The Great Commission

When you became a Christian and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Master you received a mission in life! You became part of an increasing and growing community of people whom Jesus has called and who are being equipped to change the world by spreading His Kingdom.

The last command Jesus gave His disciples before He ascended to heaven is replicated in all the Gospels, but from a different angle. It is important for us that we understand what this last command from our Lord and Master says, and that we commit ourselves totally to do what He said.

Every Christian has a responsibility to fulfil the great mission Jesus gave us. Jesus will not return until this task is accomplished. Matt.24:14. It is therefore of utmost importance that we all find our place and do our job so we can take part in the fulfilment and the great party which is to come afterwards.

The Great Commission

We will take a closer look at this mission, which Jesus gave His disciples, and see how they gave different angles on this commission, while the content remains the same.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of 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." (Matt. 28:18-20)

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:15-18)

He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:46-49)

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:21-23)

When we see how the disciples replicate the last command Jesus gave all Christians, we can pull it all together like this:

You are sent on a mission!

Since Jesus was sent by His Father to do His works on earth, in the same way Jesus says He sends us to this world. Jesus was very conscious of the fact that God sent him and He wants us to live the same way He did. When He speaks of Himself and His mission, He clearly addresses this by saying: “I AM sent! I do not come here on my own behalf. I have a mission: I AM here to do the will of God.

This awareness of being sent by God gave Him the strength to endure resistance. It gave Him direction for His life and helped Him to set priorities. It made Him determined in His work, and He was not ruled by circumstances and any sudden needs, but listened to His Father so that He always could do His works and further His will.

When you realise God sends you, these things will characterise you.

Joy in the will of God.

Your greatest joy will be to do the will of God and fulfil the mission He has given you:

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)

Then I said, 'Here I am-- it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.'" (Hebr.10:7)

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." (Ps.40:8)

Dependence on guidance from God.

You will know that you are totally dependant on God and His guidance. You do not do any work from your own initiative, but only what you see God doing. Because it is no longer your own will you want to further, you understand that you cannot do anything by yourself, but are dependant on guidance from His Holy Spirit. Therefore it will be important to you to live in a close relationship with Him and nurture/safeguard your fellowship with Him.

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. (John 5:19-20)

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. (John 5:30)

Self-denial

You will reject your own will to do what He who sent you wants. You own interests will not be your primary concern, you are on a mission. You’ve got a job to do which is more important than your own will.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38)

A desire to stay close to God

Because of your awareness of being sent, you will always seek to honour Him Who sent you. You know that you represent Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of all, and want to live a life that glorifies Him.

He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. (John 7:18)

Confidence and security

As you know that you are sent, you will also know that you are not alone. He who sent you has promised to be with you. Because you are not promoting your own name or will, you’ll always have a deep sense of security and confidence: “I am sent on a mission. He who sent me is with me and provides me with all I ever need to succeed, to complete His work!”

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. (John 8:29)

Exercise:

Describe the commission which God has given to all believers

In what way does this commission motivate you?

Continue to memorise these Bible verses:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of 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." (Matt. 28:18-20)