Why Make Disciples?

            People’s last requests tend to make a long-term impression or hold special meaning.

           An example is Robert Erskins Childers, a well-healed Englishman-turned-defender of Ireland’s independence in 1922. Having got caught in the middle of the ongoing Irish Civil War, he was considered a traitor by some in England and a spy by another group in Ireland. He was executed by firing squad after being captured and quickly put on trial. He famously shook hands with each of his executioners and said, “Take a step forward, lads. It will be easier that way.” His only son later became Ireland’s fourth president.

             Jesus had some final words to His followers as it was the last words to His disciples “Go and make disciples!” His sons and daughters have excelled around the world since He spoke these words. Our scripture passage comes from Matthew’s gospel, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt 28:19 NASB).

            Why make disciples? The short answer is Jesus said so. Making disciples is God’s idea, not merely a good idea from men. Jesus was giving His last instructions before departing from this world. After spending three and a half years training, demonstrating, and teaching the twelve, He launched them into the disciple-making ministry.

            The disciples weren’t comfortable with their new commission but gathered their wits and joined others in Jerusalem for a season of earnest prayer. What was ahead? Not sure they had a clue, but what they did have was the guiding empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The cowardly became courageous. Responding to the intimidator now, “they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Rev 12:11 NASB).

            Following the Holy Spirit’s empowerment on the Day of Pentecost, the disciple’s ministry began to wreak havoc throughout the Roman Empire as they turned the world upside down for Christ. Each of the disciples became master teachers in their own right, spreading out from Africa, India, and Asia Minor. They preached, taught, and discipled future leaders of the church. Two of the Apostle John’s disciples, Ignatius and Polycarp, were considered among the early church fathers. Each of the twelve disciples manifested incredible faith and unimaginable sacrifice as they carried out His mission.

            Listed are a few famous men’s last words on their deathbeds. Peter expressed his unworthiness in dying like Jesus and requested his martyrs crucify him upside down. Then, you have the infidels like Karl Marx, who feigns courage on his deathbed with, “Last words are for fools who believe they have not yet said enough.”

            Jesus left His followers an unfinished task; to go baptize and make disciples. The Disciples were named as such because they incorporated into their daily lifestyle habits that enabled them to better serve Jesus. Author Dallas Willard nailed this definition, “A discipline for the spiritual life is, when the dust of history is blown away, nothing but an activity undertaken to bring us into more effective cooperation with Christ and his Kingdom.”[1]

          Oswald Chambers says best, “Our Lord’s conception of discipleship is not that we work for God, but that God works through us.”[2] May we allow Him to work through us as we continue to “go and make disciples.”

[1] Dallas Willard. The Spirit of the Disciplines (p. 156). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

[2] Harry Verploegh, Oswald Chambers: The Best From All His Books (Nashville, TN: Nelson Publishers, 1987), 88.