A Biblical Theology of Mission (Jesus: the Command for Mission)

We call Jesus’ command to us to reach the world with the good news the Great Commission, and there is more than one form of it.

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15,16)

⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.  (Luke 24:46-48)

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)

But easily the most complete and memorable statement of Jesus’ command is in Matthew:

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ 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)

Whereas Jesus went only to the villages of Israel, the church is to go to every nation on earth and make disciples of them. Converts are to be baptized and instructed in all the ways of Jesus. Jesus, in his authority as the Son of God and Redeemer of mankind, guarantees His presence will go with us in this endeavor, and the harvesting will last until the end of the age, until the time when he returns.

Here is the command Jesus gives us for mission.