, the foundation of all that we do. Everything we do should first channel through the filter of “does this make disciples of the nations?”
At what point do we ask this question of everything we do at church? And then at what point do we begin asking this question of everything we do at home? Our mission to make disciples doesn’t stop at church meetings on Sundays, but is owned by each of us in all we do! God has given us time on this earth to use all that we have (jobs, homes, vacation time, retirement savings, children, cars, etc.) to make disciples of all nations. How much of all that you have is committed to making disciples of all nations?
It may be time to sit down with a spouse and reassess your existence and purpose. Until our total existence exists for this purpose, we are falling short of the greatest command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength.
May the great commission of Jesus result in a great reassessment of priority that results in a great repentance of sin that results in a great refinement of our soul that results in a great reassignment of our assets that results in a great reformation of the world!
Such a shame to say that I never thought of Jesus’ words in such a powerful way. Yes, I know to share the Gospel. But to make disciples is so much more. He wants us to teach and make followers of Christ. I don’t exactly like the use of make but I looked the definition of disciples up. Anyways, what a responsibility it is for us to do such a thing. Isn’t it the least we could do for Him considering what He did for us?
I hope we can catch the vision and magnitude of Jesus’ last words at PSBC!