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Answer
The act of making disciples is our Lord’s way of responding to the prayer, “Our Father in heaven, may Your name be honored, may Your kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). With His boundless wisdom, Jesus decided to utilize devoted followers, His disciples, to spread the message of salvation to all nations. He mandated this in His final words before ascending to heaven: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
The process of making disciples is crucial as it is the chosen method of the Lord to spread the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Throughout His public ministry, Jesus dedicated over three years to making disciples—educating and preparing His selected twelve. He provided them with numerous compelling evidences that He was the Son of God, the awaited Messiah; they believed in Him, albeit imperfectly. While He addressed the crowds, He frequently took the disciples aside privately to explain the significance of His parables and miracles. He dispatched them on ministry tasks. He also informed them that He would soon return to His Father after His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; John 12:23-36, 14:2-4). Despite their inability to fully grasp it, He made the disciples this remarkable pledge: “I assure you, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to the F
ather” «Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. », (John 14:12). Jesus also promised to send His Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16-17).
As promised, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with power on the believers, who were then emboldened to speak the Good News to everyone. The remainder of the Book of Acts gives the exciting account of all that was accomplished through them. In one city, the opposition said, “These who have turned the world upside down are come hither also” «And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; », (Acts 17:6 KJV). Multitudes placed their faith in Jesus Christ, and they also became disciples. When strong persecution came from the false religious leaders, they dispersed to other areas and continued to obey Christ’s command. Churches were established throughout the Roman Empire, and eventually in other nations.
Later, because of disciples such as Martin Luther and others, Europe was opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Reformation. Eventually, Christians emigrated to the New World to make Christ known. Though the world still is not completely evangelized, the challenge is as viable now as ever before. The command of our Lord remains – “Go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The characteristics of a disciple may be simply stated as
• one who is assured of his salvation «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. », (John 3:16).
to have everlasting life.”, (John 3:16) and is activated by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26-27);
• one who is growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”, (2 Peter 3:18); and
• one who shares Christ’s burden for the lost souls of men and women. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38).
