Go and Make Disciples of All Nations – Matthew 28:18–20
As a young man, I dreaded certain Scriptures.
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 7:21). He also asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Scripture warns that in the last days many will fall away and the love of many will grow cold. In Revelation, Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea for being lukewarm and the church in Ephesus for having forsaken its first love.
I feared becoming task-oriented rather than relationship-focused, much like Martha in contrast to Mary. The reality, however, is that both are required. We are called to be a people who know the Shepherd intimately and who also obey His voice.
When I last spoke, I spoke from Christ’s command to co-mission with Him.
I said that when we align ourselves with Him and co-labour, co-operate, and co-mune with Him, and when we speak forth the things that are unseen as though they are, we walk in the authority and power of the Spirit who is cohabiting with us as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).
Today, I want to go deeper into the authority we have to go and make disciples. Together, we will explore what, why, and how of this commission.
What? – Jesus Said We Are to Go and Make Disciples
Often, when we think of “going,” we think of missionaries who have been sent to some faraway land on a meagre allowance, suffering alongside the local people. The reality, however, is that Jesus intended for all of us to be on mission with Him, and that mission begins at home.
The Greek word translated as “go” is poreuthentes, which means “as you are going.” Jesus intentionally chose this word because it is not just about being sent to a particular place; rather, it is about recognising that wherever we are, there is an opportunity to be on mission with Christ and make disciples.
Our mission field begins at home. If we are not making disciples of our own children first, then we are missing an important part of what Jesus was saying.
We see this model throughout the early church. Wherever the disciples went, they looked for opportunities to share the good news and speak about Jesus. Peter and John, while on their way to the temple to pray, encountered the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate. Jesus, while travelling through Samaria, met the woman at the well and, through making one disciple, transformed an entire region.
The phrase “make disciples” comes from the Greek word matheteusate, meaning “to make learners” or “apprentices.” This speaks to intentionality.
In Jewish culture, it was common for young men to spend two or three years alongside a rabbi, learning not only teachings but also a way of life. As apprentices of the rabbi, they would say what the rabbi said and do what the rabbi did.
Repeatedly, we see Jesus intentionally making disciples—people who would know the Father and understand the ways of His Kingdom. Jesus understood that the Father's desire was not only that all people would know Him, but that they would know Him intimately and then share that relationship with others.
Jesus also commanded us to disciple “all nations.” The Greek word is ethne, from which we derive the word “ethnic,” referring to all people groups.
This aligns with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14:
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world... and then the end will come.”
Jesus declared:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:35–38).
Why? – Jesus Said We Are to Go and Make Disciples
John 3:16 says:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This may be one of the most familiar verses in Scripture, but do we truly understand the depth of God’s love revealed in it?
This verse epitomises God's unfathomable love for humanity. Love and forgiveness go hand in hand. There can be no true love without forgiveness.
John tells us:
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16).
Paul writes:
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God” (Rom. 8:38–39).
His love is immeasurable and inexhaustible.
Romans 5:8 declares:
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Before we had a chance to respond, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins and for the sins of the world.
1 John 4:9–10 tells us that God sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for mankind.
Ephesians 2:4–5 reminds us that God is rich in mercy and love and has made us alive in Christ. His love never runs out and never runs dry. He is the endless source of love.
What Is Love?
Jesus said:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...” (Acts 1:8).
The word “witnesses” comes from the Greek word martyr, reminding us that following Christ often involves sacrifice.
Jesus also said:
“If anyone wishes to follow Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24).
First John 3:16 says:
“By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
Jesus taught that if we are to follow Him, we must daily take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Him.
In John 13:34–35, Jesus said:
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
This foundational Kingdom principle stands in stark contrast to much of the culture we see around us today.
In Matthew 22, Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love one another.
2Cor 5:14, “For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.”
1 Corinthians 13, says without love, we become like a clanging cymbal—mere noise without substance.
Jesus said He would leave the ninety-nine for the sake of the one. Luke 15
Love is action. Without demonstrating love, we cannot genuinely claim to love others. As James reminds us:
“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:14–26). Love without action is nothing
How? – Jesus Said We Are to Go and Make Disciples
At the heart of the “how” is hearing the voice and heart of the Shepherd.
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
The word “know” comes from the Greek ginōskō, which speaks of intimate knowledge and relationship.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leads, protects, and lays down His life for His sheep. Shepherds would often touch their sheep daily, strengthening trust and maintaining closeness within the relationship.
Revelation 3:22 emphasises this same principle:
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
It takes practice to hear, but even more to listen and understand.
In any relationship, our ability to hear another person sincerely reflects the depth of that relationship.
Also required is obedience to the voice of the Shepherd.
Romans 8:14 teaches that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
This truth is also reflected in Psalm 23:
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters... He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
King Saul serves as a warning. He acted ahead of the prophet Samuel—and ultimately ahead of the Lord Himself. His disobedience marked the beginning of the end of his kingdom and paved the way for David to become king.
From this account comes the well-known declaration:
“To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22).
Jesus said:
“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).
And again:
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9).
Missions throughout the ages
Throughout the last two thousand years, countless believers have responded to the call to go and make disciples. Each dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel among the nations. The Moravians sold themselves into slavery so that they could be a witness to slaves.
In more recent history, five American missionaries travelled to the Waodani people of Ecuador in 1956 and were speared to death while attempting to share the Gospel. Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of Jim Elliot, later returned to live among that same tribe, demonstrating extraordinary forgiveness and love.
Dr Livingston transformed Africa, along with John G Lake. John Allen Chau attempted to reach the people of North Sentinel Island. Brother Andrew risked everything as “God’s Smuggler,” delivering Bibles into Communist nations.
William Carey, called the father of modern missions, founded the Baptist Missionary Society and travelled to India, serving 41 years. He laboured for seven years before seeing his first convert.
We could also mention Martin Luther, John Calvin, George Grenfell, Mary Slessor, Gladys Aylward, and Caroline Chisholm, who established schools, orphanages, hospitals and ministries of compassion around the world and even here in Australia.
In Australia, Help agencies such as Barnardos, CatholicCare, Wesley Mission, The Benevolent Society, and UnitingCare, continue to serve vulnerable families through practical expressions of Christian love and service.
When we choose to Go, God’s power and authority flows.
Displacement - Henry Nouwen, the Catholic Dutch theologian, pointed to Jesus, who willingly left his heavenly glory, entered our brokenness, and suffered alongside humanity, he willing chose to be subjected to the suffering of a man, as reflected in Phill 2:5-8.
Henri Nouwen taught that one of the greatest forms of compassion is hospitality—not merely offering someone a meal but welcoming them into your home and community and giving them the same rights that you have in that space and to choose how they will participate.
Community is about sharing in solidarity with others suffering, by being a conduit of love and care that Christ displayed to us. This is true solidarity this is what Jesus calls His church to when He says: take up your cross and follow me. And this is what it means to go and make disciples of all nations.
