The Great Commission Strategy

We are, by definition, supposed to be "Jesus followers". That is, as Christians, we should be like Christ. So it would likely be wise if we examined His life and His strategies and adopt them ourselves. At the end of His time on earth, Jesus gave His disciples what we call "the Great Commission". Yes, we even capitalize it. It was, in a sense, our marching orders.

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matt 28:18-20)

We, in our infinite wisdom (read "sinful nature"), have managed to shorten that to "evangelize ... you know, if you feel like it." But that wasn't the commission. It was much bigger. Now, sure, to "make disciples" requires "evangelize" -- "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15) -- but considering that the fulfillment of the Great Commission is like saying, "I've completed the race because I crossed the starting line." So, Jesus gave us the Great Commission and we, as Christians, ought to so do. But we ought to do it as He did. How did He do it? What was Jesus's strategy for doing what He commanded us to do?

Most obviously, Jesus picked twelve men. Now, He had lots of disciples. He had hundreds at various points in time (Luke 6:17; Acts 1:15). Paul said He even appeared to "500 brethren at one time" after His resurrection (1 Cor 15:6). There was a broad component to His ministry, but it is undeniable that there was, within that broad ministry, a narrow focus on 12 and, even within that twelve, a few -- Peter, James, and John. These twelve were chosen and did not choose Him (John 15:16). They weren't the cream of the crop, the smart, the wise. They weren't special in any discernible sense. Fishermen, a tax gatherer, a fanatical Nationalist (Simon, the Zealot), unknowns; they weren't special people. They doubted Him, denied knowing Him, betrayed Him. But they were willing to follow Him.

Jesus spent 3 years in His recorded ministry. From all indications, He spent almost the entire time with these men. There were others, to be sure. There were women. There were crowds. There were needy people. There was even time spent alone. But for the vast majority of His time He was with these men to some degree. They represented a major investment of His life while He was with them. In this He gave Himself away. His personal life was more or less sacrificed. His focus was outward, not inward. His mission was His ministry.

There is a standardized method of teaching available in a variety of places and applications. First, the teacher masters the task. Then, the student observes the teacher doing the task. Then the teacher observes the student doing the task. Finally the student does the task alone. Jesus did this in a big way. Sure, He taught with words. Just look at a red-letter Bible. Lots of words. But He also lived a life that demonstrated what He taught. As an easy example, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12) and then gave the blind man sight (John 9:1-7). Far beyond that He was the walking, breathing demonstration of "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." He taught by living submission, commitment, integrity, humility, forgiveness, and more. He taught by example a daily, real, personal relationship with God. Perhaps His strongest teaching tool was living it.

Then, after spending time with Him, listening to Him and observing, Jesus sent them out. On one occasion He sent out the 12 (Luke 9:6) and followed it with a review (Luke 9:10). Later He appointed 72 "two by two" to go ahead of Him (Luke 10:1-16). They returned and reported what had happened (Luke 10:17). So Jesus 1) mastered ministry, 2) practiced ministry in the presence of His disciples, and then 3) had His disciples do ministry while He watched.

Ultimately, Jesus expected His disciples to produce disciples. He expected them to reproduce. He told them, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) He warned, "If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." (John 15:6) He didn't merely teach them; He had expectations for them, expectations He taught them to meet.

There's an interesting story in Mark. Jesus went up on a mountain and "summoned those whom He Himself wanted." Among those "He appointed twelve." Why? We're not left to guess. It says He appointed these twelve "so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons." (Mark 3:13-15) That was Jesus's plan. Minister to many, but choose a smaller number of men to be with, to share Himself with, and to teach to minister themselves. This was Jesus's strategy for His own Great Commission. To boil that down to "Go and preach the gospel" is to boil away all but the start of it. If Jesus meant merely "Go and preach the gospel", His ministry could have ended when it began (Matt 4:17; Mark 1:15). Jesus said to make disciples. And He didn't merely command it; He lived it. He demonstrated it. He illustrated it. The baffling question, then, is why it is that we are not doing it.