In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said, “All authority has been given me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus’ message of the Kingdom of God was bigger than the “church” as we know it. The Kingdom of God that we are serving in is about God’s family and His reign and rule on the earth. Jesus is King and He said make disciples. Are we His disciples His disciples today? And are we making disciples? Who is

disciple? It is someone who follows another person or another way of life and who submits himself or herself to the discipline (teach- ing) of that leader. Jesus’ disciples, called by His authority, listened and obeyed His teachings. They observed all that Jesus had commanded.

The Great Commission is not just about making converts but about making disciples. Jesus’ apostles (disciples) lived and taught everyday what they had been commanded. This was fulfilling the Great Commission. Yes, they preached the Gospel for the salvation of souls, but when one is born again it is just the beginning of the new life in Jesus. It is the beginning of a new journey for the child of God with their Saviour. They are a new creature: the old things have passed away and behold new things have come (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus is to become Lord of their lives, for He is LORD of ALL. Jesus’ disciples knew that their lives were no longer their own. Jesus became all to them.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can know the way or the truth unless Jesus becomes their LIFE. The Truth is the person Jesus who is our whole life. The Way does not mean picking and choosing a few truths out of the Word of God. The Truth is ALL about the Lord Jesus. Ephesians 4:15 tells us we have a need to grow up in all aspects into Him. Just like the Israelites had to eat all of the Passover Lamb, so we must receive, eat, and take all of Jesus, our Passover Lamb. Until we are really like Jesus and do the works He did, we have not fully experienced the purpose and plan of our salvation.

Jesus’ command was to make disciples. This is not just about getting people to come to church, but to see Jesus formed in His people and to see His name made a glory and a wonder in the earth. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. “ One can only do this if the love of Christ compels them. “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Cor. 5:14-15

When Jesus called His disciples He expected and got total commitment. So are we His disciples today? Are we totally committed to Him and can we and do we expect the same commitment from those we are discipling in the Kingdom of God? As Jesus’ disciples today we must have a greater burden to have fellowship with Him so that He will be the centre of our lives and so that He can burden us for the lost and make them into His disciples. We will not lead or minister to the lost until we have an overwhelming love and passion for Jesus. Then the Church will be Christ-centred not mancentred. For we have been called to look at Him - to behold His glory as in a mirror and to be transformed into his image as 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, and then we will know who we are called to be and we will fulfill the Great Commission.