Jesus taught many things to His disciples, but one of the most significant commands was to love one another. He stated it clearly in John 13:34:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
This command to love was central to His ministry, setting the foundation for how His disciples were to interact with one another and the world.
The Great Commission: Making Disciples of All Nations
After teaching His disciples, Jesus gave them a clear mission. In Matthew 28:19-20, He instructed them:
“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This passage, known as the Great Commission, was Jesus’ directive for His followers to spread the Gospel, make disciples, and teach them obedience to His commands.
The Difference Between a Follower and a Disciple
There is a distinct difference between merely following Jesus and being His disciple. A follower might listen to His teachings and even agree with them, but a disciple is fully committed—learning, living out His words, and teaching others to do the same. Jesus did not just seek a crowd of admirers; He wanted people who would take His mission seriously and actively carry it forward.
Related:
- Charles Simpson “The Church is Not Structural but Organic”
- Don’t Be Deceived: Disciples make Disciples, Francis Chan
- The Commands of Jesus (Part 3) All or Nothing – The True Cost of Discipleship
The Three Phases of Jesus’ Ministry
Throughout His ministry, Jesus moved through three key phases:
- Meeting needs – He performed miracles such as feeding the 5,000, healing the sick, and showing compassion to draw people in.
- Teaching in parables – He used stories to challenge people’s thinking and reveal deeper truths to those who were truly listening.
- Calling for obedience – He emphasized that His followers must do more than just hear; they must actively live according to His teachings.
This progression prepared His disciples for their ultimate mission, as outlined in Matthew 28.
Separating the Curious from the Committed
At one pivotal moment in His ministry, Jesus made a bold statement that caused many in the crowd to leave. In John 6:53-54, He said:
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.'”
This difficult teaching separated those who were merely curious from those who were truly committed. Many walked away, unable to accept His words. However, the disciples remained, and Peter expressed their faith in John 6:68:
“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'”
Jesus used this moment to distinguish those who were serious about following Him from those who were not.
Sending Out the 72: Luke 10
Jesus did not intend for His disciples to remain passive observers. In Luke 10:1-3, He sent out 72 disciples in pairs, saying:
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.'”
Jesus actively prepared His followers to engage with the world, spread the Gospel, heal the sick, and drive out demons. This mission was a practical training ground for the Great Commission.
The Global Mission in Mark 16
Following His resurrection, Jesus reinforced the mission in Mark 16:15-17:
“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.'”
This expanded their work beyond local communities, launching a global movement where disciples were expected to go into every nation. Jesus assured them that miraculous signs would follow those who believed, serving as confirmation of the Gospel’s truth.
Obedience as the Mark of a True Disciple
Jesus emphasized that discipleship was not just about believing in Him but about obeying His teachings. In Matthew 28:20, He said:
“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Similarly, in John 8:31, He made it clear that true discipleship requires abiding in His word:
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.'”
This obedience is the proof of real discipleship. It is not enough to merely hear or agree with His teachings—true disciples live them out daily.
The Consequences of Not Being a Disciple
Jesus was also very clear about the consequences for those who choose not to follow Him. In Luke 12:47-48, He states:
“And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
Similarly, in Matthew 7:21-23, He warns:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Jesus makes it clear that mere association with Him is not enough. A person must be fully committed, obedient, and actively living out His commands to avoid eternal separation from God.
Jesus’ expectations for His followers were clear: love one another, make disciples, obey His teachings, and go into all the world to spread the Gospel. He did not seek passive listeners but active participants in His Kingdom. The Great Commission is a call to action—demanding faith, obedience, and commitment. True discipleship is defined not only by a willingness to follow Jesus but also by an unshakable conviction to share His message, live according to His commands, and recognize the eternal consequences of rejecting Him. Only when one fully grasps the depth of God’s love, the fleeting nature of life, and the immense cost of refusing discipleship can they develop a desperate, unwavering passion for souls—driven to do whatever it takes to reach as many people as possible with the truth.