Jesus died, arose from the dead, and ascended back into heaven almost 2,000 years ago. He will one day return. What He expects His people to do in the meantime is often referred to as the Great Commission. This commission to reach out to the world with the message of God’s love and the offer of the forgiveness of sins through Christ’s death and resurrection is stated five times in the New Testament. Although it is stated a little differently in each place, it is found in each of the four gospels and the book of Acts.

Mark 16:15: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Luke 24:46-47: Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In essence, the mission Jesus gave the church is to make disciples of Christ throughout the world by communicating the gospel, to teach them His word and encourage them to obey it. This mission is possible because Christ has promised to be with us through the power of His Spirit Who indwells us!