In nineteenth century England, the people were anxiously awaiting news of the outcome of the strategic battle of Waterloo, where the British forces under General Wellington faced off against the French forces under Napoleon. A signal man was placed on top of Winchester Cathedral with instructions to keep an outlook on the sea. When he received a message, he was to pass it on to another man on a hill. That man was to pass it on to another, and on and on. In that way, the outcome of the battle was to be relayed to London and then all across Britain.

At long last, a ship was sighted through the fog, which that day lay thick on the channel. The signalman on board sent the first word—“Wellington.” The next word was “defeated.” Then the fog closed in and the ship could no longer be seen. “Wellington defeated!” The tragic message was sent all across England, and a great gloom descended over the countryside. After a few hours the fog lifted, and the signal came again—“Wellington defeated the enemy!” Now the full message went racing across the countryside again, but this time the nation rejoiced!

This story bears a striking resemblance to that dreadful day when Jesus died. When Jesus was crucified, a deep darkness descended upon the whole countryside. And when he breathed his last and gave up his spirit, his followers received the tragic message—“Jesus is dead.” They immediately plummeted into the pit of gloom and all of their hopes died with him. But after three days, the fog lifted and the full message became clear—“Jesus was dead, but he has risen! Jesus defeated the enemy!”

Indeed, Jesus defeated the enemy through his resurrection on the third day. He accomplished his mission on earth and took on a new ministry of prayer at his Father’s side in heaven. But before he ascended, he spent 40 days preparing his disciples to carry on his mission in the world.

Jesus told his disciples to meet him on a specific mountain in Galilee. It is fitting that Jesus ends his earthly ministry with his disciples in the same place he began it, in Galilee of the Gentiles. After his disciples worshipped him there, Jesus gave them their final marching orders. Matthew 28:16-20 is commonly known as “The Great Commission.” This is where Jesus tells his disciples, including us, what to do and how to do it! Let’s take a look at the “Great Commission.”

“All Authority in Heaven and on Earth” (18)
Before Jesus issues his final marching orders, he lays the foundation for the orders by emphasizing his divine authority. All of God the Father’s authority over heaven and earth is mediated through Jesus the Son, thereby giving him the appropriate rank to issue these final orders. Jesus is God in human flesh! He is 100% God and 100% man at the same time. As the second person in the Holy Trinity, he always was and always will be their Master. The disciples were to obey his orders because he has authority over everything in heaven and on earth!

Even though many people don’t recognize it, Jesus still has supreme authority over our lives today. He has authority over everything because he is the one who created everything. As our Great Master and Commander, we should take his orders seriously and obey them completely! Do you recognize Jesus’ authority in your life or do you think you are your own Master? Will you obey his marching orders or face the dishonor of insubordination? Will you fulfill your Great Commission duty?

“Make Disciples” (19)
After Jesus lays the foundation by declaring his authority, he gives his Great Commission. The Great Commission is given in one succinct sentence with four phrases; there is one imperative and three modifying participles. In grammar, imperatives are commands that tell us what to do and participles are usually descriptions of how to do it.

So, the imperative in this sentence forms Jesus’ central command—“make disciples.” Jesus’ disciples were to reproduce other disciples from all the nations. “Disciple” means learner, follower, or apprentice. Jesus wanted his disciples to reproduce followers. He wanted more people to learn the ways of Jesus and put them into action. Discipleship really means to live the “Jesus life.” It is the life-long process whereby our beliefs, values, attitudes, and actions are conformed to Jesus’ life.

The Greek word translated “nations” is the plural of “ethnos” from which we get our English word “ethnicity” or “ethnic.” He was hinting that it was the disciple’s duty to make disciples from every ethnicity on earth. This would mean that these Jewish Christians would have to get over their ethnic prejudices to obey his command. This was not an easy task. The Jews were taught that they had special access to God because they were “God’s chosen people.” Now Jesus is telling them that God is for everyone and it was their job to proclaim this message.

Just as he did with those original eleven disciples, he commands each one of us to make disciples. He wants us to love people and help them to live the Jesus life. He wants us to introduce people to Jesus. He wants us to help them become more like Jesus and serve him better. He wants us to do it formally and informally. He wants us to make disciples of our family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and classmates. He even wants us to do it with people of different ethnic, racial, social, and economic backgrounds than ourselves.

We don’t have to be pastors or missionaries to make disciples! I was discipled by a bus driver and an appliance repair man. All we have to do is pass on what we know about Jesus to other people. Some of us know much more than others, and that is fine. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you know something about him. He wants you to come alongside someone else and share it with them!

Have you obeyed Jesus’ marching order to make disciples? Who are you discipling right now? Are you discipling your children? Grandchildren? A friend? If you have been neglecting your duty to make disciples of all nations, now is the time to get started! Who does God want you to disciple?

“Go” (19)
Before Jesus told his disciples what he wanted them to do, he began to tell them how to do it. The participle “Go” is placed in the emphatic position even though it is a subordinate clause. How does one make a disciple? He or she must first “go.” Going means more than traveling across geographical borders, although this is part of Jesus’ meaning. The point is that he wants his disciples to be active rather than passive. He wants them to invest in people rather than ignore them. And in some cases, he does want his disciples to cross borders to make disciples. Most of these eleven took Jesus’ message to foreign lands.

Throughout the ages God has used this verse to literally call thousands of people into cross-cultural missions. It calls all of us to support cross-cultural missions. We must support global outreach financially and support the people going emotionally and spiritually through prayer. In all of these ways, we “go” in fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission.

But for most of us, the going does not mean crossing the ocean to make disciples. Rather, it means crossing the street to invite your neighbor to church. It means going to the front porch of a friend who needs to be encouraged. It means having someone over for dinner just to get to know them better. It means crossing through your comfort zone to make the gospel accessible to the lost.

Will you go? Will you go wherever God wants you to go and make disciples? Will you go and share what you know about Jesus?

“Baptize” (19)
The second participle is “baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Baptizing is one of the ways in which we make disciples. When someone undergoes the waters of baptism, they are initiated into the faith by symbolically identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Because baptism was so closely associated with the decision of faith in the New Testament, it may be best to see baptizing as Jesus’ way of summarizing the evangelistic half of disciple making. Baptism doesn’t save a person’s soul, but it is the initial step of obedience that results from someone putting their faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus specified that we are to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The use of the singular name clearly implies that this listing of three persons should be thought of as one name. This is a clear affirmation of the doctrine of the Trinity—one God, three distinct persons. The believer who chooses to submit to baptism into this name identifies with God’s name as well as the spiritual family who have been baptized into the same name.

Some of you may be wondering, “If I am to be obedient to Jesus’ Great Commission, do I have to baptize people?” Well, the answer to that question is “yes” and “no.” First of all, you don’t have to be an ordained minister to effectively baptize someone. Any Christian who understands the meaning of baptism can baptize someone else! Therefore, we should all be ready to baptize someone if we are called upon.

One the other hand, I really do believe that Jesus is using this phrase to summarize the evangelistic part of discipleship. We lead people to baptism when we share the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection with them. We fulfill the Great Commission when we introduce others to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and help them make that step of faith!

Will you baptize someone?

“Teaching” (20)
The third participle is “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This represents the other half of making disciples—edification or building others up in the faith. This includes teaching about the faith and also training in the faith—head knowledge and heart knowledge. If people are to become mature disciples, they need to know the Bible and the doctrines and history of the church, but they also need to know Christian ethics, attitudes, behaviors, and disciplines. In this way, a person learns the ways of Jesus and becomes more like him. It is truly amazing when a person’s character and conduct are conformed to the image of Christ!

Discipleship is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something — a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship with God. But some of these things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties. What are we to do?

Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, “If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men’s immortal minds, if we instill them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”

Are you teaching men’s immortal minds? Are you engraving the ways of Jesus in the souls of others? Are you making disciples? Again, this process should start in our own homes and branch out from there!

As I conclude today, let me empathize with you. Some of you are thinking to yourself “How in the world can I do this? I don’t know enough or I’m not ready to make disciples!” I don’t know if anyone ever feels adequate to make disciples; I know I certainly don’t! But the truth is that we do know enough and we are ready! Jesus doesn’t expect us to be expert disciple makers. These Eleven certainly weren’t! But Jesus ends his marching orders with a promise: “I will be with you to the end of the age.” We can all make disciples because Jesus is with us and he helps us!