Introducing our theme for 2024: Rise in Strength, Make Disciples
Verse: Matthew 28: 16-20
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.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.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.”
The Great Commission on Matthew 28 is well-known to Christians, the last words from Jesus before His rise. Someone take this as an order as it’s our Lord’s command. However, it’s more than a command, our Lord commissions us for His work, as He loves us so much, and He wants us to be part of His work, His dream. And it shows His promise and love in this Great Commission.
The Heart of the Lord
The last night Jesus stayed with His disciples, He shared his heart to them. (John 13-17)
John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father for the disciples, that we are those the Father given to JESUS (John 17:2 , 17:6), and we are also the Father’s. (John 17:9). We are so special, the Father gave us to Jesus, and we also belong to the Father. Jesus prayed for us, ask the Father to keep us safe by the name of the Father (John 17:11). Pray that we can be one, just as Jesus and the Father are one. (John 17:11). Jesus prayed that we are safe from the evil (John 17:15), and prayed that God’s words make us holy, as we are not belong to the world. (John 17:17).
The love from Jesus is amazing and out of our imagination! Jesus prayed that we are one, and wanted us to be in Him and in the Father (John 17:20, John 17:22)! Jesus loves us, just as the Father love Him (John 17:23). The mighty God loves us so much, as the way He loves Jesus, and Jesus wants us to be with Him where He is (John 17:24). He himself is in us (John 17:25)
How great the love of our God! Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit loves us, and want us to be in Him, we are the one loved by the mighty GOD! We are the one known and loved by GOD, and we are the most important one that Jesus remembered and loved even He knew He would be caught and crucified soon. He prayed for the disciples so that they knew His heart.
Praise to the Lord! Our Lord is risen from death! He is the living God. Jesus is still loving and teaching us His way, His Truth, His love nowadays.
Therefore, we can go and tell people from all nations, this wonderful and powerful love from God. Teaching them the truth, that make them holy from the world and evil. Make them be disciples, as those baptized and loved and abides with GOD, under the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. How precious that we belong to the Lord, and we are not part of the world. Our Lord is with us, He has kept us safe, and He gives us strength, wisdom to face challenges. His love for us, well before the world begin, He is with us, till the very end of the age.
Rise In Strength, as Jesus has prayed for us.
Make Disciples, so that more people can experience this wonderful love.
God is with us wherever we are, whenever it will be.
Written by Nancy Shaw, International Vice President, Asia.