“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” – Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)
This command, “make disciples” (called the Great Commission), was initially given by Jesus to the eleven disciples after His resurrection. These were His disciples during His earthly ministry, a time during which He invested in teaching the Scriptures and in demonstrating, by personal example, how they ought to live and relate to others.
Many of the things Jesus taught the disciples were not understood or soon forgotten, but were recalled only after His resurrection. Jesus Himself reminded them, saying, “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me. (Luke 24:44, KJV). Having heard all this, the disciples now began to understand their own mission, as Jesus opened their understanding – to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name among all nations beginning right where they were in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).
Discipling, therefore, begins with those who know Christ making Him known to those who do not, by their teaching and example, and by being Christ-like in compassion, and demonstrating the love of God through patient endurance with the unbeliever.
The cost of discipleship cannot be counted or measured, since it involves a continuous giving of oneself and one’s resources to win others to Christ and, further, to see those we have successfully helped to disciple now taking responsibility for discipling others. Our work in discipling others is never done!
Jesus gives us a promise – to be with us always, right up to the end. We have this assurance that we are not alone. We have the help of the Holy Spirit Who remains with us until the end (Matthew 28:20).
Prayer
Father in heaven, we thank You for sending Jesus to die in our place. May the cross be a constant reminder to us of His finished work, and may we, in turn, commit to finishing the work You have given us here on earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read: Luke 14:33; Philippians 3:7-8
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 44:1-12; Luke 13:31-35; Luke 14:1-14; Deuteronomy 15; Deuteronomy 16:1-20