A Closer Look at the Great Commission
We each have a part to play in sharing the news of salvation
How well do you know the Great Commission?
According to a recent study from Barna, 51% of U.S. churchgoers said they had never heard of the Great Commission. Another 25% said they had heard of it but couldn’t recall its exact meaning. And only 17% said that they knew what the Great Commission is, and what it means.
So, what is the Great Commission?
The Great Commission is found in the Gospel of Matthew, right before Jesus ascends into heaven:
The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted. Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20 GNT
Although Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, his command to spread the gospel and make disciples is for all who hear his Word and believe it—including you and me. In order to understand how the Great Commission applies to our lives today, we need to take a closer look at Jesus’s words.
We’re called to take the gospel everywhere
. Jesus tells his disciples to go everywhere (Matthew 28:19). We see examples of what this meant for the disciples and the early church throughout the New Testament. While many traveled great distances to carry the gospel to people who had never heard of Jesus Christ, others shared the news of salvation with people in their own backyards. In Acts 8:26-40, Philip explains the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch he meets outside of Jerusalem. In many church traditions, the Ethiopian eunuch is remembered as one of the people God used to bring the gospel to the African continent. Whether God calls us to travel across the world or tell of him in our own community, we can share the news of salvation wherever we go:
Proclaim his glory to the nations,
his mighty deeds to all peoples.Psalm 96:3 GNT
We’re called to take the gospel to everyone.
Jesus tells his disciples to go to all peoples (Matthew 28:19). Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus made the gift of salvation available to every person. Today, we are called to share this message with our family, friends, and neighbors:
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
John 3:16 GNT
We’re called to make disciples by baptizing and teaching.
Jesus tells his disciples to make disciples by baptizing and teaching (Matthew 28:18-19). As we share the gospel, we should be ready to help people actively engage with the Bible by discussing Scripture, explaining God’s law, and answering their questions. And our job isn’t done once someone chooses to follow Jesus. Through our involvement in the local church, we can invite new believers into our midst and help people grow in their knowledge of Christ:
Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16 GNT
We’re called to go with the confidence and hope of Jesus Christ.
The Great Commission is a huge task. For centuries, generations of Christians have worked toward this goal—but there are still people who have never heard the name of Jesus. How can we avoid discouragement and follow Jesus’s command faithfully?
As we pray, work, and give to see the good news of Jesus Christ reach every heart, we should remember the way Jesus begins and ends the Great Commission. He begins by reminding his disciples of his authority, inspiring them with confidence. And he ends by telling his disciples that he will be with them until the task is complete, giving them hope. We have this same confidence and hope as we continue to follow Jesus’s command to spread the message of salvation until the day he returns:
“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth . . . And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18b, 20b GNT
Elisabeth Trefsgar
Elisabeth Trefsgar is a content specialist for American Bible Society. She has made a home in New Jersey and Sofia, Bulgaria, and is always on the lookout for the next adventure. She is passionate about seeing communities around the world flourish through the power of God's Word and the efforts of the local church. When she isn't writing, you can find her reading good stories, photographing local sights, and spending time with friends.
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