Jesus Sends His Disciples to All Nations

Context

Jesus had been crucified, but he had risen from the dead. His disciples were no longer simply listening to his teaching as they had before. They now needed to understand what his resurrection meant for their future and for everything he had taught them.

A disciple is both a follower and a learner. Jesus had formed this group around himself, and now the eleven were about to hear what came next. What responsibility would the risen Jesus place in their hands?

Story

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee and went to the mountain where Jesus had directed them to meet him.

When they saw Jesus, they worshiped him. Yet some doubted. Even with the risen Jesus before them, uncertainty remained among some of the people he was about to send.

Jesus came near and spoke to them. He began by declaring that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him. Before telling the disciples what they must do, he made clear whose authority stood behind their task. Their mission would begin with him.

On that basis, Jesus told them to go and make disciples of all nations. Their work was not to remain within Galilee or among people already familiar to them. People from every nation were to become followers and learners of Jesus.

Those who became disciples were to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They were also to be taught to obey everything Jesus had commanded. Making disciples involved more than carrying a message from place to place. New followers were to learn how to live in faithful obedience to Jesus.

The scale of the command was immense. Eleven disciples stood on one mountain, and some among them still doubted, yet Jesus set all nations before them.

Jesus then gave them a promise as wide and lasting as the work itself. Wherever the mission took them, they would not be abandoned.

“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What We Learned

• Jesus’ mission rests on his authority over heaven and earth, not on the strength or confidence of his followers.
• The presence of doubt did not prevent Jesus from entrusting his disciples with real responsibility.
• Making disciples includes going to all nations, baptizing new followers, and teaching them to obey Jesus.
• Jesus pairs his worldwide command with the promise of his continuing presence until the end of the age.