If you’ve spent time around the church or know any Jesus followers, there’s a good chance you might have heard someone mention “The Great Commission.” And you might have a few questions: What is the Great Commission? Who said it? Why is the Great Commission in the Bible such a big deal? What does it mean for my life? If any of those questions have ever crossed your mind, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find answers to those questions and more.
The Context of the Great Commission
Before we get into what the Great Commission is, let’s establish a little bit of context. About 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born as a man on earth. He lived a perfect, sinless life. He loved people, healed people, and proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was near. He taught His followers a new way to live, one which prioritized loving God and loving others above all other commandments.
The religious authorities of Jesus’ day wanted nothing to do with His good news. After three years of Jesus ministering to people in and around Jerusalem and Galilee, these authorities had Jesus tried, convicted, and sentenced to death in a sham trial. Jesus died on a cross, and his death—the death of a sinless person—covered the sins of every person who’s ever lived.
Jesus was raised from the grave three days later, and spent the next 40 days teaching His disciples and preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for all of us on earth.
But before He ascended to heaven, Jesus left some parting instructions with His disciples, which we call the Great Commission.
The Commission’s Meaning
A version of the Great Commission is found in all four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as well as at the beginning of the book of Acts. But when most people quote the Great Commission, they’re quoting Matthew 28:
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, baptizing 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.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
4 Instructions From the Great Commission
In these verses, Jesus gave His early disciples (and us) four instructions:
- Go. The Great Commission isn’t something we do passively. It means taking action, stepping outside of our comfort zone and engaging with others.
- Make disciples of all nations. A “disciple” is a follower of Jesus. This instruction encourages us to share the good news of Jesus with people in our communities and around the world, so they can choose to follow Him.
- Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is part of becoming a disciple—when someone chooses to follow Jesus, baptism is often the next step that they take.
- Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Following Jesus is a lifetime process of learning and becoming more like Him. When we lead people to become disciples, continuing to teach them about who Jesus is and how He lived is an important part of the discipleship process.
2 Truths From the Great Commission
In addition, Jesus included two truths in the Great Commission:
- All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. When Jesus spoke these words, He was about to give His disciples a very big mission. These words establish that He had the authority to give them His mission.
- And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. These words are not just a promise, but a source of strength and encouragement. As the disciples worked to bring the good news to the nations, Jesus was with them—always. The same applies to us today, and that truth provides us the support and reassurance we need to carry out the mission.
So, What Is the Great Commission?
The Great Commission is a call for all followers of Jesus to share the good news of His love with others and show them how to live out that love.
That’s the Great Commission—but what does it actually look like to carry it out?
The Church in Action
After Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit began dwelling in believers on the Day of Pentecost, the early church began putting the Great Commission into practice. This looked like:
- Investing in community. Acts 2 tells us that Jesus’ disciples were absolutely dedicated to one another. They met together daily, worshiped together, supported one another financially, ate meals together, and gave thanks together. The Bible says that this community enjoyed the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. The simple act of living in faithful community was enough to draw people in and lead them to become followers of Jesus.
- Sharing the good news. The disciples were committed to sharing the gospel with others in Israel. But God had bigger plans that stretched beyond the borders of one nation. Men and women like Paul, Barnabas, Priscilla, and Aquila shared their faith with people around the Mediterranean. Even when facing opposition, the church spread like wildfire.
Those are two ways the Church practiced the Great Commission in ancient times. And they’re a good jumping-off point for Christians who want to share the Great Commission today.
The Call to Make Disciples
Just like the first disciples, we’re called to take part in the mission of making disciples of all nations. If you want to share the good news with others, here are a few important things to keep in mind as you get started.
- The Great Commission isn’t just about telling other people about Jesus. Sharing the love of Jesus requires our entire being—our words and our actions. Remember how the early church took part in the Great Commission in Acts 2? People were drawn to them because of the love they showed everyone in their community. Here are some ways you could share Jesus’ love:
- Bring someone food when they’re sick.
- Write a kind note to a coworker.
- Help your kid practice for a big game.
- Volunteer with a local nonprofit.
- Tell someone about the impact Jesus has made in your life.
- And so many more!
- Local Missions and Global Missions are avenues for people to participate in the Great Commission. It might mean building relationships with your next-door neighbors, tutoring kids at a local school, caring for homeless people at a shelter, or going halfway around the world to provide humanitarian aid. Doing these things in the name of Jesus—and to show others His love—means you’re living out the Great Commission. Check out the Life.Church database of Local Partners to find a nonprofit near you.
- The Great Commission isn’t about you being right and others being wrong. When people have trouble seeing the goodness and love of Jesus on our schedule, it can be tempting to get frustrated with them. But acting on this frustration by attempting to convince them they’re wrong risks putting even more distance between them and Jesus. As you’re sharing the good news, trust that God is in control and that your work is never wasted. And then extend others the same grace and patience God shows every one of us.