So I asked my class “How many of you have heard of the great commission?” Most of the cute little hands went up. (Don’t tell them I called their hands cute. They are too cool for that.) So then I asked what is the the great commission just in your own words. “To go all over the world and tell people about Jesus” was the fairly universal answer. “What about Him?” I retorted. “Well, that he died for our sins and that we can go to heaven.” was the brave answer from one. Too many times we simplify the gospel message to just saving people from hell. We forget that it is much more robust than that. Eternal life is not just eternal existence in heaven. No, the bible teaches us that eternal life is knowing God (Jn17:3). This knowing is meant to be deep and rich and complete and to have no end. This is the kind of knowing that comes with relationship, trust and faith.
What is the great commission, exactly?
So let’s look at the great commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”(Mt28:19). It sounds like my brave student was right if he would just add the sacrament of baptism.
But there is another verse, a continuation of the sentence, the idea, the command, a second part to the commission and its about education: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mt28:20)
We are sent not just to share the gospel of forgiveness but the gospel of the knowledge of God also. We are not just to make christians but also to make disciples. We are responsible for deepening our relationship with Christ and for leading others into deeper understanding, submission and freedom!
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