Go and make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19
A decade ago, they didn’t know the name of Jesus. Hidden in the mountains of Mindanao in the Philippines, the Banwaon people had little contact with the outside world. A trip for supplies could take two days, requiring an arduous hike over rugged terrain. The world took no notice of them.
Then a mission group reached out, shuttling people in and out of the region via helicopter. This gained the Banwaon access to needed supplies, crucial medical help, and an awareness of the larger world. It also introduced them to Jesus. Now, instead of singing to the spirits, they chant their traditional tribal songs with new words that praise the one true God. Mission aviation established the critical link.
When Jesus returned to His heavenly Father, He gave His disciples these instructions: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). That command still stands.
Unreached people groups aren’t limited to exotic locales we haven’t heard of. Often, they live among us. Reaching the Banwaon people took creativity and resourcefulness, and it inspires us to find creative ways to overcome the barriers in our communities. That might include an “inaccessible” group you haven’t even considered—someone right in your neighborhood. How might God use you to reach others for Jesus?
Read: Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.d
17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.e
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,f baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,g
20 and teachingh them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with youi always, to the very end of the age.”j
INSIGHT
- Who are the hardest-to-reach people in your community?
- In what ways can you tell them about Jesus?
Matthew 28:17 says, “When they saw [Jesus], they worshiped him; but some doubted.” Theologian D.A. Carson comments: “If the ‘some’ refers not to the Eleven but to other followers, the move from unbelief and fear to faith and joy was for them a ‘hesitant’ one.” This seems to suggest that Matthew presents worship and doubt in contrast to each other. By positioning some as worshiping while others doubted, Matthew may be suggesting that these two responses are incompatible, at least in a specific moment. Worship may help rid us of doubt, and doubt may inhibit our worship. Doubt may plague us from time to time, but worship can shift our focus.
PRAYER
Father, please use me as You see fit in order that I might turn to You in faith. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 24-26; Titus 2
