Mission isn’t a new priority for us – or for Jesus. In fact, it was the last thing Jesus commanded his followers to do before he returned to heaven.
Matthew 28:18-20 gives us the Great Commission for mission: ‘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.’
Jesus gives us three commands for mission packed into these verses:
Firstly, mission must be for all people.
Think how counter-cultural this would’ve sounded to the Jewish disciples. Sure, they’d seen Jesus raise a Roman centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1-10) and heard the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). But imagine what they were thinking: does he really mean all nations? Even the non-Jews?!
Understanding the first century Jew/non-Jew divide in our twenty-first century is hard – until we examine where we draw the lines about what makes a Christian. If we’re honest, our mission ends up being to people who are like us, in comfortable situations.
But Jesus is clear: mission is for all people, all nations (v19). The new creation will be packed with a great multitude that no-one can count, from every nation, tribe, people and language (Revelation 7:9). For all people to be there, all people need to be told!
Secondly, mission must be gospel-centred.
Mission takes many shapes, but the gospel is central. Our message is Jesus and his saving death on the cross for our sins. Baptism is the mark Jesus gives us of the gospel bringing people from death to life.
It is our words speaking God’s word that will save people this side of eternity. Jesus commanded the disciples to ‘teach them to obey everything I have commanded’ (v20). We are called to use our skills and qualifications for the gospel. There are many Christian doctors, teachers and translators around the world doing just that.
But to follow Jesus’ commission for mission, we can’t avoid speaking the gospel.
Thirdly, mission must include discipleship.
Is your view of mission: parachuting into a remote village, securing some converts and then moving on, mission accomplished? Think again, says Jesus.
Mission includes the long, hard slog of discipling people after joyfully seeing them believe in God’s name. Mission is continuing to share God’s word and ‘teaching people to obey’ (v20). It’s a chain reaction: discipling new Christians then equips them to share the same gospel that changed their lives.
Mission is an ongoing, lifetime work, says Jesus. Not a one-off conversion.
Does that feel like a heavy burden? Or maybe we’re tempted to treat Jesus’ words as the Great Suggestion, rather than the Great Commission?
Hear two truths that bookend Jesus’ command:
Firstly, Jesus has ‘all authority in heaven and on earth’ (v18) – so we’ve got to obey! But wonderfully, he knows those who are his, and he delights to use ordinary people, like us, to bring them to himself. We can’t thwart his plans because he’s in complete control.
And secondly, Jesus is with us always (v20). We are never alone. He sees our efforts, however small. Our Saviour walks with us through the highs and lows of mission till the very end of the age, when we join that great, uncountable multitude.