The Mission Jesus Left for Every Believer (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

What does it mean to make disciples?

For his final instructions before ascending to Heaven, Jesus concludes his earthly ministry where it all began, in Galilee. We do not know for certain if others are present, but we know the disciples are there. The phrase “the eleven” is the first time the gospel writer uses this phrase to refer to the disciples, and this reminds his audience of the demise of Judas, the twelfth apostle who took his life after betraying Jesus.          

Jesus is now about to give his disciples a series of interconnecting commands centered on one key phrase. But to preface these commands, he offers the authority behind them. Matthew 28:18-20 says,

¹⁸ Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

To clarify, Jesus’ authority does not become more absolute. Instead, the spheres where he now exercises absolute authority are enlarged to include all heaven and earth. Jesus is subject to God the Father (1 Cor. 15:27-28) and becomes the one through whom all God the Father’s authority is mediated.  

Michael Wilkins writes, “Implied in the imperative ‘make disciples’ is both the call to and the process of becoming a disciple.”^[1] This authority serves as a marker on the timeline of history and is the beginning of Christ’s universal mission. It is based on the authority of Christ that his disciples are instructed to go. They will not go on their own authority but with Christ’s authority.

The three participles that function as imperatives because of their connection to “make disciples” are “Go,” “Baptize,” and “Teach.” “Make disciples” is the point of emphasis, while the other three are key characteristics of a disciple of Christ. This word for “make disciples” is used four times in the New Testament (three by Matthew) and carries the idea of training with it.

The word for disciple was used 261 times in the NT and was a common term used in that day. To be a disciple was to be an apprentice. Wilkins writes, “Discipleship is the process by which a disciple (Christian) is transformed, while discipling is the involvement of one disciple helping another to grow in his or her discipleship.”^[2] Notice Jesus did not say, “Make members of a X church.” He did not say, “Help all people act like you.” His mission was much greater than a community or individual.