This blog pertains to the following bible reading passages Matthew 26:47-28, Psalms 92-94, Hebrews 1.
After Everything... These Were Jesus' Final Instructions
If you knew you only had one final message to leave with the people you loved, what would you say?
This week's Bible readings take us on one of the most emotional journeys in Scripture. We witness Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial, Jesus' arrest, His unjust trial, the brutality of the cross, His death, burial and then the incredible joy of the resurrection.
It's impossible to read these passages without being moved by the depth of Jesus' love and sacrifice.
Yet after everything He endured, Jesus didn't simply comfort His disciples or tell them to remember Him. Instead, He gave them and us a mission:
"Go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19-20)
At GoChurch, this isn't just another Bible verse, it's part of our DNA. It's even in our name! We are called to go, whether that's by praying, giving financially to the local or overseas missions, or by stepping out ourselves. But Jesus didn't tell us simply to make converts; He told us to make disciples, people who continue to follow Him, grow in Him and help others do the same.
This is a current and ongoing theme, Discipleship, even for our young people in the UK at Dreaming the Impossible (DTI) this summer.
Something recently struck me, though. Jesus gave the Great Commission in Matthew 28, and then, just before He ascended, He reminded the disciples again that they would receive power through the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
But if you read the opening chapters of Acts, the disciples had largely stayed in Jerusalem. You could argue they were building a healthy church, and they certainly were. Thousands were coming to faith, leaders were being appointed, and the church was flourishing.
It wasn't until persecution broke out after Stephen's martyrdom that believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). Interestingly, it wasn't just the apostles who carried the gospel. Ordinary believers, people like you and me, took the good news wherever they went.
That challenges me. I need to ‘Go’ now and not wait for external motivation.
Over the years I've had the privilege of joining several short-term mission trips, from Greece in my twenties, to Mission America in my forties, and more recently serving with Beautiful 1040 in Egypt and Lebanon. Every trip stretched me, encouraged me and reminded me that God's Church is far bigger than my own corner of the world.
But I also know that God doesn't call everyone to travel overseas. I believe He has called me to remain where I am (for the moment!) and use the gifts He's given me in learning technology to help make disciples at scale, in preparation for the coming revival. The question isn't whether we're all called to do the same thing, we're not. The question is whether we're each being faithful to the part Jesus has asked us to play.
As a church, we've always been passionate about planting churches because healthy churches make disciples who make disciples. Every one of us has a place in that mission. Perhaps God is prompting you to pray more intentionally for missionaries. Perhaps He is asking you to give. Perhaps He is nudging you towards a short-term mission trip. Or perhaps your mission field is your workplace, your street, your family or your school.
Whatever that looks like, Jesus' commission hasn't changed.
The cross and the empty tomb were never meant to be the end of the story. They were the beginning of ours.
So this week, as we reflect on all that Jesus has done for us, perhaps the question isn't simply, "What has Jesus done for me?" but also, "Where is Jesus asking me to go?"