Was the Great Commission given only to the eleven disciples?

Photo credit: Alvaro Canivell (Creative Commons)

What does Jesus think about missions?

The Great Commission was given by Jesus to the eleven disciples after his resurrection. Here's the Matthew version:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)

The Mark version:

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.  Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.  These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe...:  (Mark 16:15-18)

I've heard some people say that the Great Commission was only given to the eleven disciples. It doesn't include us. Our lifestyle together should be enough to attract others. The verses that people use for this argument are ones such as John 17: 23

I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

There is something incredibly attractive about a group of Christians relating well together. But if we believe that is all that is necessary, it gives us a great cop out. We are no longer commissioned to reach out to those who don't yet know him. 

It is dangerous to selectively omit verses that were given only to the disciples. If we applied that principle consistently, we would lose many of the teachings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.

Personally I  I believe we need to be witnesses too. Here is some of my reasoning:

1. Earlier in the passage in John 17, Jesus says this:  Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world...  I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 

            It is clear that Jesus is sending not just the eleven disciples into the world but also those who             believe in him through their presentation of the Good News.

          2.  In Peter's exposition of the Gospel, he says this: Then you will receive the gift of the Holy           Spirit.  This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who                 have been called by the Lord our God.”  (Acts 2:38-39)

According to Jesus, one of the reasons the Holy Spirit is given: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere— in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

I believe that all of us are called to be ambassadors, those who represent the Kingdom of God to the rest of the world. Obviously, how we do it, and what motivates us is important too.

What do you think?

 

Comments

[Arthur Sido]

Absolutely! I turn to Acts 8:1-4 where we see the church *except* the apostles scattered and they...went to church on Sunday morning and sat quietly?...NO!

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (Act 8:1-4)

The church was out preaching the Word! If the great commission was intended only for the apostles, these early Christians were being disobedient. Clearly they were not and the call to preach the Gospel is the calling and privilege of every Christian.

[unkleE]

I think Matthew 28:20 makes it quite clear: "Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you." Those commands include the great commission, so it is passed onto all of us in turn.

[Stephen Rigg]

I think Paul makes it pretty clear in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

" So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and GAVE US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

[Marc]

This is so relevant for me. Our church group has been looking at the Great Commission and the Bible's teachings related to going and making disciples (I guess you could argue the whole Bible is about that directly or indirectly), and this very question has come up more than once. Thanks for this post! I also appreciate others' comments. I will be forwarding this on to my friends and family. Happy New Year!

[Paul Maxim]

I know for my self, the 'difficult & overwhelming 'commands of Scripture are not the ones I am really balking at. But this one, "if anyone wishes to come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me...". As unkleE mentioned above..."teach them to do" is pretty clear.
It's the personal sacrifice that I balk at....but then God "is a rewarder of those who seek HIm".... and "those who honor Me I will honor".... So I must trust that as I obey the great commission He will take care of my fears, inadequacies & physical needs.

[Felicity Dale]

Thank you all for these comments and the Scriptures, all of which are intensely relevant. I personally believe the current house church movement in this country may stand or fall on our willingness to reach out, both in our own nation and across the world. If we fail to take the Great Commission seriously, we'll end up as just another blip in the church history books.

[Jim Wright]

This view that we are exempt from the Great Commission is part of the growing trend towards organic narcissism - which is acting as though the ultimate purpose of organic or simple church is us. Some say the ultimate purpose is Jesus, but in reality, it is a Jesus created in their own image. Here's a related blog: http://crossroadjunction.com/2011/12/19/escapism/

[Michael]

The question and problem I have is that in the US we evangelize with an eye towards gathering into a building. Evangelism with the end in mind of "come to church." So much of what I have learned, heard, etc. ties evangelism into building the church as opposed to come to Christ. Then you end up with this drive to evangelize as opposed to a natural flow out of one's life. So do we really know what it is to be "fishers of men?"