What's So Great About It?
What’s so great about it?
Have you ever wondered what’s so great about the Great Commission?
I was curious about this recently and wanted to know more. So I opened to Matthew 28 to take a closer look into it. I also went for the dictionary to really give me a proper perspective and understanding. It’s really difficult to get the proper understanding of something without the proper perspective.
As I looked into what all this really entails and means, I came across some interesting definitions of commission. Commission means “the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority; an authoritative order, charge, or direction; authority granted for a particular action or function.”
Put plainly, Jesus is essentially not only giving us a command, but also giving us the authority to carry out the command. The commission is a command. This might not be news to many, but it’s important to point out that it’s not a request. It’s not an opinion. He’s not suggesting this. He’s not making it optional.
No matter what language you’re studying this text in, you will find the meaning of the words to still be “Go.” But it’s not a meaning of go to a destination; it’s a meaning of go on a journey. Jesus is commanding us as followers, disciples, Christians to embark on a journey that doesn’t end until we see Him again. And while we get older on this journey, we never age out of it. There’s no time limit or mile marker to tell you that’s far enough.
Something I like about this word commission is that when you split it up, the truth falls out. It’s a co-mission. Jesus never said He was going to send us on our own. Even if we are alone we are not on our own. He promised Himself. He promised the Holy Spirit as our help. It’s you and Jesus on a mission together. To gather. As many as possible. And time is certainly of the essence. There’s an element of haste as Jesus is giving this co-mission.
Another interesting part about the Great Commission is the “make disciples.” In English, it almost sounds like something to be done by force. Other ages or religions have tried to use this kind of force and it’s never really effective in the long run. No, what Jesus is meaning here is to “help someone progressively learn” the Word of God and what it means to be a follower of Christ. Progressively, not aggressively.
So many times I’ve found myself expecting people to change into my likeness when they start on their journey to follow Christ. I’m just being honest. And this is exactly what Jesus wasn’t saying at all. Salvation is a moment, but sanctification is a process. And processes can take some time. Making disciples is the same thing - a process. Jesus is telling us to walk along side people. However long it takes.
This is what brings us to the great part of the Great Commission. Great means magnitude or extent of the charge. It extends through time. It extends through all the earth. It extends through all people groups and nationalities. The end of the Great Commission is the “end of the age” as Jesus’ last words in the gospel of Matthew. That phrase literally means the completion of a cycle of time. It’s great because of the charge, the time, but also the immense good it’s done for and through people. It’s also great because of the cost.
Going into all the world to preach the gospel has always cost something. For many, it has cost the highest and ultimate price of their life. Many have given all, but all are called to give some. You see, if the commission is a command, then the omission is a sin. James says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (4:17).
Now that we know it’s a command, we really can’t skirt around it. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts in the Great Commission. So why is it that we don’t always take the charge of the great commission? Is it opportunity that is lacking? Or is it us that are slacking?
And one more thing. When most people quote the Great Commission, they usually say something like “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” The problem with this quote is that all creatures don’t need it - only us humans do. Another issue is the Greek text doesn’t use the word preach. Yes, some people are called to do that, but remember, it’s a journey of helping people progressively learn, train, and develop people in a lifestyle modeled after Christ.
So yes, while there is a sense of urgency involved, remember that processes take time. Remember to teach people progressively, not aggressively. They are converting to Jesus - not to you. And if you struggle sharing your faith, your life is the message that everyone is watching. Your words are what they are listening to. So preach with that. Your life and your words. May they be pleasing to God, inspiring to others, and inquiring to those that don’t yet know Him.
That is how we fulfill the great commission and fully fill the gates of heaven.
What’s so great about the great commission? Much.
So, go. And make disciples…
Have you ever wondered what’s so great about the Great Commission?
I was curious about this recently and wanted to know more. So I opened to Matthew 28 to take a closer look into it. I also went for the dictionary to really give me a proper perspective and understanding. It’s really difficult to get the proper understanding of something without the proper perspective.
As I looked into what all this really entails and means, I came across some interesting definitions of commission. Commission means “the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority; an authoritative order, charge, or direction; authority granted for a particular action or function.”
Put plainly, Jesus is essentially not only giving us a command, but also giving us the authority to carry out the command. The commission is a command. This might not be news to many, but it’s important to point out that it’s not a request. It’s not an opinion. He’s not suggesting this. He’s not making it optional.
No matter what language you’re studying this text in, you will find the meaning of the words to still be “Go.” But it’s not a meaning of go to a destination; it’s a meaning of go on a journey. Jesus is commanding us as followers, disciples, Christians to embark on a journey that doesn’t end until we see Him again. And while we get older on this journey, we never age out of it. There’s no time limit or mile marker to tell you that’s far enough.
Something I like about this word commission is that when you split it up, the truth falls out. It’s a co-mission. Jesus never said He was going to send us on our own. Even if we are alone we are not on our own. He promised Himself. He promised the Holy Spirit as our help. It’s you and Jesus on a mission together. To gather. As many as possible. And time is certainly of the essence. There’s an element of haste as Jesus is giving this co-mission.
Another interesting part about the Great Commission is the “make disciples.” In English, it almost sounds like something to be done by force. Other ages or religions have tried to use this kind of force and it’s never really effective in the long run. No, what Jesus is meaning here is to “help someone progressively learn” the Word of God and what it means to be a follower of Christ. Progressively, not aggressively.
So many times I’ve found myself expecting people to change into my likeness when they start on their journey to follow Christ. I’m just being honest. And this is exactly what Jesus wasn’t saying at all. Salvation is a moment, but sanctification is a process. And processes can take some time. Making disciples is the same thing - a process. Jesus is telling us to walk along side people. However long it takes.
This is what brings us to the great part of the Great Commission. Great means magnitude or extent of the charge. It extends through time. It extends through all the earth. It extends through all people groups and nationalities. The end of the Great Commission is the “end of the age” as Jesus’ last words in the gospel of Matthew. That phrase literally means the completion of a cycle of time. It’s great because of the charge, the time, but also the immense good it’s done for and through people. It’s also great because of the cost.
Going into all the world to preach the gospel has always cost something. For many, it has cost the highest and ultimate price of their life. Many have given all, but all are called to give some. You see, if the commission is a command, then the omission is a sin. James says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (4:17).
Now that we know it’s a command, we really can’t skirt around it. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts in the Great Commission. So why is it that we don’t always take the charge of the great commission? Is it opportunity that is lacking? Or is it us that are slacking?
And one more thing. When most people quote the Great Commission, they usually say something like “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” The problem with this quote is that all creatures don’t need it - only us humans do. Another issue is the Greek text doesn’t use the word preach. Yes, some people are called to do that, but remember, it’s a journey of helping people progressively learn, train, and develop people in a lifestyle modeled after Christ.
So yes, while there is a sense of urgency involved, remember that processes take time. Remember to teach people progressively, not aggressively. They are converting to Jesus - not to you. And if you struggle sharing your faith, your life is the message that everyone is watching. Your words are what they are listening to. So preach with that. Your life and your words. May they be pleasing to God, inspiring to others, and inquiring to those that don’t yet know Him.
That is how we fulfill the great commission and fully fill the gates of heaven.
What’s so great about the great commission? Much.
So, go. And make disciples…
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
Categories
no categories
No Comments