The Greater Work

Bill Wilks Suggestion.” Well, not really. We call it the Great Commission, but most believers seem to think of it as a suggestion. However, the Great Commission is not a suggestion!

For three years, Jesus carefully invested His life into His followers. He diligently equipped and empowered them to be disciples who make disciples. Then, He took up a cross and willingly gave His life for them. Three days later, He came out of His tomb and was resurrected to new life. For the next forty days, Jesus met with His disciples and gave them final instructions. Before His ascension back to the Father, Jesus stood on a mountain in His resurrected body and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Backed by all the authority in heaven and on earth, our Risen Lord commanded His followers to do one thing—“make disciples.” He could have said anything here, but His purpose for us was plainly stated. There is only one verb in the Great Commission. The literal rendering of the Greek language is: “Going therefore, disciple all the nations.” The word “make” is implied from the text and the word “disciple” is an imperative verb of command. These are Jesus’ final words on earth and His instructions are clear.

After giving His followers an explicit mandate, Jesus informed them on how to accomplish it. In the Great Commission, these three descriptive participles tell us how to make disciples. He said that we are to make disciples by going, by baptizing, and by teaching.

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